6 new songs you need to hear this week
Follow the Nialler9 New Music playlist on Spotify. This week’s additions include new songs from all the below along with Cassius, Indian Wells, Jagwar Ma, Sundai, Bon Iver and more.
Check out the Songs of the week Soundcloud playlist.
1.
Frank Ocean – ‘Pink & White’
Blonde will sustain many more listens this year.
I wrote about Blonde being “the year’s most hyped record that reveals itself in subtle ways” on Friday. While there’s sill much to unpack, ‘Pink + White’ is the album’s most immediate cut, beautiful sunshine soul, a showcase for Ocean’s honey-toned voice.
2.
Vince Staples – ‘War Ready’
Outkast x James Blake x Vince Staples.
Grabbing you by the scruff of the neck with a classic Andre 3000 Atliens sample, ‘War Ready’ is a James Blake-produced track from Stapes’ new Prima Donna EP that is rough and ready.
3.
Hazel English – I’m Fine
Swooning indie synth pop anxiety.
Californian-based Australian singer-songwriter and indie musician Hazel English makes hypnagogic indie pop music that comes from a place of guitar band roots. The 25 year-old has a debut EP coming on Marathon Artists/Canvasback in October and following on from the impressive title track, I’m Fine’ is a song about anxiety (“For most of my life I’ve felt a sharp uncertainty/ Now it’s just become a part of me.’) that is shimmering and summery in delivery.
See also: ‘Never Going Home’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgN_OFosKzY
4.
Carriages – Moving Parts
The Irish folktronica duo create magic from found objects.
Harry Bookless and Aaron Page’s brand of field-recorded folktronica makes for a unique rhythm. ‘Moving Parts/ was made from some interesting sources: drain pipes, gravel, puddles, branches and a starter melody that features Harry’s three year-old nephew Alex singing. it’s wrapped up in a lush tune that nods to Bronksi Beat while sounding like Four Tet.
5.
Thundercat – ‘Bus In These Streets’
A breezy 70s-style song about modern technology.
Thundercat has grown in stature recently, for his work with Kendrick Lamar and his own tunes like ‘Them Changes’.
‘Bus In These Streets’ is a song that sounds like a breezy 70s TV theme but is actually about technological dependence in the 21st century. It’s also a bit yacht-rock in tone.
The song is a once-off single out now that also features Louis Cole (keyboards, drums, programming); and Steve Ellison aka Flying Lotus (programming, editing).
6.
Phillipi & Rodrigo – ‘Mantra’
Soulwax’s label DeeWee is essential listening these days.
As proven by this recent Beats 1 show, Soulwax are well and truly back to the top of their game. Their label DeeWee has knocked out killer tunes by Emmanuelle, Bolis Popul, Asa Moto and Phillipi and Rodrigo, a Sao Paolo duo. Their first release ‘Gueto De Gent’ featured a Twin Peaks reference and here, the pair build up a mantric percussive electronic groove.
