First Impressions: Nicki Minaj, Dillon Francis, BenZel + more

FirstImpressions11Aug

First Impressions is an interns roundtable review of songs on first (or second) listen. Each week we each review six new songs from the week past, each giving them a score out of five and awarding one our pick of the week.

This week, we're taking on all things pop with BenZel's love lorn new single, Say Lou Lou's collaboration with Lindstrom, Nicki Minaj's ode to big buns and more. Read below as we clash heads, sync opinions and make our pick.

Say Lou Lou & Lindstrom- Games For Girls

Lizzie: I feel like i’ve gone back in time about 20 years. This is a sweet, poppy gem which make me instantly happy. I kinda want to invest in a Xylophone... 3.5 Lizzie’s Pick

Sam: I like everything apart from the fact that we have to wait until February for the album. Of all the stellar tracks these twins have released, this one sounds the most polished, confident and delectable. It’s also the most different sounding thing they’ve released, probably thanks to Lindstrom’s groove-heavy production. 3.5

Bianca: This has such a great groove to it. I'm really digging the nu-disco vibe that Lindstrom is laying down below the twins' poppy vocals. Double trouble! 3.5 Bianca's Pick.

[soundcloud width="740" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/sayloulou/say-lou-louxlindstrom-games-for-girls[/soundcloud]

BenZel- Wasted Love

Lizzie: Love the chorus breakdown, it’s very textured and evocative - especially her voice it just draws you straight in. I have many many feels after this song. 3.5

Bianca: I'm really getting a Jessie Ware vibe from this track but one that's been injected with a warm dose of R&B. Stevie Neale's honey-smooth vocals are an inviting addition to the already super-smooth beat. 3.5

Sam: The fact that BenZel are not two Japanese teenagers makes them no less impressive. Every pop act is surely champing at the bit to work with this duo following Jessie Ware’s Tough Love and now this. It’s a beautiful, understated pop song with a verse that rushes like a hit of sugar to the head. 4

[soundcloud width="740" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/officialbenzel/wasted-love[/soundcloud]

Nicki Minaj- Anaconda

Lizzie: After I managed to draw my eyes away from her derriere for just a second I was able to listen to hear this song in all its glory. Maybe “glory” was not the right word to use. This track is a royal pain in my tiny (comparatively) arse. 1.5

Bianca: She just butchered a classic fave from my childhood and Sir Mix-a-lot deserves a written apology. Yes, we get it. You've got buns, hun. A baker's dozen worth. 1

Sam: I couldn’t agree less with Bianca. The original is far from a classic. As far as I’m concerned this is more palatable. I’m just going to put the fact that this is completely ridiculous to the side and give Nicki some cred. She’s really the only artist on radio right now churning out stuff with a bit of colour and personality. She’s ditched the dance-pop side of things and is heading for a much more well-rounded third album. 3

Andras & Oscar- Everytime I Go

Lizzie: Has someone put the morning coffee run yet, cause I’m gonna need a strong shot of something to wake me up after this track. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz 2

Bianca: Stop, collaborate and listen! It seems like every song so far has been a joint venture with Andras Fox & Oscar Key Sung leading the pack. It's soulful and seductive in its own right, with Sung's vocals grooving effortlessly over the delicate synths and crescendoing melody. 3.5

Sam: Lizzie, you’re killing me. This is such a warm, bassy treat. Andras Fox and Oscar Key Sung are two of the finest in Australian electronic music right now and this proves why. This one’s light on the tricks and heavy on the groove with an ever so subtle dance break at the end. 4

[soundcloud width="740" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/chaptermusic/andras-oscar-everytime-i-go-album-version[/soundcloud]

Dillon Francis- When We Were Young

Lizzie: Not a fan of the vocalist at all. He sounds whiney, gaspy and just plain annoying. I usually rely on my man Dillon to produce a head banger which everyone will enjoy, not something that sounds like David Guetta’s sloppy seconds. 2

Bianca: If being young sounded like this then I would've had a very intense childhood. 1.5

Sam: Dillon, why? You only have to see one of his sets to see how much personality this guy has got and yet this is completely devoid of any personality. I could literally compile a list of 102 EDM songs that sound exactly like this. An attempt to break into the commercial market that sounds a little desperate. 2

[soundcloud width="740" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/dillonfrancis/dillon-francis-sultan-ned-shepard-when-we-were-young-feat-the-chain-gang-of-1974[/soundcloud]

xxyxx- Untitled (Feat. Vanessa Elisha)

Lizzie: I am not one to play games, but this song has you sitting on the edge of your seat gasping for more at the start. The elongated (almost) silence around the 40 second mark is enticing and unpredictable but as the song progresses I am not blown off the edge of my seat if you get my jist, i’m just intrigued. Meh, it was alright. 3

Bianca: My feelings towards this are similarly untitled. At times, I'm hovering over the next button at other times I'm captivated by Vanessa Elisha's smooth vocal. I think I'll call the feeling content. This is definitely an interesting tune. 3.5

Sam: There’s so much depth and intricacy to this offering. Vanessa Elisha’s vocal on this is sliced-up and bubbles under the myriad of percussion and mellow synths, lulling you into a subconscious state. When the beats drop out and she comes through, it’s a pretty glorious moment. Everytime I think future RnB is getting a bit old, something like this comes out. 4.5 Sam’s Pick

[soundcloud width="740" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/xxyyxx/unknown[/soundcloud]

first impressions / reviews08/11/2014

First Impressions: FKA Twigs, SOPHIE, Kate Boy + more

FirstImpressions_4Aug

Four people holding one rose each and yet there are six songs to choose from. Among them are some of the most eligible artists in the music world* with feisty females like Jessie J, arty types like FKA Twigs and the sentimental kind like Porter Robinson and #1 Dads. While some will be left brokenhearted, two artists in particular win the adoration of the interns.

*We can't guarantee all these artists are eligible but they sound like they're up for a good time.

Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj- Bang Bang

Sam: Ugh. I’m all for a big diva anthem but nothing sticks with this one. The hook is like something from a Michael Buble meets the songs of Hairspray album and throughout I hear a lot of screaming cats. Nicki’s verse is fire, of course, but it feels like Ariana knows it’s shit and Jessie is way too into it. 1

Bianca: Jessie, Ariana AND Nicki? As suspected, three wrongs do not make a right. Excuse me while I go bang bang into my head. 0

blam

Lizzie: Although it pains me to say it, this song is going to be a hit. Ergh. 2

Hannah: Remember when Xtina jazzed up her sound in the most appropriate pop-diva way possible and released that killer cover of Car Wash with a verse from Missy Elliot...? Yeah that's not what's happening here as much as they wish it was. 0.5

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/dafrican/jessie-j-bang-bang-ft-ariana-grande-nicki-minaj-2014-world-premier[/soundcloud]

FKA Twigs- Pendulum

Sam: After the above song I feel like I’m back in my happy place. I already decided off Two Weeks that Twigs is my favourite artist of the year so all this is just a bonus. Pendulum undulates with intricacy and Twigs takes all the time she needs with the melody. She’s the queen of subtlety and yet also a master at theatrics. This is supreme. 4.5 Sam's Pick

Bianca: FKA Twigs is easily one of the most interesting artists right now. Pendulum is weirdly beautiful and manages to maintain power and intensity through the most delicate of nuances. It's her ability to make these contradictions, to gently oscillate between subtle and intense, that keeps me coming back for more. 3.5

Lizzie: Ain't no one going to rush FKA Twigs through this one. Not too dissimilar to Two Weeks, the soft pops of her to-die-for angelic voice, blended with the slow pattering back beat make for yet another mesmerising track. I have no idea what she is saying, but I'm ok with that. 4

