“Dear lord God: thank you very much for bringing the following songs to my attention. They’re the fucking bomb! Amen, Richard.”
Wu Lyf – Concrete Gold (mp3)
This song by the secretive Manchester sextet/dectet surprises me every time, even when I’ve listened to it five minutes ago. The crackly voice, the mournful tone, the sudden histrionics, the subterranean feel, the little-boy-lost lyrics, the gorgeous electro, the impossibly huge pause in the middle, the perky outro… it’s just unique. And that, in today’s world of musical diversity, is amazing and really exciting.
Sexy Neighbors – The Chain (mp3)
This slice of slurry, punky hoopla feels distinctly lo-fi and louche, but also barbarian, bohemian and bloody brilliant – and all that despite, sadly, not being a Fleetwood Mac cover. It’s also got a firmly foot-stomping bassline and the sort of messy, murmury vocals that positively demand drunken singing along.
Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks (mp3)
There’s something distinctly by-the-numbers about this: gargled vocals, repeated and high-pitched chorus, bouncy guitar hooks, humdrum structure… But for all that science, it’s darn irresistible: catchy, pretty-sounding and – crucially – possessed with a whistling mid-section. (Basically, if you want to get on this blog, send me a song with whistling in it. I can’t say no. I just can’t.)
Diddy – Dirty Money – Hello, Good Morning (Grime Remix by Skepta)
This is the grime remix says Skepta happily, and he be damn right. Bringing pulsating beats and a feverish pace to Diddy’s already exciting table, Skepta has basically done the musical equivalent of adding clotted cream to scones, butter and jam. If only there was a video…
Wonder Wheel – How To Slow Down (mp3)
Singer Paul A. Rosales sounds like he’s signing at the end of an incredibly long tube, the sound coming through tinny and rarefied as it reaches your desperate ears. This eerie, empty feel permeates to the point of shivering and nervous jumps when the stairs creaks.
Quite like Diddy dirty money track grime remix! Check out Matt’ Arctic Monkeys’ Helders performing on Jonathan Ross
Also Foster the Kids is a choon!!