It’s weekly roundup time! Can you believe that we’re now halfway through 2020?
THE BEST:
‘Pig Feet’ – Terrace Martin
ft. Denzel Curry, Kamasi Washington, G Perico and Daylyt
A number of songs have already been released in response to the death of George Floyd. This might be the most powerful of the songs released so far. It
features two fiery rap verses – one from Florida rapper Denzel Curry and one
from California rapper Daylyt – over a frantic instrumental made up of tumultuous
live drumming and squealing sax. The video closes with a seemingly endless list
of names - each one a victim of police brutality. It’s pretty chilling stuff.
‘Raven’ – Night Hikes
I featured Night Hikes’
shoegazey single ‘Belltown’ last year. The Seattle dream pop band has now
dropped a new equally hypnotic single ‘Raven’, which lyrically centres around confronting climate change. Wind-like reverby vocals and oceanic washes of guitar and synth are propelled along by a stomping semi-tribal beat. It's got a mighty weight to it as it drifts along like the Earth in orbit. The track is set to appear on
an upcoming EP.
‘Trophy Wife’ - Marie-Clo
This single from Quebec-based
artist Marie-Clo draws on real life experiences of being a trophy wife to a hockey player. It features an enchanting instrumental made up of melancholy
guitars and dreamy synth arpeggios. The whole track then shifts into a euphoric chorus
accompanied by some upbeat choppy percussion. The vocals are hypnotic and I love the metaphor ‘your heart is a turnstile’.
‘I Like To Wait’ – Japan, Man
Japan, Man is neither Japanese
or a man (kind of like how Portugal. The Man aren’t from Portugal – although they are
all men). The artist is in fact a 16 year old girl from
Beirut. Her charming bedroom pop sound comprises of soft vocals over a backdrop
of bouncy guitars and twinkling synths (the production reminds me slightly of Mac DeMarco). The
single is the title track of her new EP I Like To Wait.
‘TKN’ – Rosalia & Travis
Scott
I'm not the biggest fan of reggaeton or Travis Scott, but this track is off-kilter enough to compensate. The abrasive snares and pitched bass make for a badass beat and I wasn't expecting Travis Scott to sing in Spanish. The bilingual banger also features some energetic vocals from Latin pop artist Rosalia.
I'm not the biggest fan of reggaeton or Travis Scott, but this track is off-kilter enough to compensate. The abrasive snares and pitched bass make for a badass beat and I wasn't expecting Travis Scott to sing in Spanish. The bilingual banger also features some energetic vocals from Latin pop artist Rosalia.
THE WORST:
‘You’re So F**king Cool’ –
Tones and I
‘Everybody’s talkin’ bout
sex/ Everybody’s talking ‘bout ex/ Like no-one really wants to find a genuine
connect’. Those forced rhymes are horrible, although I have to say this isn't as grating as 'Dance Monkey'.