Hannah: This is a heart melting lullaby sung out in the heart of industry. As the pendulum cranks and croons all around, FKA Twigs' melody is all centring and all soothing. She is simply undeniable. 4.5 Hannah's Pick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw6H9YsTLek

SOPHIE- Lemonade

Sam: Oh I love dem candy noises. The trickle at the beginning of this track is total ear candy, literally. From there it’s just full of runaway melodies, Eurotrash synths and popping beats. I guess the whole experience is all a bit like eating popping candy. It doesn’t match the expertise of Bipp, but it comes close. 4

Bianca: There just seems to be no substance to this song, apart from way too many colours and preservatives. It's a sickly-sweet, hands-rubbing-on-balloon headache of a song, although, admittedly, listening to this after I spent all day at a kids' birthday party probably hasn't worked in its favour. 2

Lizzie: Straight out of Willy Wonka washing machine! Please go back to Oompa Loompa Land, SOPHIE. Not even Veruca Salt wants you. 1

Hannah: This sounds like Alvin and The Chipmunks found on their way to a DDR machine and now can't decide if they want to battle it to the sounds of drum and bass or J-Pop. 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/msmsmsm/sophie-lemonade[/soundcloud]

Kate Boy- Self Control

Sam: I am pretty pissed that I had to wait almost two years after falling in love with Northern Lights for Self Control, but hey, I suppose it’s worse for fans of The Avalanches. That aside, Self Control has absolutely none of what its title suggests. It’s a big, bombastic pop song with a chorus that would make Dr. Luke salivate. From this point onwards pop music should only be made by the Swedish. 3.5

Bianca: I'm enjoying the tribal beat and poppy synths but the vocal melody, particularly in the chorus, leaves a lot to be desired. 3

Lizzie: Love the thump of the start. If only this was an instrumental version I could be left bopping awkwardly by myself for hours. There must be something in the water in Sweden, because they just keep churning out hit after hit! 3.5

Hannah: There really is something in the water over there in Sweden. Want to make a great pop record? Make like Kate Akhurst, hope a flight over and take one long glassy sip from the closest crystalline lake. This is exactly how all pop music should sound. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/kateboy/self-control[/soundcloud]

#1 Dads- So Soldier

Sam: Right off the bat that guitar riff hits me right in the heart, then Ainslie Wills comes in with this Cat Power-esque vocals and continues to just chip away at me. Tom Iansek and Wills sound so perfect together on the chorus. 3.5

Bianca: What a combo! Iansek's strumming guitar has this essence of familiarity from the get-go, while Wills' dreamy voice manages to transport me somewhere, far, far away. 3.5

Lizzie: Definitely a Summer road trip kinda track - pack a picnic and set off! Ainslie's voice is broody and seductive, but what truly shines in this track is the guitar, it's just so floaty and nostalgic. 4

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/pieater/1-dads-so-soldier-feat-ainslie-wills-about-face-lp-2014[/soundcloud]

Porter Robinson- Flicker

Sam: Finally Porter just goes screw it with subtlety and includes the most explicit representation of his Japanese influences yet. This is a crescendoing, textural, dynamic soundtrack to an anime game that conveniently doubles as a great electronic track. 4

Bianca: ヽ(=´▽`=)ﾉ ♪♬ ☆*･゜ﾟ･*(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆ ♪♬ ヾ(。◕ฺ∀◕ฺ)ノ

I'm digging everything this song is throwing at me. It's so multi-layered and kept me enthralled the entire time, first with the funky, almost disco-inspired guitar riff, punctuated by anime-inspired spoken word, before dramatically reaching its glittery finale. I feel like I've just successfully completed the final level of a Sega game. 4 Bianca's Pick

Lizzie: I am a bit torn with this song. Half of it sounds like my Furby keeps turning on and off. The other second half however, in typical Porter style, opens up to be a grand, layered big room sound we I know and love. He drops the bass like no one else around the 2:50 sec mark, but with his Japanese twang - genius. Not my fav on the new Worlds album, but still pretty damn good. 4 Lizzie's Pick

Hannah: A novice when it comes to the world of EDM and its producers, I've been listening to this track all week on Hype Machine (what was that about first impressions?) unsure if admitting to this kind of Porter Robinson over all others would have me vilified by those in the know. That said, as long as Sam likes it, I'm happy to admit I do too. 3.5

first impressions / reviews08/04/2014

First Impressions: SBTRKT, BANKS, Jessie Ware + more

FirstImpressions_28July

In the midst of the Splendour in the Grass weekend bender we found some time to sit down with a few new tracks. Here's our slightly sleep-deprived reactions to those tunes.

Jessie Ware- Share It All

Bianca: It reminds me of Intro by the xx. It's really dreamy, it lulls you into a dream state. It could be on repeat and I wouldn't realise. 4

Lizzie: it feels soft and whimsical. I feel I'm floating away on a cloud with it. It's not too sickly sweet though. 4

Sam: her voice is extraordinary. It just floats when she holds those notes. Romy's co-write is also very evident. It has the same sparseness that the xx do and that does wonders for Ware's voice. 3.5

Hannah: Her voice. It just floats and lingers. It pitches and ungulates so smoothly over the sparse, can't hide nothing, melody. It's got a really welcomed breathy quality complimented by her RnB grid. Admittedly, it errs on the repetitive, slightly predictable side but let's be honest, if you're listening to this song you probably have other things on your mind. So sexy. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/jessieware/jessiewareshareit-all[/soundcloud]

SBTRKT- New Dorp. New York (Feat. Ezra Koenig)

Bianca: It's weirdly wonderful. I love Ezra's voice and it's good to hear it accompanied by something so different. It's a great mixture of chaotic percussion and funky guitar that drives a subtle groove. 4.5 Bianca's Pick

Lizzie: I don't love Ezra's talking voice on this it sounds a little bit like Flight of the Concords. But I love everything else about it. I feel that it would be crazy in a club. 4 Lizzie's Pick

Sam: I thought Temporary View was way too safe so I am suitably thrilled that this one takes huge risks. That female vocal under Ezra's voice is so New York chic. It's very pretentious but done so well that it's hard not to love. Wildly chaotic yet comfortably familiar. 4.5

Hannah: This is a totally new sound for SBTRKT, and a totally welcomed one at that. The licking bass and subtle, building percussion is irresistibly catchy, while the chorus brims with perfectly selected samples just long enough to remind you that this isn't all funk. It's a great way to reintroduce his new album, especially after that blip of a release last month. New York, New York! 4

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/detailsofmylifenet/sbtrkt-new-drop-new-york-feat[/soundcloud]

BANKS - Beggin' For Thread

Lizzie: With all due respect to BANKS I feel like it fits in a Mandy Moore teen flick. It's a bit teenie-bopper for me. 3.5

Bianca: I'm with Lizzie on the 90s vibe but there's an RnB vibe that's much cooler than Mandy Moore. The broodiness of Drowning is there but this time it feels like she can breathe a bit better. The creeping quality is sexy. 4

Sam: This is her most forward pop moment yet and it's brilliant. She's so dark yet so so alluring. It's great to hear a sound so consistent but also daring. The man who did BANKS wrong has done us all a favour. 4.5 Sam's Pick

Hannah: This is a perfect example of how sultry, sexy pop should be done. The lyrics are hard hitting and belted with the type of confidence that comes when you're being so bad it's good. The breakdown that crescendos into her final chorus is impeccably placed, securing Banks as one to watch. 4 Hannah's Pick

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/banksbanksbanks/banks-beggin-for-thread[/soundcloud]

Ryan Hemsworth- Gods (Feat. UV Boi)

Bianca: It's got nothing particularly distinctive about it other than giving me false hope that I recieved a few messages. In saying that it would be a fun addition to a dj set as a filler song. 2

