Track Of The Week: MICHELLE – The Bottom
This New York R&B collective have just signed to Transgressive, re-releasing their 2018 album, Heatwave, including stand-out single ‘The Bottom’. It’s a song we’d definitely name ‘sound of the summer’, but at this point summer’s probably going to be cancelled alongside everything else. MICHELLE seem to use every instrument you’d find in a music shop on this track, and it’s about as groovy as it gets.
Ane Brun – Feeling Like I Wanna Cry
You know that feeling you get when you see rain pour near a streetlight as it lights up each individual drop? That simple bliss echos through Brun’s vocals as she pleads with us in her lyrics. Delicate instrumental hits just as gentle as the rain as it mingles between her lilting harmonies. God, it’s indie folk at its finest.
Bananagun – People Talk Too Much
A mellowing fuse of 70’s afrobeat and 60s psych pop results in a swaying six minutes from Bananagun. In it’s brass and bass, its a beat that just gets stuck in your head, making the five piece one to remember.
Charlie Cunningham – Glass
Full of tension and suspense, Cunningham’s latest drop ‘Glass’. It ruminates, guitars and Charlie’s semi-dulcet vocals scoring a flowing undulation of echoey notes. “This is your life, it’s now or never.” Charlie sings, introspecting on the start of new things. “They need your light, now more than ever.” It’s a lovely song about believing in yourself.
Coach Party – Space
A sick intro, light interludes to a heavy as fuck tune. The sound of Wolf Alice rings true, a proper rock song.
Dream Wife – Hasta La Vista
As if you didn’t love Dream Wife enough, they’ve only gone and made the worlds cutest home footage. A soothing serenade to the relationships that come and go, it counters the energetic release of Sports. I don’t know about you, but it’s now made me even more excited for their upcoming release and what may be in store.
Gus Dapperton – First Aid
Soothing and dreamy – the Gus Dapperton formula. Whatever this fella touches it turns into something plush, this time with added riff and swish guitar.
Galaxians – Chemical Reactions
The best way to beat the isolation blues? Have a boogie in your bedroom to this. Trust me. I’ve tried it.
III – Albin
A week of the round-up isn’t complete without a synthwave track to add to your ‘chillwave lo-fi relaxation 24/7′ study mix’. So here we are. ‘III’ uses analogue Moog and Roland synthesizers to create a minimal soundscape that loops and builds on itself, slowly but surely creating a melodic and multi-layered beauty of a track. Brb, just off to smash out 12 hours on my dissertation.
Jerry Paper – Cholla
‘I use a lot of lip balm in this desert town’ – that opening line is basically our whole fucking aesthetic. Jerry Paper’s killing it again. ‘Cholla’ is a groovy sun and sand single, an ode to the late Bill Withers almost, that should be played either on Venice Beach, Los Angeles or Mars. Not sure which. Enjoy.
Katie Von Schleicher – Wheel
A surprisingly cohesive mix of Von Schleicher’s hauntingly beautiful vocals pining over and upbeat guitar. The blend of dark and light spin the wheel and accelerate the track forward into a headwind of empowerment.
Lauren Hibberd – Old Nudes
Fuzzy sarcasm, catchy chorus and slacker pop – classic Hibberd. ‘Old Nudes’ is well and truly a fuck you tune to those old grubby guys who keep those pics they shouldn’t.
Mali-Koa – Dancer
London-via-Sydney artist Mali-Koa ropes you in with her passionate vocals with Dancer. In a time where people are too afraid to pick up new skills, Mali is here to show us that we should reach out and grab what we want. Anthemic and chic, it’s one for the gym playlists.
Melenas – Primer Tiempo
What’s better than garage pop? You guessed it. Spanish garage pop. Hailing from Pamplona, Melenas hit us with an up-tempo and happy walk in electro-bass park. It’s got guts, swagger, and a psychedelic lo-fi quality that runs through the piece.”The song talks about the moment before making a decision, the moment BEFORE EVERYTHING.” explained Melenas. Singing in their native Spanish, piece together vocals in lush harmony. All in all, it’s a very groovy piece.
Oh Why? – Honey Guide
Folky and lush. The debut single from Honey Guide is a thing of beauty. Simple but beautiful guitar founded in the depths of George Harrison. A lovely start.
The Buffalo Skinners – Washing My Hands
Possibly the most aprops song of our time, the Buffalo Skinners waste no time in teaching us how both wash our hands and get over old love in their latest track, ‘Washing My Hands’. While the song itself is about love, the video is actually a demonstration of good handwashing technique – inhabiting that place where art becomes practical. It’s folky, 60s-reminiscent and really quite catchy.
We Are Parkas – Friday Night
Remember Friday nights? They used to be great, didn’t they? Donning your best clothes, escaping your humdrum day job, maybe – if you’re lucky – tashing on. Now we’re all sitting at home on the couch, eating bowls of cereal… Don’t worry though, you’ll be saved from nodding off, face-first into your chocolate milk by ‘Friday Night’, the new roaring, burnt-rubber single from We Are Parkas.
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