The Single Lock Records artist released his third LP in January. The title track “Cautionary Tale” melds 70’s pop fidelity and sonorousness with canyon-side/Western landscape atmospheres and A+ melodic writing. “Cautionary Tale” is one of our favorite songs of the year; do not sleep.
The Australian producer reworks the Life of Pablo track “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” into a Chi house-inspired late night groover we adore.
Chicago man Mick Jenkins turns to Kaytra & THEMpeople for a minimal production frame in which to spit an array of stylistically varied flows. The skittering creeper beat’s changing character gives MJ the appropriate chassis to cast a cool range of personas throughout the track. There’s a neat bit of narrative/symbiosis going on “The Artful Dodger” between the guise of each set of rhymes and its accompanying instrumental. Right. We like it.
The mellifluous Floridians return for pensive new sparkler, “Ivy”. Excerpted from the Orlando duo’s forthcoming debut LP (following “Big Sis” and “Jamz”), “Ivy” wins on its melodically cool sonically warm guitar work and its inventive (and pleasantly unexpected) turns of tune. We dig. Look for the new SALES LP on April 20th.
UK newcomers EAT FAST f/k/a EAT blend candy-sweet melodic sense with rapid fire guitars and laser beam-propelled tempos in crafting very listenable punishing pop tunes that sound not quite like anything else out right now. If you’re headed Great Escape-ward in May, EAT FAST play the Fishbowl on the 20th.
South London songwriter Matt Maltese links up with another fave of the site (and South Londoner too) Alex Burey (who helms up production on the track) for plaintive new one “Studio 6”. Built around a soft subtle piano tune & Maltese’s lilting vocal, “Studio 6” is a romantic track neatly tailored for a slow dance with your girl/boy/mate/yourself/friends, etc. A+
PUMAROSA. The UK five piece who blew through SXSW earlier in the month (nearly everyone we talked too at the festival were knocked out by the band) stream second track online “Cecile”. A bit more conventional in its construction than its sprawling predecessor (“Priestess”), “Cecile” is a refreshing (Pumarosa sound like no other band out) exercise in dark well-made indie pop. We like it.
Black Honey announce new “Headspin” EP (out April 29th) with stream of “All My Pride”. The UK act continue their traverse of the UK press and promo ladder garnerning mentions in The Guardian and NME as well as frequent Radio 1 rotation. “All My Pride” as a song is an excellent execution in the trendy styling of the current and ongoing 90’s revival. The track and band do have more sides to them than just that (50’s styled-harmonies, awareness of chart pop songwriting tricks, etc) but BH’s penchant for Major-era big anthemic melodic choruses and hooks ticks just enough relevance boxes to put them square at the front of many indie journo’s consciousnesses. “Headspin” EP is due on April 29.
