French artist Alma Elste stuns on new track for “Limitless”. Born and raised in Paris and musically trained at Berklee in Boston, Alma’s music explores a neat intersection of classical music’s broad and immense artistic weight with a melodic sensibility forged around modern hook writing masters like Phoenix. Listen below.
Tsar B, who wow’d us back in November with the very cool dark pop sound of “Escalate” is back today with a follow-up track in the form of “Myth”. “Myth” cuts a similar all-black-everything feel as “Escalate” but has works with wider and emptier spaces which allow the track’s decidedly Middle East-tinged quality be its prime aesthetic mover.
Disco-bented (synth pop) gem “Yeah!” is a highly recommendable song to get you up and moving onto the dance floor. Created by Sydney (Australia) artist LIF, “Yeah!” is an extremely likable dance track with a technicolor melange of synth-y vibrance and straightforward minimalist pop vocals (with a catchy hook). If this song won’t get you out on the dance floor shaking your thing (lyrics are classic disco) nothing will! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Polydor will release Arthur Beatrice’s sophomore LP Keeping The Peace on May 20th. “Real Life” the album’s latest stream finds an added immediacy almost ecstatic quality to the Arthur Beatrice sound that enhances and elevates the band’s already stunning writing and songs to a level/position ripe for a wide-scale breakthrough.
2015 electric-soul hotlist duo HONNE have been on an exquisite streak of beautiful music since last year, with a slew of excellent singles. We’ve covered a number of their songs and rate them all as top notch in the pop, soul, and singer-songwriter genres (we placed HONNE on both of our 2014 year end lists and “No Place Like Home” made it to our staff top-10 lists for 2015). Their latest perfectly-pleasant sensitive-emotive singer-songwriter genius is apparent on their recent masterpiece “Woman”. The English duo’s vocals are so soulful and intimate (beautiful background melodies too) on the song that it honestly feels like they are singing directly at you (wouldn’t that be nice). You could also say that the sweet sentiment in the lyrics (love song) are exactly what any person might want to hear so therefore the track is anthemic. For anybody looking for a pick me up, the recent release has the steely emotive feel of their previous productions (maybe less sad and love-lorn) yet it manages to convey even more emotion and beauty. HONNE are indeed honing their style into a very classic sound. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
LA-based future boogie trio Cannons (featured here for excellent tracks “Down on Love”, “Evening Star” and “Touch”) are an accomplished bunch of musicians on the rise (they have only been around on Soundcloud for roughly one year). We’re listening to the group’s super catchy new song called “Call You Out” and it’s quite an impeccable earful. With its simple combination of a technicolor synth line, ticky-tacky trap beats, and Michelle’s complex emotive vocal feels, we can easily say that this is our favorite Cannons tune so far! After hearing it a dozen or so times and reviewing the duo’s other songs we are reminded why we like Cannons so much. Out via MANIMAL “Call You Out” is just resonant enough to reiterate that Cannons are clearly floating on a rising star trajectory on its way up to mass exposure. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
One of our favorite voices out Marie Dahlstrøm is back today with a brand new track in the form of vibe-y midtempo number “Crashing Down”. The Copenhagen-born London-based Dahlstrøm is prepping a new EP of which “Crashing Down” will be part. On the new track’s narrative Marie says “‘Crashing Down’ is about the feeling of always searching, instead of being present in the moment. It’s about giving in and realising that you’re exactly where you need to be.” Enjoy the Joe Garrett-produced (Zayn Malik) “Crashing Down” below.
“Drive” the new track from SoCal artist Pretty Sister is a very perfect bit of sunny indie pop. Anthemic is a word/neologism used A LOT on music blogs but “Drive” easily earns that tag with its potent pop punch. Listen.
Out on Friday (12/12) is risers TENDER’s aptly titled sophomore EP “EPII”. “Cut” the third track to be revealed from the release rides a Glass Animals-esque dark hue to approx. 3:30 of strong buzz-y pop. Stream “Cut” below.
UK duo Kinds stream their proper debut single “Hands Up”. “Hands Up” traffics in a cool mix of R&B-influenced (sort of Phantogram-esque) syncopated instrumentals and an immediate hook-laden pop vocal. Very very good.
Fledgling Brighton organic electro band Sea Bed (who have a sound that Clash Magazine aptly described as a cross between “mutant r&b, fragrant electronics and oddball pop”) have less than 250 followers on Soundcloud and only one track posted. We’re listening to the duo’s very excellent debut song called “Moving Ghosts” the lead single from their forthcoming “Moving Ghosts” EP (out via @fourthieves on November 11th). After hearing the song a number of times (on repeat) we agree with Clash Magazine that Sea Bed have a very special sound and bright promise. A percolating mesh of background elements (messy synth accents, subtle vocal atmospherics and perfectly-tipped beats) blended with tremendously catchy, poetic-soulful r&b vocals, “Moving Ghosts” is a hell of a beginning for Sea Bed! We’re truly looking forward to the release of “Moving Ghosts”! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
“Fading” is the debut track online from Melbourne AU band Two People. Comprised of Phoebe Lou and Joey Clough from former favorite band (now sadly disbanded) Snakadaktal, the soul and A+ melodic choices that were at the center of Snakadaktal’s many strengths as a band are manifest here but in more immediate, accessible way. “Fading” is a great debut.
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