A round-table review of the week’s singles featuring Sam Smith, EMA and Jamie xx.
Method to the madness: Each week we, theinterns, will select the most noteworthy new releases and take them for a spin. Each of us will score the track out of five and choose the best tune for our audio dietary requirements. Let the madness ensue as the tracks pass through the ears of an EDM queen, a nostalgic RnB revivalist, a lover of all things alternative and a 90s fein.
Sam Smith- Stay With Me
Sam: So simple, yet so effective. His voice is just so good- couple that with the choir and this song takes it to church. This is surely bound to be another hit for him. 4
Lizzie: He’s is bringing back the gospel to the masses which is something new and captivating. His voice is enchanting in the same way John Newman was with his collaboration with Rudimental. Can he carry his own album though? I am excited to see. 3
Hannah: Sam Smith knows when an understatement it is just the right statement. Consistent snare, simple piano, perfect voice. Stay With Me verges on ballad material but with the same restraint and control as Smith’s vocals, pulls back before hitting Mariah territory. Side note, Mariah territory is never bad territory. 3.5
Bianca: A mellow love ballad which treads along at a satisfyingly easy pace. I spent the song waiting for it to reach a gospel-esque peak and was relieved that the extent of its crescendo was maintained to modest church choir levels. The casual tambourine taps and nonchalant piano chords, accompanied by Sam’s ballady vocals, make it a bit too ‘Love Song Dedication’ for my liking but I can see how it could easily stick in the head. Begging for a remix. Over to you, Richard Mercer. 3
HAERTS- Call My Name
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/haertsmusic/call-my-name[/soundcloud]
Sam: It’s somewhat surprising that the bombacious All The Days is followed up by this mellow and warm track. For me, it has the vibe of a more tasteful Take My Breath Away, with a powerful chorus that only an 80s inspired track can deliver. 3.5
Lizzie: Oh God i’m bored 2
Hannah: Yawn. 2
Bianca: I’m not bored. I think it’s such a warm track that just has melody oozing out of it. 3.5
Jamie xx- Sleep Sound
Sam: Jamie xx kills it everytime. That throbbing base-line takes you to the clubs without even knowing it and those sporadic RnB samples inject just enough melody to keep it pacing along. 4
Hannah: Totally agree with Sam. Jamie XX has an undeniable ability to make 1am turn into 5am very quickly and this mix is no different. The base-line has my body pulsing before I know it and the melodic samples are doing all kinds of dreamy thangs. On repeat. 4.5
Lizzie: When was the last time Jamie XX dropped a solo single? I am so used to just hearing him play long, mesmerizing festival sets. This guy can do no wrong. I could dance, run, chill or sleep to this song and that’s no mean feat. 4.5
Bianca: When Jamie xx was here for Laneway in February he played such an expansive and mesmerizing twilight set. This encapsulates that exact feeling whilst lulling you into another world. 4 Bianca’s Pick
SZA Feat. Chance The Rapper- Childs Play
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/topdawgent/sza-feat-chance-the-rapper[/soundcloud]
Sam: Just another reason to be excited for Z. Somehow she makes the line “Stuck in Nintendo, you’re the controller” sound sexy. It’s not hugely different for her but the addition of Chance The Rapper is a choice move. 4
Hannah: I love the lazy lull of this song. Totally sensual, totally indulgent, totally appropriate for the hazy hours of a sunday morning. Babies will be made to the sound of SZA and Chance wondering how we used to was. 4.5 Hannah’s Pick
Lizzie: The female vocals on this track are so seductive. I just melt into this song, but just as I thought I was going to nod off (in a good way!) Chance comes in, creating a strong a closing harmony. 4.5 Lizzie’s Pick
Bianca: Eh. It just plods along for me. I’m not overly excited. 2
EMA- 3Jane
Sam: Nothing that’s surfaced off The Future’s Void has excited me quite as much as this. EMA has such a creeping power to her voice when backed by a clean-cut melody. The ever so subtle climax at the end is pretty special. 4.5 Sam’s Pick
Hannah: Look I understand EMA is going somewhere with this but I’m just not going there with her. It’s a solo race to this climactic finish. 3
Lizzie: You’ve gotta be in the right mood for this song. I was not. I spent most of the song contemplating my future and what not. But hey, I see potential in her voice and general “don’t give a fuck”. Maybe i’ll try again later. 3
Bianca: I lost interest and started paying more attention to clicking my pen. That was fun. 2
Velociraptor- Ramona
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/velociraptorband/ramona[/soundcloud]
Sam: I feel like Ramona is a guilty pleasure because the melody just melts into your ears so easily. It’s a sound that’s been flogged a lot on Triple J recently but this is one of the more enjoyable tunes I’ve heard out of a J’s band for a while. 3
Hannah: Pure Guitar Hero material – fun to master, less fun to listen to. Sorry J sound. 3
Lizzie: Look. I didn’t hate, but I didn’t love it. Its got the foundations for a great boppy, just-out-of-your-best-mate’s-garage song, great for the young Triple J teeny-boppers. But I can’t help feel like this came from the soundtrack for “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.” 3
Bianca: I’m enjoying this. It’s classic indie-rock done with energy and fun. Now my problem is getting it out of my head. 3.5
