Photo: Press
Now's the time to whip out that AUX cable or click your bluetooth setting on and hear a diverse range of new music to get you in the mood for this weekend. There's some great tracks from the likes of DFA Records' Juan Maclean, the beguiling Charlotte Gainsbourg, and one-minute long punk wonder of a track from Sub Pop's The Gotobeds among the picks this week. Crank it up!
Ryder the Eagle - 'Die on My Bike'
There is a melancholic charm to Ryder the Eagle’s new single ‘Die on My Bike’. I guess given the title of the song this should be a given, but it’s there none the less. Ryder the Eagle tap into the classic chanson tradition, but give it a Nick Cave, with a pop feel, refurb. But it’s in the outro when Ryder the Eagle really lets rip and the song mutates into raucous affair. This is definitely an artist to keep an eye, as he’s on tour through December.
Destroyer - 'Cover From the Sun'
‘Cover From the Sun’ doesn’t mess about getting to the point. Massive melodious and captivating guitars explode from the speakers while Destoryer’s Dan Bejar croons with an emotive, and inviting, lilt that it’s almost impossible to ignore. While Bejar has always hinted at the he loves, he’s never been this explicit before. ‘Cover From the Sun’ is a love letter to by-gone pop and the feeling that music is written for the enjoyment of the mass. ‘Cover From the Sun’ feels like Lou Reed covering a lost gem from a bubble gum pop comp from the 1960’s as it has resplendent guitars, pounding drums and a charm that is rarely seen. It feels like a comforting hug and a pint with an old friend as the last of the summers rays wash over you. This is a definite contender for ‘Song of the Year’ in anyone’s list.
Miss World - 'Click and Yr Mine'
Natalie Chahal, has ditched her Natalie Bang Bang persona, and remerged as Miss World. In the past Chahal went down a pop route, with an lo-fi indie vibe, she’s now ramping up the guitars and distortion and has released her best music to date. ‘Click and Yr Mine’ sounds like Money Mark’s classic ‘Maybe I’m Dead’ but backed by the Flamin’ Groovies or the Count Five, at their most pop, and her usual deadpan lyrics, ‘I fell in love on the internet, I feel in love with my best yet’ being a stand out. This is the epitome slack cool, meets retro vibes. Rumour has it there is an album in the works and if it’s this compelling and contagious then we’re in for a real treat!
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Ring -A Ring O' Roses
New single 'Ring a Ring O' Roses was released today and is the opening track from her forthcoming album, Rest, that's been seven years in the making. The album features collaborations with one half of Daft Punk, Sir Paul McCartney, and Connan Mockasin. Unlike a lot of releases that pick an album title 'cos it sounds ace', Gainsbourg has written eleven essays on 'Rest'. This bi-lingual opener - streaming below - has a languid feel, with flangered synth and a mid-tempo drum beat with kalediscopic wall of digital sound effects mixing in with classical elements. On top of this she's delivered the perfect vocal take where you can't help feel she's truly connected with her words. It's excited us for the new album definitely.
Helicon - 'Seraph'
Helicon are reminscent of Brain Jonestown Massacre circa Pol Pot's Pleasure Penthouse on this latest languid cut. It's a lush wall of sound that includes a hypnotic sitar lead that's thickened by the tanpura - another instrument most popular in Hindu culture - guitars, a vintage organ and tron flutes. It's a remakably exotic cut for four people from Glasgow showing that musical borders are there to be broken. They laid the tune down at Mogwai’s Castle Of Doom Studio and it comes from a forthcoming debut album. Surely a force to be reckoned with.
The Juan Maclean - 'The Brighter The Light'
Signed to the legendary DFA records, The Juan Maclean is one of the label's most loyal, prolific artists. He's a mainstay of the New York club scene and puts on blistering live shows - ever given the chance to see do not pass it up. It's a transcedent affair. This track,shared below, is a DJ Tennis remix of 'The Brighter The Light' - a deep piano-based club track. This remix takes it into a more ethereal realm whilst still feeling like a vibranttsoundtrack to a night out. The track wil be available alongside Juan Maclean's original mix and two other club friendly remixes on an EP out 3 November.
The Gotobeds - 'Annette's Got The Hits'
A short, sharp burst of lo-fi punk rock from Pittsburgh's The Gotobeds. It sounds like a lost gem you might discover trailing through John Peel's old tapes or would fit brilliantly in Gary Crowley's retrospective collection on punk and new wave. It's led by a crunchy palm-muted power chord sequence with jagged post-punk second guitar manically prancing around on top of the main thurst with lead singer capable of fronting The Saints, Dead Kennedys or any of the greats that have been before. What a band.
