Photo:
With Easter weekend upon us, it seems the bigger names in music have stayed reasonably quiet this week, but that has only given a number of smaller bands and artists to shine with new tracks released recently.
There might not have been a new JT or Beyonce track over the past seven days, but there's been fantastic new stuff from Sigur Ros, (during their first TV appearance in nearly ten years), Phoenix, and the first track from M83's soundtrack for Oblivion.
There's something for everyone here, so your bank holiday listening is well and truly sorted.
Enjoy!
Jessie Ware 'Imagine It Was Us'
Set to be included on the 'Gold Edition' of Ware's album Devotion, Annie Mac premiered new track 'Imagine It Was Us' this week. The new track is entirely in line with what listeners have come to expect from Ware; slinky, soulful vocals glide over a chunky bassline and pulsating beat for a track that's more than a little retro sounding, but a lovely listen nonetheless.
Sigur Ros 'Kveikur'
Few bands instil the sort of excited anticipation in their fans that Sigur Ros manage. In the band's first televised appearance in nearly a decade, the Icelandic stars appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show this week to premier new track 'Kveikur', taken from the album of the same name which is due later this year. Full of omnious, haunting sounds, the track sees Sigur Ros at their percussion-clanking, guitar-bowing best.
Phoenix ft. MKS 'Entertainment'
Ahead of the release of their album Bankrupt! Phoenix bring us 'Entertainment'. A kaleidoscopic blast of sonic energy that instantly wows the listener. But in the hands of Dev Hynes, under his Blood Orange monika, the track becomes something totally different. Introducing the vocals of MKS (the original Sugababes), Hynes drops the tempo significantly making it a far more souloful affair. Another example of Hynes' ability to take an existing song and make something new from it.
Shola Ama 'Boyfriend'
UK R&B star Shola Ama returns with new track 'Boyfriend', the first we've heard from the singer since she appeared on Toddla T's 'Take It Back' in 2011. The minimalist structure of the track draws comparisons with R&B newcomers such as The Weeknd, with the reverberating snap of the snare drum harks back to the 90s era R&B where Shola first found fame.
Everything Everything '+Pendolino'
After being inundated with praise following the release of their album Arc earlier this year, Everything Everything show us what they can do instrumentally with the b-side for their new single 'Duet', '+Pendoline'. The piece of electronic instrumentations shows the band's skill for song structures, with the songs drone shifting a changing oever the course of the 3 minutes 48 seconds.
Say Lou Lou 'Julian'
Following a name change (they used to be Saint Lou Lou) the Austrian/Swedish sisters continue to set themselves apart from their peers with 'Julian'. Avoiding the sleazy retro basslines and thumping kick drums that many acts similar to Say Lou Lou opt for, the sisters instead go for lush sonic foliage that gives the voices space to soar and float above the music without foresaking the fullbodiedness of the sound.
Lana Del Rey - 'Chelsea Hotel No.2'
She's reportedly busy recording a follow up to Born To Die, but in the meantime Lana Del rey has given us her cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Chelsea Hotel No 2'. The solemn and downbeat track is perfect for Del Rey's noir-tinged Americana, letting her distinctive voice give the track its character in the same way Cohen's once did. A simple, vintage-feeling video accompanies the track, which if nothing else serevs to remind us of what an amazing voice Del Rey has.
M83 feat. Susunne Sundfor 'Oblivion'
Ahead of the release of Tom Cruise's new film Oblivion, French group M83 have unveiled the first track from the film's soundtrack. The track, also called 'Oblivion', utilises the vocal talents of Norwegian singer Susanne Sundfor and sounds suitable epic given the storyline of the film. Sundfor's voice soars over dramtically rolling drums before everything drops away leaving gentle chiming and building strings to accompany the vocalist.
Tyler, The Creator ft. Erykah Badu & Coco O 'Treehome95'
Erykah Badu's been getting around a bit lately, appearing on records with Flying Lotus, The Flaming Lips, Bonobo and now Tyler, The Creator. The infamously eager-to-shock young rapper shows his soulful side on 'Treehome95', with an almost lounge music-esque piano line and gently shuffling drums providing a lovely backdrop for badu's voice. Tyler himself only makes back vocal appearances, and there's no rapping in sight, but he should definitely be given some credit for the music.
When Saints Go Machine ft Killer Mike - 'Love And Respect'
Danish group When Saint Go Machine recently announced they've got a new record, Infinity Pool, set to arrive in May and this week posted the opening track, featuring Killer Mike. Mike's distinctive voice makes the already sinister sounding track swagger just that little bit more while it remains very much driven by the drums and bassline. The video is essentially things being set on fir and nasty stuff hapening. The music is far more interesting.
