Track of the Week: Abimaro – Better
Listening to this track made me feel something for the first time since Lockdown 1.0. What a tune. Abimaro combines the perfect pair of soul and jazz on her latest single. It’s both peaceful and passionate – she sings about being in love and the music behind her seems to reflect that mood. Rampant drums and airy keys are nestled perfectly with a chorus so peaceful it feels like we’re transcending: it’s only up from here.
Charlotte Clark – Drive On
The standout feature of Charlotte Clarke’s discography is her silky vocals – ‘Drive On’ is no outlier from this. Throughout the catchy choruses, Clarke’s vocal range is really highlighted, leaving you humming along and just about trying to cover her span. Spoiler alert: it’s incredibly difficult, even if you’re as good as you think you sound…
CHLOBOCOP – It’sNotOver
Quietly devastating, ‘It’sNotOver’ washes over you like a light rain. Ideal if you want to really get into it with the red wine and self-loathing. This is Christmas, after all.
Finn Askew – Same Old Love
Perhaps not the most memorable track in the world, but it makes a pretty fun listen. The use of vocal layering is quite sexy and there’s some spicy sound effects that add a nice fantastical feel, but besides that it’s quite safe. It’s a bit like ready salted crisps: a little bit plain, but still enjoyable.
Foxes – Hollywood
‘Welcome to the part where I break down‘. Yeesh. A+ to Foxes for hitting all the soft spots – with soaring strings and honey-toned vocals as ammunition, we really don’t stand a chance.
Jeremy Tuplin – Night & Day
‘Night & Day’ is wonderfully intimate. A stripped-back instrumental plays underneath Tuplin’s confessions, rambling and general chatter, making the track feel closer to a conversation between artist and listener than any regular release. The perfect tune for when you need some company, or just want to be whisked away by the artist’s irresistible charm.
Julia Jacklin – baby jesus is nobody’s baby now
Julia Jacklin’s sweet vocals and acoustic guitar became a staple of my quarantine 2020 for their soothing quality. Her newest festive-themed single reminds me that those hardships are slowly coming to a close, with baby Jesus finding small optimisms in everything – no pun intended. Christmas songs are usually sickly levels of cheesy, so it is nice to see a softer side for once.
Oya Paya – Focus
Liverpool-based trio Oya Papa have never been short of exploring their musical qualities; as lead single for their newest mini-album, ‘Focus’ is a great example of that. The track features a psychedelic resurgence with its muted guitar chords and jaunty vocals, overwhelmingly showcasing the group’s youthful zest.
Sea Girls – This is the End
This tune is a nice little insight into the mind of someone who’s either a little bit crazy or deeply in love – we’re romantics over here, so we’ll go with the latter. It’s cutesy, quirky and really quite sad. I’m not quite sure if it’s about a relationship ending or a little tiff that’s been overthought. Either way it’s endearingly mellow. Cheers, Sea Girls.
The Ninth Wave – Everything Will Be Fine
Big advocate for songs that ensure me that everything will be fine; I can’t lie, I need that sort of comfort in my life. Glaswegians The Ninth Wave know just how to get you to that happy place. A real delight of synth pop that is guaranteed to get you up and ready for the day.
The Underground Youth – A Sorrowful Race
I love songs that tell a story. This is one of remorse, jealousy and the relativity of success – it’s as honest as it is heartbreaking. In an age where self-comparison is near impossible to avoid, this Berlin group has tapped into something brutal and true.
Thom Yorke, Four Tet and Burial – Her Revolution / His Rope
The trio is back! Thom Yorke, Burial, and Four Tet have reunited to perform a révérence to 2020 with two tracks, eerily mirroring a dream of death and rebirth. With a pallet of lo-fi beats intertwined with Yorke’s hauntingly ambient vocals, the singles are an early Christmas present to eager fans of electronic experimental music.
Tuxedo – Doin’ My Best
If you want a song stuck in your head for the rest of the week, give this a listen. There’s no way you’re going to be escaping those funky vocals and fancy synths any time soon – Tuxedo really did do their best, and they succeeded.
