Photo: Press
Another week, another onslaught of exciting new music from the best artists out there right now - both new and old.
There's the return of Kelis, the best track from Drake's massive Nothing Was the Same, a remix of from the latest exciting post-punk export from Manchester, a Scottish eletro spin on an old classic, a gem hidden in Grand Theft Auto V and much, much more. Yup, there's definitely been something for everyone this week.
Check out the best new tracks from the past seven days right here.
Kelis 'Been Given A Morning'
The most interesting and underrated R&B star in the game returns with this mysterious track that surfaced online earlier this week. It's a complete change in direction compared to the electronic dance beats of 2010's Flesh Tone, but it's a good direction. 'Been Given a Morning' is a downtempo number that fuses electronic and jazz in a rather beautiful way. Kelis' trademark husky vocals top it off nicely. Mark this as the perfect hangover track.
Clams Casino 'Crystals'
If you have no interest in actually playing Grand Theft Auto V, there's still joy to be had from the music featured in the game, such as this intense, multi-layered bass-y offering from talented producer Clams Casino. He's chosen to drop his first official release in a while via GTA's FlyLo FM, the Flying Lotus curated radio station which also features exclusives from Hudson Mohawke and Tyler, the Creator. It's awesome.
Chvrches 'It's Not Right, But It's OK'
The band of the moment dropped their near-flawless debut The Bones of What You Believe this week and decided to pop into Radio 1's Live Lounge to perform a nice little cover of Whitney Houston's 1999 anthem 'It's Not Right, But It's OK'. The Scottish synthpop trio perfectly update the sass-filled song for 2013, with Lauren Mayberry's elfin voice harmonising with the deeper tones of Martin Doherty.
Charli XCX 'SuperLove'
The feisty singer returns fresh from the success of penning 'I Love It' for Icona Pop with 'SuperLove', the first single from the upcoming follow-up to debut True Romance. 'SuperLove' is a catchy electropop track brimming with attitude, cheeky lyrics and catchy hand claps. Everyone likes a hand clap, don't you?
Sky Ferreira 'You're Not the One'
Possibly in an attempt to make everyone forget about that drug scandal, Ferreira dropped the first track from her much-anticipated major label debut Night Time, My Time. And it worked, mainly because 'You're Not the One' is a fantastic lead single, unashamedly great pop offset by Ferreira's angelic vocals. With its poppy guitar riffs and shouts of "hey!", it has a whiff of the 90s about it, in a good way.
Drake 'Tuscan Leather'
An album opener has to be, well, good. Especially when it's the opener of probably the biggest album of the year. And this one doesn't disappoint. The Toronto rapper confidently discusses feuds with Nicki Minaj and being the best in the game over a Whitney Houston-sampling, percussion heavy beat for this six-minute long intro. There is no chorus. It is just Drake telling you he is amazing. But you're inclined to believe him.
Lorde 'Buzzcut Season'
The latest cut from the New Zealand wonderkid's debut, Pure Heroine, is a melancholy, haunting affair which sees the teenager delicately singing "explosions on TV, and all the girls with heads inside a dream" over a trippy, piano laden beat. It follows the same formula as previous tracks like 'Royals' - simple, but very effective.
No Ceremony/// 'Part of Me' (GAPS remix)
GAPS have taken the minimalist, piano led 'Part of Me', which featured distorted vocals and heavy percussion, and turned it into an even more intense, devastating affair by adding shimmering synths and a bit of extra distortion for luck. No Ceremony were already amazing, but this is a completely different beast entirely.
Bright Light Bright Light 'An Open Heart'
Welsh singer Rod Thomas (more fashionably known as Bright Light Bright Light) sounds like a one-man Pet Shop Boys on this powerful synth-led pop track. It's a preview of his forthcoming EP In Your Care, out on 25th November.
Say Lou Lou 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards'
The pouty twins have covered Australian psychedelic rockers Tame Impala and waxed lyrical about the track on their Soundcloud, saying: "It wasn't until we started making our own version that we discovered how beautiful the lyrics are - another world in itself - so we decided to strip the groove back and take it into another place." They've completely pared down the groovy rock track, making it their own in the process.