Lizzie: there's artists that use real sounds and others that use it in an annoying way. It's like hearing a siren in a song when you're driving. I thought it was going to go somewhere but it didn't for me. 2.5

Sam: From the computer age straight to my heart. It's got a PC Music quality to it and I love how he uses unconventional sounds to create melody. At this point, Hemsworth is one of electronic music's most important names. This further proves that. 4

Hannah: Ryan Hemsworth can do no wrong. That effortlessly melodic intro, glitchy samples and surprise drum solo is the perfect introduction to what is a track perhaps ever so slightly less whimsical than what we've come to know him for. While playful and full obscure samples, this track has march, pace and guts, at times teetering on the side of too much but pulling right back before it falls. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/ryanhemsworth/gods-with-uv-boi[/soundcloud]

Rustie- Attack (Feat. Danny Brown)

Bianca: I like it. But I couldn't listen to it on my own. I'd rather hear it in a club. I think I'd get low. But not that low. Medium low. 3.5

Lizzie: I really like this song. I think it would be much better live with a crowd of people. I love Danny Brown's flow. 4

Sam: I just got smacked in the head with a bat and then thrown in a monster truck. This one goes so hard. Rustie and Danny Brown are a great pairing but I'd need anti-anxiety pills to hear this again. 3

Hannah: This is has the guise of being something you'd happily get low to in a dark club at 3am, before you quickly realise it's just a cheap imitation and a headache waiting to happen. 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/rustie/attak-feat-danny-brown[/soundcloud]

Joe Goddard- Endless Love (Feat. Betsy)

Bianca: Hot Chip can never do anything wrong in my eyes. I liked the slow build and the 90s vocals but it didn't have much body to it. 3.75

Lizzie: I really liked it. It wasn't too weird to annoy me and it was interesting enough to keep me occupied. I could get lost on the dance-floor to this. 4

Sam: I found this alarmingly annoying. I like the one part where Betty got to sing a full voice but her chopped and screwed vocals had me clenching my teeth. Surely he could have done something more with that mediocre beat too. Love Joe usually but not today. 2

Hannah: I really don't want to say this. But is anyone kind of bored? As far as lounge music goes it's great and there's some really crystalline moments, like the flickering "endless love," vocal and the percussive samples that sneak in underneath that, but otherwise... Snooze. 2.5

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/greco-roman/joe-goddard-endless-love-feat-betsy[/soundcloud]

first impressions / reviews07/28/2014

First Impressions: Tkay Maidza, Perfume Genius, TOKiMONSTA + more

FI_21June

This week, dance-music reigns as we review a number of different takes on the genre from smooth RnB to EDM to PC Music. Enter the madness that is First Impressions below:

Tkay Maidza- U-Huh

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/tkaymaidza[/soundcloud]

Bianca: U-Huh is a more than palatable pop song with some serious hip-hop influences. The hook is instantly infectious and I’m excited to see what else is to come from the Adelaide-born, PG-rated, Azaelia Banks Jnr. firecracker. 4 Bianca’s Pick

Sam: This is a perfect example of when you let a great pop song eventuate under the most natural of circumstances. Every major label in Australia take note- this is how you craft a hit. It’s effortlessly melodic, full of personality and fun to boot. Tkay is surely bound for huge things. 4

Lizzie: I have been a Tkay fan for over a year now, I just think she is the shiz - not just because she is from Adelaide but she has this incredible universal appeal and at just 18 years old, her production skills are impressive. It's not as punchy as Brontosaurus, but I feel this Summer-time nostalgia - similar to that, after listening to M.I.A's Paper Planes. 4

Hannah: Alright Lizzie, we get it. You're from Adelaide, she's from Adelaide, you can claim her. I agree though, Tkay Maidza is a much more bearable Australian answer to M.I.A. She raps across the beat with effortless attitude. It's fun and instantly infectious. 4

Airhead- Believe

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/thump/a1-believe?in=thump/sets/airhead-believe-ep[/soundcloud]

Bianca: The ping pong echoes put the club into the church, evoking visualisations of a Sunday sermon that offers a little less bread and a helluva lot more wine. The record crackling sample also adds a subtle, nostalgic touch. The TV beep effect, however, is a little less welcoming on my ears. 3.5

Sam: The industrial production of this one makes sure that the bass bangs you right into next Saturday. The production feels icy cold, yet the preaching vocal sample that runs under it is comfortably familiar. Some of these sounds just echo around my head, bouncing off dead space (and believe me, there is quite a lot of that). 3.5

Lizzie: I can feel myself float away with this track. This song could be on repeat for hours and I would have no idea - it's very much a song that just blends into the background. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just has its own special place in my iTunes library. 3

Hannah: The bass on this one is pure, paired-back house. Something you'd expect to find during the early hours of a Berlin warehouse rave or beneath a Jimmy Edgar track. Its intricate and complex use of layered sampling keeps you interested, while the vocal pleads with you to believeee in the track just enough to keep you pulsing right on through. 3.5

Steve Angello- Wasted Love (Feat. Dougy from Temper Trap)

Bianca: This song feels like it belongs in 2009 and I think my 19-year-old self would have loved it. Dougi Mandagy’s voice has a nice familiarity to it but, sadly, I ain’t 19 no more. 2.5

Sam: Dammit. Don’t get me wrong, this is more same, same EDM with barely anything to set it apart from the rest but I’m such a sucker for a crisp, pop hook. Dougy brings that in abundance but I’m so confused. I usually can’t stand the whiny aura of The Temper Trap but there is something somewhat euphoric about this. Also is this not Sky Full Of Stars p.2? DM me if you have answers. 2.5

Lizzie: This track is all about Dougy's voice, and not about Steve Angello - his production here is subtle, and I think it works really well. It's the perfect Summer tune; uplifting, all about love and just in time for the Tomorrowland after-movie soundtrack! 3.5

Hannah: This is just more of that tried and tested EDM formula circulating at the moment. Chiefly, hide the fact it's yet another unbearable, stock standard EDM song, beneath some very cleverly placed, makes-you-want-to-sing-along vocals. Eh. 2.5

TOKiMONSTA- Realla (Feat. Anderson Paak)

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/tokimonsta/realla-feat-anderson-paak[/soundcloud]

Bianca: Was it really necessary to spell ‘real’ the way it's being pronounced? Ugh this track is way too smooth for my liking. 4 realz. 2

Sam: *Adds Anderson Paak to iPod* TokiMonsta kills the productions of this one with those jabbing, brass undertones but Anderson Paak, am I right? The man just murders it on this one flicking between drawn-out RnB vocals and singing rap-like verses. 4 Sam’s Pick

Lizzie: Please listen to this track with your eyes closed. It is the only way to truly appreciate the layered sounds and surround-sound experience this song creates - it's spine-tingling. Then the horns come in, oh when the horns come in. I'm sold! 4 Lizzie's Pick

Hannah: For Realla baby, this track hits you with an instantly welcomed Frank Ocean, Channel Orange nostalgia. That brass, that bass, that cascading vocal sample that falls between Paak's third verse rap. Grind. Just grind. 4.5 Hannah's Pick

Bianca: Yeah, okay. I see how it is...

