In this week's track-hunting travels, I take you all beyond the stars to a land of CGI fish and bands christened after galaxies. I've really got to work on these introductions...
THE BEST:
'Solitude' - M83
You dudes and dudettes have all seen Gravity right? The beautifully
calming and equally smothering solitude of space seems to be perfectly captured
in this new slightly-cheesy-but-glamorous cosmo-ballad from M83. Maybe it's just the starry-backdropped visuals that give this impression. Or the fact that this
French synthpop band are named after the galaxy M83. Whatever the reason, this song makes me
think of space and shit.
'Amber' - Orca
Commencing with some Tool-influenced ambient progginess,
this track unexpectedly dives into some meaty metal riffage, including a
brilliantly brutal chugging section that’ll make you want to slamdance around your
office. It’s a beautiful mix of artful atmosphere and skull-crushing heaviness.
'Mercurial' - PHON.O
Sporting some intricate percussion and gut-rumbling
sub-bass, this brooding electronic instrumental from Berlin producer PHON.O will
swiftly lure you into it’s icy depths. If not the computer-generated fish making
up the hypnotic glitchy video most certainly will.
'The Cool
Kids' - BVRGER
I don’t know who BVRGER is, although I have a feeling the mystery's intentional and that the vocals are deliberately pitch-shifted down to conceal his/her identity. A cutesy house instrumental made up of sparkly keys serves as a backdrop.
'Can’t Get No Relief' - Switch Violet
It may only be a live demo, but this new funky jam from Bath-based band Switch Violet has burrowed itself in my brain and I’ve just got to share it with y’all. There’s no denying the groove, plus I’m loving the singer's vocal tone.
THE WORST:
'One
Woman Man' - All Saints
If I wasn’t already totally unenthused by the news of an All
Saints reunion, this big bold sterile comeback single has totally killed any slither of curiosity.