A revolving cast of contributors showcase some of the best new music releases from the past week.
Disclosure feat. Lorde – ‘Magnets’
Ever since Lorde tweeted an image of herself getting milkshakes in London with the Disclosure brothers back in June, fans have been hanging out for their collaboration to be released. Taken from Disclosure’s recently-released album Caracal, and premiering on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 radio show, ‘Magnets’ is a slinky wee pop tune that has its roots firmly in electronica.
Half of the appeal of both acts is their minimalist production styles, creating music that sounds refreshing in today’s soundscape of over-produced pop bangers. ‘Magnets’ feels the same, like they took the advice of Coco Chanel and removed one thing before leaving the studio. Lorde fills up any empty space with her evocative imagery, singing, “Smoke and sunset, off Mulholland / He was talking, I was wondering 'bout / You and that girl, she your girlfriend?”
With ‘Magnets’, Lorde and Disclosure are encouraging us to “embrace the point of no return” - just as they have done with this collaboration. Let’s hope it’s not the last time they share their secret language with us. – Ellen Falconer
Lontalius – ‘All I Wanna Say’
Cryptic lyrics, moody music videos and enigmatic album art often enhance an artist’s mystique. Some acts just get it covered in a name – say it or write it and immediately it is a puzzle you want the answer to. Not so with young Eddie Johnston who, as Lontalius, pretty much nails all the attributes you’d attach to an exotic butterfly, which is what the Lontalius refers to.
His new single ‘All I Wanna Say’ has the gentleness of a winged insect fluttering and looping on a soft breeze. His pensive vocals, as previously heard on ‘Light Shines Through Dust’, seem to evoke the times you’re alone in your bedroom reflecting on how you should really be a better human, and the instrumentation echoes the introspective sentiment perfectly. File this track and his cover of Pharrell’s universal joy-pop anthem ‘Happy’ under: good to get-lost-in-your-thoughts music.
Although Lontalius himself won’t be doing too much of that in the coming months, as he’s got appearances at New York’s CMJ Music Marathon, and a Red Bull Music Academy performance in Paris. Closer to home you can catch him on Friday at Neck of The Woods in Auckland, or save your coin for the 2016 St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, where he’ll also be playing. – Yadana Saw
Sia – ‘Alive’
The latest offering from Sia was originally intended for Adele’s next album, and it shows. ‘Alive’, co-written by the two, starts with a ‘Rolling In The Deep’-esque 4/4 beat and thumping piano chords before revealing Sia’s hallmarks: soaring choruses, percussive phrasing, and slightly quirky melodies.
Having penned some of the more interesting tracks for a laundry list of pop royalty - including Rihanna (‘Diamonds’), Beyonce (‘Pretty Hurts’), Christina Aguilera (‘You Lost Me’), Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, and even that super annoying one by Ne-Yo (‘Let Me Love You’) - one of her superpowers is her ability to craft pop songs with the best of them.
Her second superpower is her voice. On ‘Alive’, Sia lays on the cracks, squeaks, rasps, flips, and vocal fry to elevate the sense of vulnerability and resilience that are so often present in her songwriting. Those stylistic trappings are not only difficult to control but also really hard on your vocal chords, and one can’t help but think that if Sia were an artist who tours regularly - as opposed to refusing all live performance aside from TV appearances - her voice might not hold up under such strain. As it stands, though, she’s armed with one of the most expressive voices in music today.
Refusing pop’s mandatory trappings of celebrity, Sia’s penchant for facelessness and anonymity mimics the behind-the-scenes role that pop music’s top writers and producers play (when was the last time you saw a photo of Dr. Luke?). At the same time, her creative instincts guide remarkable performances from herself and her collaborators, rivalling Gaga, Pink, and Beyoncé in the spectacles she produces. In playing both sides of the coin, Sia at once defines and defies the modern pop artist. – Sarin Moddle
Run The Jewels – Meow The Jewels
Busting onto the scene in 2013, a seemingly unlikely duo of hip-hop veterans, El-P and Killer Mike, formed the now renowned and critically acclaimed Run the Jewels. Their first self-titled release garnered universal acclaim and praise for its unique style of hip hop. Fast forward just over a year and the dynamic duo dropped their second album, Run the Jewels 2, which did the seemingly impossible, and topped the previous album with features from the likes of Blink 182’s Travis Barker and Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de la Rocha.
Meow the Jewels is the first ever cat orientated remix album, with producer and rapper El-P having auditions for cats at an animal shelter. The songs are the the same from RTJ2, with the exception of being remixed with these recorded cat noises. One shouldn’t expect much more than the novelty and absurdity of the album, but on first listen, it’s pretty hilarious. Considering this album is a free download (if you wish) from their website, it’s worth getting. Of course there is the option of paying for it, or even pre ordering the vinyl, with all proceeds going to charity. – Joshua Thomas
Sam Smith – ‘The Writing’s On The Wall’
When it’s formulaic familiarity that primarily characterises the James Bond franchise, it makes sense that with the onset of each film the tiny variations that set each apart are carefully considered: who should be the Bond girl? Who should be the villain? And who, of all the modern chanteuses and chanteurs, should be given the very great honour of delivering the Bond theme song? For the upcoming Spectre you will of course by now be aware that Sam Smith emerged the victor of this latter category and in an efficient 20 minutes penned ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’, released this week to simultaneous derision, controversy and chart success.
The Bond franchise, once a fairly fun, camp institution has in recent years undertaken something of a rebrand with Daniel Craig a tougher, more blue-collared Bond and a grittier vision from cinematic heavyweight Sam Mendes. It is curious then that ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’ takes such a soft, vulnerable and intimate approach, and much of it delivered in Smith’s incredible falsetto.
It is a subtle twist, yet significant and with a queer male performer looking through the eyes of the definitively heterosexual Bond, it seems appropriate that the personal also be political. For a character identifiable by his stoic, masculine indifference to his partners, ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’ describes heartbreaking fidelity.
Politics aside, the track has all the hallmarks of the best bond themes: soaring, cinematic and orchestral with strong, dulcet vocals. Smoother and slower than we might be used to, Smith stays faithful to his signature emotional style, while embracing the classic Bond theme elements. The James Bond franchise thrives on revising and reviving formulas and ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’ does exactly that in style. – Katie Parker
Zone Out – ‘Inside’
Starting out as a four piece, Melbourne-based Zone Out came to its end in 2014, but this year members Dove Bailey and Ashley Bundan have revived the sound with a new single ‘Inside’.
The song is a shuffling dream pop track with synth casing and Bundan has a sweet, light quality to her voice, but manages to create a strong vocal presence that steers the song well. The twinkling keyboard notes and atmospheric surround contrasts nicely with rugged guitar twangs.
Dove Bailey says the band take their influences from John Talabot, Beach House, Tops, and other Melbourne bands spanning a variety of genres - from house to techno. The track itself, which tells the story of being stuck in the middle of friends’ relationship dramas, skims across a wide variety of musical influences.
‘Inside’ is well produced and quirky enough to remain stuck in your head, and Bailey and Bundan make a good pairing, complimenting each other’s skills nicely. They’re set to release a new album for our listening pleasure in 2016. – Elizabeth Beattie
What's your song of the week? Tell us about it in the comments section.
