I’m not feeling the new Bjork song, but otherwise this week has plenty of bops. Artists featured this week include ALASKALASKA, Wooze, Omar Addis, AJAY, DRAM and Bjork.
THE BEST:
‘TV Dinners’ – ALASKALASKA
TV can be a great form of escapism from the world’s problems
(providing that you avoid the news channels). At the same time, watching too
much TV can make many of us feel guilty, as if we’re wasting away the day. Written
during lockdown, ‘TV Dinners’ is a song about this bittersweet feeling of
bliss/guilt when watching TV. The cold synth bass, folksy arpeggiated guitar
and repeated delivery of ‘another TV dinner, not the news’ all contribute
to the track’s wistful tone. Like watching TV, it’s hypnotic.
‘Huge Axeman’ – Wooze
‘Huge Axeman’ totally sounds like Hugh Jackman, which I’m
sure is intentional knowing these guys and their loopy sense of humour. The
track features their signature blend of 80s crooned vocals and aptly choppy axe
riffs, delivered with a cartoonish energy that is perfectly matched by a He-man
themed music video. So far, every cut I’ve heard from their new EP has slayed. I’ve
got no axe to grind with any of it. Why haven’t I already given their new EP a
butcher’s? I better listen to it sharp! Come on, Alasdair, chop-chop! (Alright
that’s enough dreadful axe puns…)
‘Never Let You Go’ – Omar Addis
I featured Cardiff singer/producer Omar Addis a couple years
ago on this blog with his moody groovy single ‘Aperture’. This new song ‘Never
Let You Go’ features some gorgeous hazy guitar topped with forlorn vocals about
not letting a partner go. It’s a bit more uptempo than ‘Aperture’, but also
slightly more haunting.
‘Swindlers’ – AJAY
Philly psychedelic r&b singer/producer delivers an array
of heavenly sounds in this new track ‘Swindlers’. The opening fluttering of synth
hooked me in and the slinky bass and smooth vocals kept me hooked. The harmonised electric guitars and angelic ahh-ah-ahs
at the 1:40 mark was the moment I knew this was best-tracks-of-the-week material. It's just an insanely pretty track.
‘Wham’ - DRAM
Last year Virginia singer-rapper DRAM changed his stage name
to ‘Shelley FKA DRAM’. But he’s already given up on that stage name and is now
calling himself DRAM again (does that mean we have to start calling him ‘DRAM FKA
‘Shelly FKA DRAM’’?). His latest single ‘Wham’ is a jam. With its raunchy
lyrics and smooth instrumental, it’s the perfect song for a steamy lovemaking
session – albeit an under-three-minute-long lovemaking session. WHAM! BAM!
THANK YOU, DRAM.
THE WORST:
‘Ovule’ – Bjork
The new Bjork song is sadly quite boring (bjoring?). She used to deliver hooks, but now it's all meandering melodies that lead nowhere. As for the abstract production, it
briefly livens up once the distorted drums kick in, but otherwise feels just as
directionless.