GFOTY- Don’t Wanna/Let’s Do It

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/pcmus/dont-wanna-lets-do-it[/soundcloud]

Bianca: I really can’t seem to get into PC music. A kid pressing random buttons on a soundboard would produce better noise than this techy headache. 0

Sam: Unlike Bianca, I think PC Music is one of the most interesting and exciting things to happen in the last year or two. Like everything we’ve heard from the label, this is bonkers but it’s even more so than the others. The bipolar flick between I don’t wanna do it/Let’s do it is something I deal with on a daily basis. I have the same conflict with this song. I love it, I also hate it. I’m going to flick to I love it, purely because I keep going back to listen for more. There’s so much hidden melody in this, it’s just chopped up and displaced everywhere. Beautifully incoherent. 3.5

Lizzie: Please, I beg of you, tell me this is not music!? It sounds like a toy-store coming alive when everyone's asleep. Wake me from this nightmare!! 0

Hannah: When an EDM queen dishes out a zero, you know the song's clutching at straws. That said, this song has moments of rhythmic crescendo and almost satisfying bass, but ultimately it's riding an escalator to nowhere. Is that the point of PC music? Who knows. I feel though in the hands of a remix master, that sample could have potential. 2

Perfume Genius- Queen

Bianca: Mike Hadreas is truly making a statement with his comeback track. The steady, marching beat sets the tone with more pomp than a high school graduation. His haunting vocals and synths are gloriously juxtaposed with the cheerful whistling instrument, giving Queen a slightly creepy quality. 3.5

Sam: I found Perfume Genius’ last album a little too introverted to completely get into but Queen is a different story. It’s so outwardly bold, that it feels like a different artists altogether. I would’ve liked a bit more of a climax in the final quarter but apart from that I’m captivated. Please sir, can I have some more? 3.5

Lizzie: I took one whiff of this Perfume Genius and can't say I am a fan of the broody and creepy vibe, it's just not my style. While I can appreciate all the elements - the slow beat, variety of kooky instruments and echoing vocals - I just can help but feel a little sad after listening. It's a Monday and I need a pick-me-up! 2.5

Hannah: If I was still the Hannah that listened to The Editors and Cold War Kids, I'd be right on board with this suburban angst track. As it is, the languid vocals over what feels like an incredibly lazy guitar-meet-drum-kit production just doesn't do it for me. Why the dog barking sample? 2.5

first impressions / reviews07/21/2014

First Impressions 14 July

firstimpressions_july14

Another six new songs up on the chopping block. This week we walk a tight-rope between electronic music and pop with one curveball thrown in just to make sure everybody's paying attention. While J-pop is appreciated by some other's fail to get on board.

Read our reviews below:

Usher- She Came To Give It To You (Feat. Nicki Minaj)

Lizzie: Is it as good as Pharrell’s Hunter? Unfortunately not. However, on its own merit this track is a very groovy funk/disco number. I feel like it is a right of passage for every pop-artist to have Nicki Minaj feature in song - feels a bit like old news to me. 3.5

Bianca: I’m getting Blurred Lines vibes from this. Points for not actually featuring Robin Thicke and for the funky percussion and sassy backing singers. 2.5

Hannah: This is equal parts hits and misses. The walking bass? hit. Nicki M’s rhyming of Ush-her with her as the song fades out? Miss. There’s no climax here, but it certainly won’t crash and burn either. 2

Sam: I like that Usher is taking a different approach this time around. Both this and Good Kisser don’t sound like they’re reaching only for the charts and I suppose when you’ve been in the industry this long you can afford to be a bit creative. Pharrell’s production always sounds so effortless that sometimes his songs can sound too cruisy. Luckily, here Nicki Minaj steps up with this attitude-filled, sassy verse that brings the track home hard. 3.5

Arty- Up All Night

Lizzie: The vocalist packs a real punch here. It definitely has a that European summer festival vibe about it - getting people up and pumping. Annndddd, the build-up to the drop does not go for hours, thank god! I am curious as to who will tackle a remix of this baby. 4 Lizzie’s Pick

Bianca: The ‘drop’ was completely predictable but such is the life of an EDM banger? 2

Hannah: For a song about staying up all night… it’s really a little bit of a snooze-fest, isn’t it? Sounds like every other mediocre EDM song striving for popular appeal with a female vocalist. 2

Sam: EDM always gets a pretty hard wrap on First Impressions but I honestly think this is the best one we’ve had yet. Angel Taylor’s hefty vocals compliments Arty’s dense production and the drop shakes the room just like a big-room EDM track should. Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it enjoyable? Yeah, it is. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/interscope/arty-up-all-night-feat-angel-taylor[/soundcloud]

Juce- Burning Up

Lizzie: C’mon everyone, do the hustle! This a lovely rosy little jam. It’s got that sassy edge that makes you want to get up in the morning and do great things with your self. I love the cheeky inclusion of “Juce it up” - that’s a little bit of fun isn’t it. 4

Bianca: So much sass, so little time! This track is hot, hot, hot and Chalin’s vocals are as smooth as ever. 3

Hannah: This is just so catchy. Despite being in the middle of a fairly non-existent winter, I’m still transported to a rooftop party in the middle of summer. 3.5 Hannah’s Pick

Sam: I always lose it when I hear lyrics directed towards a hometown and when a song is released in conjunction with a season. So, this week Juce get two big ticks from me for doing both. They earn a third gold star for the lyric “Juce it up”. If I was in a boy band I would make sure our name was used as innuendo in every second verse. Burning Up induces so much nostalgia. Juce have yet to put a foot wrong yet in my books. 4

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/jucelovemusic/juce-burning-up[/soundcloud]

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu- Kira Kira Killers

Lizzie: I don’t know what I just heard. Is it a song or a hyperactive chipmunk? 0

Bianca: A candy-pop, sickly sweet J-Pop number that would slip in quite easily to a Dance Dance Revolution track list. And I love Dance Dance Revolution so: 3

Hannah: For a j-pop track it’s incredibly insightful. The only english words used are happy, happy, happy, F-U-C-K and killer. It’s about a bad break up right? Digging the empathy. 2.5

Sam: Hang on give me 30 seconds to digest what I’ve just seen.

If pop music in this country was this interesting, commercial radio would be a much safer place. This sound is being appropriated into so many electronic tracks right now, which makes this sound very current, actually. I’m not sure if Kyary meant to be so of-the-moment but it is. And for that reason I love it. Please somebody insert me into this video so I too can dance with that odd looking beast-like character. 4 Sam's Pick

Banoffee- Got It

Lizzie: The warped male voice in the background is just weird and unnecessary, and to be quite honest, it’s a little creepy. Martha’s voice on the other hand, is a tantalisingly fresh and unique sound that I’m totally diggin’. 3.5

Bianca: This is a quirky, RnB little number with Martha’s subtle vocals complimented by 80s-inspired synths. And the male voice? Unlike Lizzie, I like my men warped. 3 Bianca's Pick

Hannah: Simultaneously sickly sweet, yet smooth and a little too heavy, just like the dessert itself, Banoffee gives us an Australian female voice that doesn’t sound like The Jezabel’s on one side or Rainbow Chan on the other and that is fine by me. 3

Sam: When stuff as interesting as this comes out of Australia I get so excited. Recruiting Oscar Key Sung on this one is a choice move by Banoffee and the production is just so particular and finicky. It’s almost hard to make out when one syllable ends and another one starts yet the track is so dynamic and melodic. Yeah, I’ll take this Banoffee. Even sweater than the real one. 4

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/banoffeeme/banoffee-got-it-1[/soundcloud]

RL Grime- Core

Lizzie: I did not think it was humanly possible to cram this many annoying sounds into one song. Well done RL Grime, you have successfully given me a migraine. 0.5

Bianca: Sounds like an apprentice snake charmer learning his scales for the first time. In the middle of a bomb raid. 2

Hannah: For about 3 seconds I want to get low to this track, and then I’m put off by the wailing siren sounds. I’m not sure if I should drop it low, or run for the hills. 2

Sam: This is murder on the dance floor. That alarming synth make me very anxious but at the same time I’m captivated by the war-like take on trap. Points for innovation but this one will have to sit with me for a little longer if it’s going to appease my tastebuds. 3

first impressions07/14/2014

First Impressions 7 July

firstimpressions_7july

This week's First Impressions has something for everyone. There's EDM, pop, disco, electronica and soul. Unfortunately, sometimes when the best things in life come together it can be catastrophic. We're unable to agree on anything this week, as Ariana Grande's banging anthem fails to please and Bon Iver falls at the mercy of one recurring sound. Meanwhile Flume and Chet Faker's 3481st song together impresses some and leaves a sour taste for others.

