The new Charli single is a bop and the new Serj Tankian song is brutal. Plus new tracks from Lupe Fiasco, Louis Cole, Peggy Gou, Mutes, Jean Mignon and Slash/Iggy Pop.
THE BEST:
‘360’ – Charli
XCX
Well, this is
a banger. Off her upcoming album Brat, ‘360’ sees Charli delivering her
usual catchy dose of sass over a punchy simple synth riff produced by A.G. Cook.
It’s got that hyperpop flavour of her recent work, but it also reminds me of
her breakout single with Iggy Azalea, ‘Fancy’ (so basically, she’s gone full
circle musically on ‘360’). The song doesn’t start until halfway through the
video, however the ‘it’ girl secret society meeting in the first half is quite
entertaining with its ‘totally waiter vibes’.
‘A.F. Day’
– Serj Tankian
Atrial
Fibrillation day? Aretha Franklin day? April Fools day? No, ‘A.F. Day’ actually
stands for ‘Another Fucking Day’. It’s the new single from System Of A Down frontman
Serj Tankian, who has a new EP out later this year. It may well be one of the most
brutal songs I’ve heard from Serj, which is not an easy accomplishment given
how heavy some of SOAD's material is. He’s not just screaming out his lungs but
all his internal organs in that chorus.
‘Samurai’ –
Lupe Fiasco
Lupe’s
upcoming album Samurai will apparently tell the story of a rising battle
rapper and will contain Japanese influences. ‘Samurai’ is the title track. I’m
not sure I can hear the Japanese influences, but it’s a tasty old skool hip hop
track – the beat is very smooth and Lupe’s bars trickle over it like water.
‘Life’ –
Louis Cole
Experimental drummer/singer
Louis Cole is now working with a full size orchestra dressed up as skeletons. His
new single ‘Life’ opens with Psycho string stabs that are quickly joined by
funky drums and speedy slap bass. Fellow Knower member Genevieve Artadi
provides guest vocals, helping to deliver some groovy harmonies. Did I mention
there’s also a sax solo? There’s a lot going on in this classical/jazz/dance
song. Louis Cole just keeps upping the scale with every new project. It’s early
days still, but this could be a contender for track of the year.
‘Lobster
Telephone’ – Peggy Gou
This retro house
anthem, named after the famous Lobster telephone Dali sculpture, features some
thrillingly fun synth sounds. The vocals are fun too, even though I haven’t got
a clue what she’s singing about. The track is the work of South Korean
producer/singer Peggy Gou who has an album out in June titled I Hear You.
‘Transparency’
– Mutes
Birmingham
post-punk trio Mutes have dropped a new epic single spanning six minutes. It’s made
of racing semi-dissonant guitars that sound like QOTSA meets Mastodon. Half-way
through it mellows out, building back up into a euphoric guitar solo and then winding
down again. It comes off their fourth album …buried where you stand.
‘Cause I’m
Scared’ – Jean Mignon
New York garage
punk artist Jean Mignon has a new album out titled Dirty Mean Fast. And
the songs certain are dirty, mean and fast – ‘Cause I’m Scared’ is the first
track and it’s a pure shot of adrenalin. I’m loving the blown out speaker
production and the way in which the vocals fly off like a spaceship at the 1:11
mark.
THE WORST:
‘Awful
Dreams’ – Slash ft. Iggy Pop
Iggy’s got
that old man wobble in his voice and it’s been getting gradually more
pronounced over the years. And I don’t know what the hell is going on at 4:55.
Are those vocals? It sounds awful. Sorry Iggy, but it might be time to retire
the mic.