Nialler9’s favourite songs of the past month, all in one place.
1.
Rina Sawayama
XS
Putting her excellent album to one side for just a moment, Rina Sawayama’s ‘XS’ stands out as perhaps the most exciting, progressive and forward-thinking pop music I’ve heard this year.
2.
Kali Uchis
I Want War (But I Need Peace)
Two and a half minutes of pure R&B bliss from Kali Uchis.
3.
Flume X Toro Y Moi
The Difference (Extended Mix)
‘The Difference’, the end result of a collaboration between Flume and Toro y Moi, is a textbook example of a grower.
That is, hearing the atypical arrangement can feel a bit jarring at first – particularly with its soft vocals clashing against a rigid breakbeat drum pattern. However, both creative forces involved in ‘The Difference’ are in top form here. A tune you appreciate more and more with repeated listens.
4.
Westside Gunn
$500 Ounces
Bars on bars on bars on bars.
5.
CMAT
Another Day (KFC)
The buzziest Irish release of April came in the form of ‘Another Day (kfc)’, the debut single from alternative pop act CMAT.
6.
The Scotts
The Scotts
The collaborative track between Travis Scott and Kid Cudi actually ended up being the latter’s first-ever Billboard #1. No surprises either, ‘The Scotts’ is an absolute beaut.
7.
Empress Of
U Give It Up
Taken from her excellant new album I’m Your Empress Of.
8.
NewDad
Swimming
West Coast alternative rock outfit NewDad are killing it on their new (and second ever) single ‘Swimming’.
This tune leaves such a strong impression after first listen, from the slacker pop guitar lines to the wonderful, woozy vocal delivery and very post-punk bass line. This is all topped off the simple, yet effect repeated chorus of “I feel fucked”, excellent stuff.
9.
Toby Kaar
Fierce Fancy
Cork producer Toby Kaar is back with the first in a series of new tunes.
Always one for turning his hand to the effervescent side of electronic music whatever subgenre he’s working in, Kaar’s new tune ‘Fierce Fancy’ is a fizzing track which has bouncy and bleeping energy, big synth moves and is like, the best of the producer’s work, isn’t afraid to sound like a whole lot of fun.
10.
Phoebe Bridgers
Kyoto
Surely the oncoming summer beckons the release of new full-length project from Phoebe Bridgers?
‘Kyoto’, Bridgers’ new single, is a remarkable venture. The American artist is one among very few who can instill a sense of genuine bedroom singer-songwriter intimacy on a fully realised double-barreled arrangement.
11.
Bishop Nehru x MF DOOM
MEATHEAD
Two of the very best lyrical MC’s share the spotlight.
12.
Oscar #Worldpeace
MMM
Smart, confident hip-hop from Mike Skinner mentored British MC Oscar #Worldpeace on new single ‘MMM’.
13.
James Blake
You’re Too Precious
The latest single from experimental English musician James Blake reminds me of ‘If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead’ in the best possible way.
14.
Yves Tumor
Dream Palette
Yves Tumour‘s latest LP will be a strong contender for album of the year, ‘Dream Palette’ is just one gem in an album filled with them.
15.
Fort Romeau
Fantasia
A dose of intensely focused, stare-down synth-wave in the form of ‘Fantasia’ from British producer and DJ Fort Romeau.
16.
Khruangbin
Time (You And I)
Mostly instrumental Texan band Khruangbin come real good on latest disco-inspired single.
17.
TOPS
Pirouette
Superb, woozy dream pop with some disco thrown in for good measure from Canadian studio pop act TOPS.
18.
Jessie Ware
Ooh La La
Bombastic, disco coloured pop music from Jessie Ware on her latest single ‘Ooh La La’.
19.
Frank Ocean
Cayendo
It’s a struggle because as much as I desperately want new Frank Ocean material, tracks like ‘ Cayendo’ are utterly heartbreaking.
20.
Ikonika
Nobody
Excellant lo-fi textured break beat electronica from Ikonika on her new single ‘Nobody’.
21.
Yenkee
Shiver Shake
Lifted from the Cork musicans’ excellant recent double single release.
22.
The Strokes
Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus
One of the highlight tracks from NY indie titans The Strokes’ recent solid LP.
23.
Yaeji
In Place
Daunting industrial dance music courtesy of Korean-American producer/DJ Yaeji.
24.
Biig Piig
Switch
Biig Piig’s latest single is appropriately named indeed, representing a big switch-up in style and tone from the Irish artist.
25.
Adam Nova
House Party
Hungarian producer Adam Nova’s ‘House Party’ is the kind of infectious disco that has inspired many a bedroom dance vibe during the lockdown. It’s based on Fred Wesley’s ‘House Party’, a fitting jam for the times we are in.