Ariana Grande Feat. Zedd- Break Free

Bianca: Ariana has reached Grande heights around the world and I just can’t understand why. Her voice grates me in a way that I can’t describe and the higher she goes, the lower my volume goes. Just as Zedd entered the building at the 3:17 mark and it sounded like the song was peaking to something a little more exciting, it promptly ended. Well, I wasn’t entirely wrong about the exciting bit. 1

Hannah: In need of a drinking game? Shots, shot, shots, every time this song features in a marketing campaign over summer. Plot twist? You’ll spend summer drunk and it’ll be better than remembering hearing this song. 2

Sam: I feel like the whole EDM meets pop thing is such a tired formula. But, Zedd and Ariana just get this one so right and it comes down to two things. The first is Zedd has no ego in this. He forgoes huge drops in favour of stellar verses and never overwhelms with bass. The second is Ariana has a ridiculous voice and this is the first time we’ve heard it in full force. This could be the biggest selling song of the year. 3

Lizzie: I am just going to pretend that this wasn't in First Impressions this week. I actually had to play this on the lowest volume in my room - I just couldn’t let my housemates catch me listening to this. 1.5

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/canalselgomez/ariana-grande-break-free-ft-zedd-official[/soundcloud]

Nile Rodgers- Do What You Wanna Do

Bianca: Goddammit, I’m trying so hard not to dance to this song but my platform shoe-clad feet are thinking otherwise. Do what You Wanna Do is certainly a shameless little bit of fun. 2.5

Hannah: A decade in the making from the man himself, I kind of expected a little more. It’s got all the components of a ready-made disco sensation, electric guitar, catchy rhyming lyrics you can sing to slash guess at while succumbing to disco fever, a creepy voice over here and there, and when all else fails a whistle, but it just never really takes off? 2

Sam: So many warm fuzzies on this one. After five decades Nile Rodgers is still the king of disco. Yeah it’s a little corny but that synth-line puts the fattest smile on my face, so screw it. I can’t give this one a score. Rodgers is a legend, he’s paid his dues. As someone born in the ‘90s, it’s far beyond me to judge the king of disco.

Lizzie: Not my vibes at all. This feel like a dodgy karaoke song playing on a caribbean cruise ship. Please excuse me while I go jump ship. 1

Meg Mac- Roll Up Your Sleeves

Bianca: A lovely little Sunday School tune. Expect big things from Meg Mac. 3

Hannah: *Tactically side steps comparison to Adele.* It's nice. 3 Hannah's Pick

Sam: Sometimes I feel like artists are trying to be so tricky nowadays that they’ve lost the art of writing a great tune. Roll Up Your Sleeves is a classic example of what can be achieved when you keep it simple. Mac sounds amazing and the song is optimistic and classy. 3.5

Lizzie: She has got these Nora Jones/Duffy soul vibes, but with a youthful kick. What a tune - I’m not usually a ballard gal, but this lady has got a gift. Bring on the next hit! 4

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/megmacmusic/meg-mac-roll-up-your-sleeves[/soundcloud]

Chet Faker- Gold (Flume re-work)

Bianca: Seems a bit same-old same-old for me. It doesn’t seem as if Flume has evolved this song much from the original and feels less like a re-work and more of a repeat. 2

Hannah: 2

Sam: Another Flume and Chet Faker track. It was something unique at first but now it’s become about as common as going to the bathroom. Flume adds a skittering aesthetic with pulsating bass while Chet croons away over the top. Am I excited? Nup. I just fell asleep and dribbled a little. 2

Lizzie: Flume has once again put his Midas Touch on an already golden track. Chet Faker, you make me weak at the knees. Every song he produces is engulfed with this infectious energy and emotion, and Gold is no different. You may even convert me to beards. 4 Lizzie’s Pick

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/neighbors-hate-us-future/chet-faker-gold-flume-re-work[/soundcloud]

Basement Jaxx- Never Say Never

Bianca: Watching Bend It Like Beckham last night (I regret nothing) and hearing the soundtrack made me miss the old Basement Jaxx. In saying that, the piano chords and grooving synths are enough to get it onto my party playlist. 3 Bianca's Pick

Hannah: Didn’t we already hear this one? 2

Sam: It’s a nice pleasant take on deep house. It sounds like Duke Dumont, Disclosure, Ben Pearce but it’s got no hint of Basement Jaxx’s identity in it. If I heard it in a club I’d love it I’m sure but right now just nothing sticks out to me. Blah. 2.5

Lizzie: Love love love the vocalist. There’s something very smooth about him. It’s definitely a step up from any of the other new tracks they have released this year, but would have loved for them to pushed the boundaries a little more. C’mon, surprise me. 3.5

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/basement-jaxx/never-say-never[/soundcloud]

Bon Iver- Heavenly Father

Bianca: I feel I can’t properly score this song because it seems my speakers are broken. Oh wait, it’s meant to sound like that? All I can say is this song would certainly not be an ideal remedy to a hangover. Thankfully, I didn’t drink last night and can appreciate Vernon’s beautiful-as-ever song amongst the mess of repetitive lulls of noise. 2.5

Hannah: This week. Just go home new music, you’re drunk. This is exactly what happens when Bon Iver sings over your 6th grand band rehearsal. While I love Bon Iver with the deepest crevice of my heart, and in many respects the redeeming feature of this song is indeed Bon Iver himself and his undeniable voice, I can’t help but want more. It feels kind of... lazy. 2.5

Sam: Justin Vernon strikes something for me that no other songwriter at the moment does. He always writes with a hint of sadness yet induces this peering glimmer of sunshine. As a fan, it’s great to hear another track from Bon Iver but also bittersweet knowing that another LP may be a while off. 4 Sam’s Pick

Lizzie:Is the tape recorder stuck? There seems to be a terrible whiney sound on repeat, destroying what could have been a beautiful Bon Iver track! My ears are still ringing. 2

first impressions / reviews07/07/2014

First Impressions 30 June

FIRSTIMPRESSIONS_JUNE20

Lust at first sight is all the rage in this week's First Impressions. This week features a steamy collection of songs moving from the club to the bedroom. We move from The Weeknd's bedroom, to Shabazz Palace's kitchen and to the club with Jamie xx. This week we play the fly on the wall.

