Here’s my weekly collection of five, non London-related songs that I’m currently loving – hope you like them too:
Lissie – Everywhere I Go
I was in Newcastle this weekend for a ruinous stag weekend. That was terrific, despite my foreboding, but the journey back wasn’t: a hangover made worse by screaming babies, heat, delays, double-bookings and constantly-triggered passenger alarms. On top of which I feel a little sad, for reasons I’m still not sure of. Sometimes music can save you, though, and this was one of those times: soothing my ears, voicing my very own insecurities and nailing the slightly forlorn feeling in my heart as we sailed south, I owe a lot to Lissie, and this graceful number. More on her in this previous blog.
Egyptian Hip Hop – Heavenly
Egyptian Hip Hop are very cool at the moment, and I’m beginning to get why. The Manchester band’s songs aren’t immediately arresting, but the understated keyboards, lo-fi aura and quiet, sallow voices grow and grow on you until suddenly they’re on repeat and how did that happen? Heavenly’s particularly, well, heavenly, thanks to a central beat as soft and cheerful as bubble bath, and the occasional soars amidst Los Campesinos-style bedraggled lulls. Look out for these guys to make a big splash at festivals this summer.
Dee Edwards – Why Can’t There Be Love?
The arrival of warmer days brings renewed hope, cleavage, wedding invites and, in World Cup year, numerous celebrity-laden football adverts. Adidas has broken out a particularly dull one, with a motley mixture of famous folk and Joe Bloggs relishing a 24-hour rooftop party, but it does feature this perfectly summery slice of northern soul from the little-known Dee Edwards. The Pilooski remix is banging, but seems to suck a bit of joy out of the tune; my advice is stick to the original. If it ain’t broke…
Gayngs – The Gaudy Side Of Town (MP3 removed on request)
This song perfectly encapsulates the type of atmosphere I imagine when considering gaudy sides of town. I’m talking seedy motels, dark alleys filled with illicit deeds, intercourse in parked cars, empty lots, badly-lit subways, distant voices from uncertain directions, shadows, intrigue, hints of madness. The combination of morose, bleak lyrics with a languid style, exaggerated by a lonely sax and digital chants, renders Gayngs‘ gorgeous song equally unnerving. From Minneapolis and signed to Jagjaguwar, Gayngs is an indie supergroup comprising Ryan Olson plus Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and members of Megafaun and Solid Gold among others.
Pictureplane – Goth Star
I must have been in a dreamy mood this week, for here’s another sleepy slice of electronically-enhanced reverie. Hailing from Denver and friendly with Washed Out, Pictureplane (aka Travis Egedy) chops up layered and distorted female lyrics over a faintly classical keyboard hook and a rusty-sounding guitar. The cornucopia of vocal sounds, seemingly coming from all directions, should be conducive to chaos. But somehow the opposite occurs, and Goth Star brings on a contented, dubby daze.
MP3 links via song titles.