We’re not really about lists. We like longform interviews and in-depth analysis; wordy think-pieces and lengthy reports. But that’s partly because we’re music-loving writers and there’s nothing we love more than the sound of a keyboard clacking satisfyingly with the sound of our own thoughts. Hey, at least we’re honest. We also know that not everyone that reads the site is up for 1200 meaty words on an artist’s development; some of you are here to get a quick bite of musical brilliance, so we’ve decided to institute a new weekly feature: Now Hear This. Harking back to TV’s Top of the Pops, we’re pulling together a list of tracks that we think are worthy of your time, or have received a terrifying amount of airplay on our office stereo. Old hits, fresh tracks, must-see-videos and obscure classics: Now Hear This is where we offer up our tunes of the week. We hope you enjoy it…
[Words: Alex Cull (AC), James Embiricos (JE), Alex Lee Thomson (ALT).]
Shakira ft. Rihanna – ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’
The hip-swivelling temptress, otherwise known as Shakira, has made her mock-yodel return with a pop banger that enlists the only artist able to compete on the bodily gyration front. The Latin-Caribbean duet goes from catchy to downright voracious before you’ve had the chance to enter ‘Shakira and Pique’ into Google images.-JE
Disclosure – ‘Grab Her’
Another few months, another single to see release from the all-conquering Settle to keep the Brothers Lawrence riding high in the charts. ‘Grab Her’ – one of that record’s most addictive moments – is here accompanied by a video that involves office-based telekinesis and aerial urination, which should be more than enough to see the Surrey duo raking in the YouTube chortles for quite a while to come. And the domestication of the dog continued unabated…-AC
Gorgon City ft. MNEK – ‘Ready for Your Love’
More highly stylised and approachable late night melt from Gorgon City; ‘Ready for Your Love’ is what you want from an obviously mainstream in the waiting, just left of center, outfit who could invade a Now compilation as easily as your 12” collection.-ALT
Kevin Drew – ‘Good Sex’
Anyone who’s spent a reasonable amount of time with Kevin Drew’s output as co-leader of Broken Social Scene would be pretty hard-pushed to say there weren’t some serious undercurrents of lustful, sweaty sex there. Well, it looks like little has changed in the world of the 37-year-old Toronto maestro: ‘Good Sex’ could easily have fit on any BSS full-length circa You Forgot It in People - think chiming keys, meandering guitars, wayward emotions on a knife’s edge – and, yes, it’s still damn sexy.-AC
Tinashe ft. Schoolboy Q – ’2 On’
Sultry, beguiling, captivating; and that’s just the cover art. Tinashe’s latest is a smokey after-hours smoothie for those moments where your eyes start to blur but your body just keeps on going. Or, as Tinashe herself puts it: “Just give me the trees and we can smoke it. Just give me the drink and we can pour it.” Take with a side of Schoolboy Q for maximum satisfaction.-AC
Years & Years – ‘Real’
London three-piece, Years & Years, have served up a slab of electro-pop, delving into that R&B sound that has everyone’s (me included) blood rushing to their crown jewels. Only, with ‘Real’ you manage to sidestep the pretentious undertones of SoundCloud commentators with a hefty vocal hook that is sure to enter the cyclical realms of listen, repeat.-JE
Pearls Negras – ‘Pensado Em Voce’
If this isn’t a call-to-arms then I don’t know what is. Everything about ‘Pensado Em Voce’ – a cut from Brazilian all-girl rap troupe Pearls Negras’ 2013 mixtape Biggie Apple - screams military might: those marching band drum rolls, skewed sirens and, of course, the girls’ vocals themselves, which bark with all the ferocity of an army of Sgt. Hartmans.-AC
Thumpers – ‘Galore’
Thumpers aggressive mellowness has been of interest for what seems an eternity now, the way they wiggle from spacey pop to insanely vivid indie-club is causing some serious frustration for a full album. Though ‘Galore’ might be more Friendly Fires than the manic fun, and MGMT-ness of previous track ‘Dancing’s Done’, it’s still perfectly rounded for the post-pub, few-pints-in come down. -ALT
The New Division – ‘Stockholm’
To say that John Glenn Kunkel – the frontman of California electro-poppers The New Division – has had a rough few years would be a mighty understatement. The last two years have seen the Riverside resident completely scrap his initial follow-up to the group’s 2011 debut Shadows, before then losing take two in its entirety down to a dodgy harddrive. Fortunately, the persistent Mr. Kunkel kept going, and on the basis of ‘Stockholm’, we should all be grateful he did: rarely have indie, electro and trance been melded so well and with such dexterous craft. -AC
Pixel Fix – ‘Fall’
‘Fall’, the title track of Oxford quartet Pixel Fix’s forthcoming second EP, feels perfectly timed for the coming of spring. For every wintery swathe of misty, wistful electronica, there’s a jangling guitar line just waiting to break through like a ray of sunshine piercing a winter’s morning, announcing that sunnier climes are on their way. If ‘Fall’ is anything to go by, Pixel Fix might just be due their day in the sun too. -AC