Jhene Aiko- To Love & Die

Sam: It’s difficult to be straight-up impressed with this one because Aiko’s charm is so effortless. Major throwbacks to Ashanti and I’m completely ok with that given that I’ve spent the last decade clinging onto Murder Inc.’s back catalogue. The bridge before the third chorus delivers straight-up attitude. 4

Hannah: Doing Rihanna better than RiRi herself and brimming with a serious injection early 2000 RnB, this is a sound I’m totally ok with. 3.5

Lizzie: Ooft just like slicing hot butter, this song melts me. I'd like to slip into something more comfortable, pour myself a bath and be serenaded by Aiko's sweet tones. 3.5

Bianca: A silky-smooth RnB gem that’s bringing flashbacks of a much simpler time when hair was accessorised with butterflies and couches were made of poppable plastic. My head bounce increased ten-fold at the fervent 56-second mark. 3.5

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/jumpoffhiphop/jhene-aiko-to-love-die-feat-cocaine-80s[/soundcloud]

Jamie xx- All Under One Roof Raving

Sam: It’s winter in England, everyone’s checked their coats at the cloakroom and is now surviving off each other's body heat in a club in East London. It’s also 4am. Jamie xx just gets this one so right. It’s such a vivid homage to rave culture in London with nuanced additions like those British vocal samples. The beat? Sparse brilliance. Hannah, if you don’t like this, I’ll eat my hat, literally. 4.5

Hannah: As much as I’d like to see you eat your snapback Samos, Jamie xx and steel drums? Just 5. Just 5. 5 Hannah’s Pick

Lizzie: Very interesting. 4.5 from Sam & a 5 from Hannah? I was almost ready to pack it in and give up on this track but then the 4 minute mark crept up and made much more sense. Thank god - I didn’t want to ever hate him. 3.5

Bianca: Jamie xx has just transported me to an underground, tin-walled club in London. Between the hectic cockney-accented vocal samples and the always-welcome steel drums, I am in love. TUNEEEEEE. 5 Bianca’s Pick

FKA Twigs- Two Weeks

Sam: How can I put it more eloquently than Twigs herself? I can’t but I’ll try given it’s the nature of First Impressions. Two Weeks is such a dignified take on something that is often delivered in such a trashy way: sex. Her voice builds intensity and then lets it all go with a detour into her higher register. All the while, the beat just shudders in the background with the bass working the track into a steamy climax. Absolute, experimental perfection. Show me something more impressive than this, this year. 5 Sam’s Pick

Hannah: This is quivering perfection. A score of pure staccato moments vibrate and bounce below FKA Twigs insane vocals. At once Aaliyah and Mariah at her best, this song knows exactly what it wants, and how to tease and toy with you until it gets it. I have a feeling FKA Twigs has even more to give, but she ain’t gonna give it up easily. 4

Lizzie: What a cheeky lady - the moment I thought I could pass this song on to my Mum for some light listening, she brings out “motherfucker” in the most majestically elegant way. I am hypnotised by her tomfoolery. 4.5 Lizzie's Pick

Bianca: Had this been released just a week earlier than it did, I'd have no doubt it would feature in the top 10 section of our Top 20 Songs of 2014. The way she so eloquently slips in a few ‘fucks’ and ‘mother fuckers’ into this piece of art makes me think this song could slide its way onto commercial radio without the ACMA blinking an eye. 4

The Weeknd- Often

Sam: And if Twigs deals with it in a dignified manner, then The Weeknd does the opposite. The Weeknd has gone from being one of the pioneers of modern RnB to being sleazier than R.Kelly. “Make that pussy pop and do it how I want it?” Really? The track is slick but he’s just too much for me. 2

Lizzie: “I can make your pussy rain often?” What would your mother say!? I feel like I want to give him a slap on the wrist and send him to his bedroom without ice-cream. Such a beautiful voice but such a dirty mind. 3

Hannah: If the last couple of weeks have been all about disco fever, this week is about thumping, pulsing, quivering, teasing and down right sexy slow jams. I’m totally ok to be used and abused by this latest offering from The Weeknd. 3

Bianca: Umbrella sales have just gone down dramatically. 1

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/theweekndxo/the-weeknd-often[/soundcloud]

Shabazz Palace- #CAKE

Sam: In Shabazz Palace’s world you can have the cake and eat it too. It’s such a psychedelic, woozy take on the hip-hop genre that almost skews your immediate view for four minutes. I love the middle-eastern influences and the melodic change-ups that waterfall back into that M.I.A-like beat. 4

Lizzie: I hate it. But I do crave cake for some reason. 0.5

Hannah:I don’t think this cake is gluten-free. I’m out. 1.5

Bianca: This cake did not rise. 0.5

Calvin Harris- C.U.B.A

Sam: Let it be known, I find Calvin Harris more unbearable than a world without cronuts, but I’m going to challenge myself to be positive about this. I like that he’s detoured from slick, pop-based EDM, to deliver what is a banging big room-track. It builds well with assaulting if not slightly-predictable synths and it drops like a mutha-f***ker. My only issue? I hate it. 2

Lizzie:

Simple Recipe for an EDM song:

3 parts equal serving Heavy bass and crash

3 parts unrecognizable twangy sound

1 part moment which makes you nostalgic about those fun times in Summer

300 minutes of build up to the drop

2 parts “Drop”

1 part realising that this song is like every other EDM song

C’mon Calvin I love you man, but it’s an Invention Test and your recipe is just so pedestrian. 2

Hannah: Picture this. The sun is setting over Coachella 2014, Calvin Harris has just walked on stage to a 45,000-strong crowd and just as that first jarring note reigns out over a sea of sweaty EDM heads, you realise Little Dragon is also walking out on a stage somewhere else and would have been a far better option. Through the sea of meat, there is no escape and for the next hour not only will you be subjected to aural torture but you will forever have to live with the knowledge you, for whatever brain-fart of a reason, chose Calvin over Little Dragon. I just can’t even go there. 0.5

Bianca: I feel like I have to dance otherwise someone is going to shoot me. 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/calvinharris/calvin-harris-cuba[/soundcloud]

first impressions / reviews06/30/2014

First Impressions 23 June

Truth be told, this week we were feeling a little confused after First Impressions. We heard Alt-J sample Miley, Riff Raff team with Childish Gambino and we gave tough love to everything apart from Tough Love. It may raise more questions than answers but such is the appeal of a first impression: the mystery.

Jessie Ware- Tough Love

Sam: I was wondering what Jessie was going to do following Devotion, sound-wise and this is a perfect answer. The upper-echelons of Ware’s vocals are crystalline and Benny Blanco’s production is sleek and sophisticated. That strobing synth off the back of the second chorus is a more than welcome punch through to the song’s third quarter. Stunning. 4.5 Sam's Pick

Bianca: I had this strange feeling of knowing this song at very first listen. The soft sweeps and subtle backbeats are homely and comforting and Jessie’s stirring vocal-layered crescendo at 2:48 makes me just melt. 4.5 Bianca’s Pick

Lizzie: “You have me crying out, crying out for more.” Um yes, her words exactly. You know what is real tough love, the fact that her album is not here yet. This song is elegant, slick and effortlessly bouncy. Tick, tick, tick! 4.5 Lizzie's Pick

Hannah: This song has been on repeat since theinterns shared it early last week. It’s a perfectly restrained combination of poppy bouncy beat, synth and can’t-help-but-sing-a-long lyrics. Said before and will say it again, ain’t nothing tough about listening to this one. 4

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/jessieware/tough-love[/soundcloud]

Alt-J- Hunger of the Pines

Sam: Miley and Alt-J, these are a few of my favourite things...but for some strange reason Hunger of the Pines is not. There’s no huge change in sound from An Awesome Wave and it sounds odd for odd’s sake. The Miley sample is beyond clumsy. 2

Bianca: This song sounded like it was about to go somewhere and then Miley came in with her big wrecking ball and ruined any chance of that happening. The cutting of her sample at 3:37 seems very odd to me. Points for the strings & sax though, and the return of Alt-J onto the scene. 3

Lizzie: The strings, the sax, it sounds like an orchestra warming up for a concert. Instruments are a little all over the place, but I am at peace with that. I am so glad Alt-J is back in my life, and...what the heck, I’m gonna go ahead and say that I’m a-OK with the Miley sample. #sorrynotsorry 3.5

Hannah: Having Miley Cyrus sing “I’m a female rebel,” really? Good one Alt-j, you’re so meta. With that said, I am never opposed to a Miley appearance, I love the slow climb crescendo and I do love where this song goes from 3:07. Welcome back Alt-j. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/alt-j/hunger-of-the-pine[/soundcloud]

Riff Raff- Lava Glaciers (Feat. Childish Gambino)

Sam: I can’t help but think this song would be more of a success with James Franco rapping. Riff Raff’s rapping goes down like a poor person at the Opera, while the hook is just, ugh...I kind of like it, it’s frustrating. Luckily Childish Gambino comes in and guides the song through the storm. It’s the first time I’ve felt relaxed with Troy Barnes at the helm. 3

Bianca: “It’s pointless like the use of Emojis.” Umm...how else would I let my friends know I feel like eating a dragon head from a plate while wearing my finest red ball gown? Despite that minor misdemeanor, and Raff’s overuse of similes, this song is surprisingly inoffensive. 2

Lizzie: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. No. Just no. I have no idea what I just heard. 1

Hannah: 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/riffraff/lavaglaciers[/soundcloud]

Duke Dumont- Won't Look Back

Sam: It’s a bit more of the same for Duke Dumont. ‘90s rave keys, a deep house beat and a soulful female vocal sample. It’s enjoyable but very safe, a bit like a glass of water- it’s hard to dislike, but it ain’t gonna get you drunk is it? 2.5

Bianca: Won’t Look Back is like the poor man’s Ride on Time (see, Riff Raff? I can do similes too!). The raspy vocals, purposeful keys and ‘90s groove are all the right ingredients for a dancefloor anthem but unfortunately the ingredients used here are Home Brand. 2

Lizzie: I am massively underwhelmed by this track. Duke Dumont, why did you go back to your 90s safe place? You were nailing it with I Got U and Need U - I feel you have gone back 20 steps (...or 20 years). 2

Hannah: Well this all sounds very familiar doesn’t it? 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/dukedumont/wont-look-back[/soundcloud]

BROODS- Mother and Father

Sam: BROODS’ debut EP was just so solid, it was hard to imagine how they’d top it. But they have. Mother and Father is their most abrasive pop moment yet. It packs an emotional punch and is just so damn hard to dislike. 2Dayfm will pick it up, Triple J will pick it up, heck, it may even be the Royals of 2014. 4

Bianca: Ooo, well isn’t this lovely? The defiant drum beat and gushing lyrics are definitely bringing back the memories and emotions of leaving home. brb, going to call my Mum. 4

Lizzie: Am I “wowed” by this track? No. Would I run and tell my friends about it? Probably not. But in saying that, Broods have delivered a sweet musical gem that blends very well into my uni study playlist. 3.5

Hannah: I am having a solid BROODS’ moment right now. Mother & Father bridges the gap perfectly between what was and what is to come. 4.2 Hannah's Pick

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/broods/broods-mother-father[/soundcloud]

Chloe Howl- Disappointed

Sam: Howl was part of the BBC’s Sound of 2014 and unfortunately the title of this song is a good indication of her career since. Ironically, this song may be the one to turn her fate around. Her vocals in the verses are buttery and the melody has a straight-up, Katy Perry-esque likeability. Surely this will find her a home in the British charts, it’s as if Adele has had a firecracker stuck up her arse. 3

Bianca: Sam, Mother and Father has no place in between Sophie & Jules on 2Dayfm. Disappointed, however, does. Ugh. 0.5

Sam: Bianca, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Broods have been added to 2Dayfm's playlist.

Bianca: I still stand by my statement.

Lizzie: I am not angry or annoyed, I am just disappointed. 0.5

Hannah: Did she just say “You think I’m stupid-o?” I’m not even going to check that lyric. I like my version better already. 0.5

Don't forget to cast your First Impressions vote in our poll on the right! (Not available for mobile users)

first impressions / reviews06/22/2014

First Impressions 16 June

For this week's First Impressions, theinterns travel to East Africa with Bag Raiders and find some Love in High Places with Kimbra before being seriously weirded out by a Trippy Turtle Theme Tune. It's OK though because we've brought Bianca's mum Trish along for the ride and she's grooving to Anna Lunoe!

Bag Raiders- Nairobi

Trish: Too processed. Sounds like stomach gurgling and teeth chattering. I think I’d only enjoy it if i were in Brazil, celebrating the World Cup (with a few Mojitos under my belt). 2

Sam: Agree with Trish. Unless I’m swilling a mojito round in my hand, this song does very little for me on a cold winter day. That marimba almost had me. Almost. 2.5

Lizzie: Is everyone ready for Mardi Gras, cause this song sure makes you want to don a giant sequin feather head piece. I had high hopes for this song and I was smacked right in the face with a conga line. Just a bit much, but I will try and give it another chance in a couple of days. 3

Hannah: I lost interest the second I heard that horrible old car horn sample. Not even steal drums can redeem this colourful collision. 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/bag-raiders-nairobi-1[/soundcloud]

Kiesza- Giant In My Heart

Trish: I don’t mind her. Nice new sound. (Male vocals come in) Oh. I don’t like him. The male vocals spoil it. She’s got a nice singing voice and a lot of potential but the song doesn’t do her justice. 3

Sam: Kiesza is the next Roisin Murphy in my opinion. That voice hits giddy heights and provides a great juxtaposition over a deep, massaging beat. There’s more in here. This is a little generic. Hopefully an album will give her some space to explore, less trodden territory. 3

Lizzie: I cannot decide whether I like the roughness in her voice, or I am utterly pained by it. It's got a very 90s/early 2000s vibe. Yep, I’ve decided I like it. The male vocals just make me laugh though. 3.5

Hannah: WOW I was just getting into it when that I’m-not-quite-a-Scat-Man male vocal came in. Despite that, the beat’s pumpy, the desperation in Kiesza’s voice during the chorus is truly addictive and the melodic samples are perfect placed. There’s a lot of fun to be had here. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/seanxcx/kiesza-giant-in-my-heart-radio-rip[/soundcloud]

Kimbra- Love In High Places

Trish: I really like her. There’s a lot of variety in her voice. The vocals, the percussion, they all fit together nicely like a jigsaw puzzle, to make for a complete listening experience. 5 Trish’s Pick

Sam: Oooh the vocals at the start of this just melt with every syllable. I love that construction-wise it’s quite a textbook soul track, yet she adds subtle oddities that make it so much better like the little synth-breaks. The people saying this album is a desperate attempt to draw attention back after Somebody I Used To Know need to pull their heads out of the sand. What she’s doing right now is supreme. 4 Sam’s Pick

Lizzie: Oh thank god Kimbra, I really didn’t want to be as harsh as I was with 90s Music a couple of weeks ago (that was horrible). She’s slowed it down in this one, swollowed a chill pill and taken us on a 5:17 minute journey, a real Flight Facilities Claire de Lune style lengthy journey. Such an improvement!! 3.5

Hannah: Guys, guys, guys. It's finally happened. I actually like, NAY love a Kimbra song! The verses in particular really have me swimming in a pool of smooth 90s RnB-flavoured nostalgia (Hey Kimbra, here’s your 90s Music). I say quit forcing your usual "oh I'm a quirky female artist and I have a quirky female artist sound" and stick with this new buttery-soft goodness.

Trippy Turtle- Trippy’s Theme

Trish: Very disjointed. It’d be really good if you were tripping. But I’m afraid that’s not my cup of tea. 1

Sam: At first I was a little disappointed that this one wasn’t more like Schnappi das Kleine Krokodil but I’ve moved past that now and am utterly confused. It sounds like Boyz II Men remixed by Cashmere Cat. I really don’t know. The tune is half decent but the whole Trippy Turtle thing...am I late to the party? What on earth is it? A jamster mobile creation? 3

Lizzie: This song starts so well, so smooth, almost J.T like. Then, I am not sure what happens - a squeeky bed appears? The song is called called Trippy Turtle so I should not have been surprised! In all its nonsensical-ness, I can have fun with song. 3.5

Hannah: Trippy Turtle? More like Awkward Turtle. I totally agree with Sam. I’m pretty sure this IS just a Cashmere Cat song in poor disguise and now I feel weirded out by the additional turtle-themed vocals. I just don’t know… 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/maddecent/trippy-turtle-trippys-theme-jeff075[/soundcloud]

Anna Lunoe- Bass Drum Dealer

Trish: Oh no, not more of this stuff. *puts head in hand* It delivers like yesterday’s sour bottle of milk 0.5 (sorry)

Sam: I love that an Aussie girl has delivered this beefed-up EDM track that cracks most of the male big-room names over the head. It uses a lot of cliche sounds but that deep bass wins me over every time. Aussie gal does good. Bravo. 3.5

Lizzie: The lyrics put it perfectly. “And I always deliver.” She delivers alright. Flying the Aussie flag for dance music and female producers, this song has a Swedish House Mafia style pull but with her own distinct breakdown. You are not teased into a drop like most big-room EDM songs (thank god), and she brings this modern electro jungle vibe. Go girl. 4 Lizzie’s pick

Hannah: This is just a great dance track. It's not particularly preoccupied with forging new ground but hey, is new ground always necessary? Lunoe's just happily captislising on some seriously great sounds we already know and love. If it ain't broke, why fix it? 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/nesthq/anna-lunoe-bdd-nest031?in=nesthq/sets/anna-lunoe-bass-drum-dealer-nest031[/soundcloud]

Fractures- Won’t Win

Trish: Very easy listening. I just arrived in cold Sydney and his voice makes me feel like I’m sitting in front of a fire, all warm and comfortable. His voice is husky like a good cognac and seems to have a lot of soul to it. I enjoyed the vocals and change in tempo at 2:30 in particular. 4

Sam: I too enjoy the change of tempo but this is just all very pleasant. It’s good and his voice is wistful in a great way but it plants its foot too far in James Blake territory to carve his own identity. Lyrics like “You won’t win, I’ll rid myself of this war you started” are so loaded yet the music is so placid. Me a little confused. 3

Lizzie: This song has a Matt Corby pensiveness to it. Beautiful sound to come out of Melbourne, I’ve never heard them before. I really loved the thick breakdown of instruments towards the close of the song, a nice touch to finish. 4

Hannah: I really should like this song shouldn’t I? It hits all the Seekae come James Blake, electronica meets wistful, longing vocals that usually appeal to me, but truth be told, I’m just a little bored. 2.5

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/fractures-music/wontwin[/soundcloud]

first impressions / reviews06/16/2014

First Impressions 10 June

Here are six songs that we kept in our company over the long weekend. While some were pleasant, others came armed with expletives and harsh beats. We reviewed them at the end of the weekend, taking particular note of their willingness to please the ears and their likeness to snozberries.

AG Cook- Beautiful

Sam: PC Music just sounds so futuristic and inhuman that it's hard to attach yourself with. I think I've finally come around to it. Beautiful is so kitsch yet so melodic and lolly-like. It's something new and I'm loving it. 4

Hannah: This is what happens when some seriously great production goes full throttle towards those shimmery, euphoric, highs we came to know and love during the happy house wave. It really hits its stride around the 1:20 mark, and from there on in it’s all rainbow coloured streets and snozberries that ACTUALLY taste like snozberries. #PLUR 3.5

Bianca:

2.5

Lizzie: I feel like I just stepped out of an episode of Rugrats. When the song thickens at 1:20 seconds, it’s really hard not to bounce along. However, I’m still not sold on the whole Hello Kitty sound - its a very very new sound to my ears. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/pcmus/beautiful[/soundcloud]

Caribou- Can't Do Without You

Sam: I'm still not really over Odessa so it's hard to accept that something new has come along. In saying that Can't Do Without You is a grower and that climax at the end is well worth the wait. The vocal sample is also a total winner too. 4

Hannah: This is what I like to call a ninja song. See, you think you’ve heard all there is to hear and then all of a sudden some new crystalline layer creeps in so perfectly you begin to wonder if it wasn’t there all along. The climax is epic. The fade out is insane. The vocal sample is too too smooth. Caribou I’m glad you’re back. Ninja’d. 4 Hannah's pick

Bianca: I was so ready for another Odessa-style poppy track from Dan Snaith but certainly was not disappointed in its more relaxed successor. Can’t Do Without You is a slow-burner with a satisfying climax, topped off by a lovely vocal surprise at the end. Snaith’s Album Our Love is due out in three long months’ time so I guess I’ll just have to listen to this on repeat until then. 4 Bianca’s pick

Lizzie: Please excuse me while I just go eargasm. The climax of this song is unnervingly good. I’m left a little hot and flustered. 4 Lizzie’s pick

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/caribouband/cant-do-without-you[/soundcloud]

Drake- O to 100

Sam: Drake says it best when he raps "Fuck being on that chill shit". He's become a bit melancholic lately and it's good to hear him rapping hell for leather again. And then he flips to The Catch Up and we get lush synths and a melodic Drake that proves he can swap between the two effortlessly. Kanye and Future are really the only other two rappers that can do that. 3.5

Hannah: Drake, I’mma let you finish but, James fucking Blake. 3.5

Bianca: Something, something n***a. Something, something bitches. Hold up, James Blake? This song really went from 0-100 real quick. Real fucking quick. 4

Lizzie: Could not stand to listen past the first 30 seconds of this track, but I obliged. I should probably get some medal or something. This song is painful. 1

SBTRKT- Temporary View

Sam: I do like this but my problem lies with the fact that it's just so similar to his debut. It's three years on and yet we’re back to Sampha and a wash of synths and sporadic beats. It's a formula that works but one I'm going to soon tire of. 3

Hannah: SBTRKT really pushed some boundaries with this one... 3

Bianca: It’s a harmless, glittery number that doesn’t really go anywhere. 2.5

Lizzie: The synth sounds like its have a seizure in the background. Completely missed the mark. 2

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/sbtrkt/sbtrkt-temporary-view-ft-sampha[/soundcloud]

Fishing- Your Mouth

Sam: Well this is a bit of fun isn't it? It's full of tropical keys and a nice leaping beats. It's really quite cruel to drop this in the midst of winter. It's quite different to any Australian music right now. That's refreshing to hear. 3

Hannah: Fishing have been on my “Welll… if there’s no one else playing at this time,” festival list for a good 3 years now. If I ever do get to see them, I will be suitably clad in an hawaiian-shirt and drinking from a pineapple. 2.5

Bianca: There’s a little bit too much going on for me to fully sink into this song. 2.5

Lizzie: Just another song to add to the “Made in Chelsea” soundtrack. Upbeat and a little smarmy but nothing to rave home about. 3

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/fishing/your-mouth[/soundcloud]

Starchild- All My Lovers

Sam: Blood Orange and Solange have done such a good thing re-designing this sleek, brand of NYC RnB. Starchild hangs in that click and it shows. All My Lovers is all about subtlety. It grows ever so slowly, he sings like a male-Aaliyah and there's this smoke-machine like haze that runs through it. I'm so excited by Starchild. Quite frankly, this is the most promising debut I've heard all year. 5 Sam's Pick

Hannah: I just can't get on board with this one. It's too slow and too derivative and just doesn't hold its own against all other producers with a similar sound floating around at the moment. 2.5

Bianca: Saving this one for a purple rainy day. 3

Lizzie: Toured with Solange, collaborated with Blood Orange - what could go wrong with this artist? For all its beauty (damn there is a lot of talent within this 19 year old), I struggle to digest a song this slow. It’s just sooooooo slow. 3

Sam: You're all crazy.

first impressions / reviews06/10/2014