Slowthai has been on a roll this week releasing track after track. The first was “ENEMY,” the second, “MAGIC,” and today he has released another new track titled “BB (BODYBAG)” and like the two preceding singles, the track is a banger. Now of course there’s a big elephant in the room. These tracks follow his shameful actions at the “NME Awards” earlier this year, but one can only hope he has learned from his mistakes. It’s looking like he’s on his way to bouncing back from it all. You can watch the music video for “BB (BODYBAG)” below:
This pandemic ain’t stopping Maryze from working. During this time she has written and performed a beautifully heartfelt song dedicated to her family and friends, performed for a live stream show, and has been interactive with her fans inviting everyone to send quarantine clips to be in her new music video for her new single “Muse.” The video will be out soon, but today “Muse” has been officially released, and it’s unsurprisingly astounding with smooth production provided by Super Plage and lush vocals sung entirely in French. You can listen to “Muse” below:
Drawing inspiration from her three varying influences, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and Lana Del Rey, Paris born musician Jenna has crafted an E.P. under her “Bliss My Heart” project that’s incredibly focused and never emulates her influences. Morningstar is the name of the E.P. It’s her debut, which is hard to believe seeing as how these three tracks are sharply constructed and her knack for catchy songwriting is unmatched. It’s evident she’s been writing music for years, because no one sounds this good on a whim. This music can be labeled “Electropop,” but it’s got distinct qualities that can be traced back to 80’s “Synth-Pop,” 2000’s “Electroclash,” and even a little “Gothic Rock.” Especially on a track like “Cross You,” which sounds like it could be a “Clan of Xymox” song with its backing operatic vocals and moody guitar. Her vocals are immensely unique and have the potential to place her in the same boat as other unique and creative vocalists such as Miss Kittin or Karin Dreijer. To say she has potential is an understatement, because though her sound contains shades of the aforementioned genres, she’s already developed her distinct sound that separates herself from her peers, and we’re only talking about three songs! That’s undeniably impressive.
On this day in 1985 “New Order” released their iconic third album Low-Life. Following the release of their highly successful and influential single “Blue Monday” in 1983, “New Order” released what became known as their finest work. Low-Life is an album that found the band perfecting the “Electronic” style they hinted at in prior singles and deep cuts off their previous album Power, Corruption, & Lies, and the synths, samplers, and synth bass combined with their usual Rock elements thanks to Peter Hook’s high-end bass and Bernard Sumner’s guitar saw the band developing the distinct “New Order” sound. This album was the complete transformation that departed from their earlier work that featured shades of their previous band “Joy Division” with it’s gloomy Post-Punk dominated sound. This album also featured Bernard Sumner sounding his most confident vocally and even writing simplistic but impactful lyrics with themes such as love, alienation, and even an anti-war song that opens up the album. Very few records are flawless, and this is one of those rarities. Not a skippable track on this thing. Happy Anniversary!
It’s that feeling of betrayal no one should ever have to face. That heartbreaking moment when you find out your lover has been unfaithful to you. Upon this discovery you can either unfairly blame yourself and ask what you did wrong while rage fills your heart as you try not to murder your significant other and the person they’re having an affair with, or you can realize your self-worth and take the high road as you break it off with your cheating partner and move on to a life of self-discovery and self-empowerment. New Delhi based artist Tanya Nambiar chooses the latter on her new single “Stranger in Our Bed.” Backed by lush and smooth instrumentation that features an easy listening blend of Pop, R&B, Funk, and Rock, Nambiar paints a vivid picture of this scenario with her ever so smooth vocals that are soulful and inspiring as she breaks it off with her partner as opposed to succumbing to rage. We’ve all heard countless songs about infidelity that are embedded in anger and vengeance, but it’s rare when we hear songs about said subject that are upbeat and hopeful in tone, and Nambiar tackles this subject in a way that feels universal. Even though many have thankfully not gone through this scenario, EVERYONE will feel something and identify with the message of self-empowerment, and that’s the sign of a true artist. A visionary that draws you in.
“Run the Jewels” have finally unveiled the release date for their highly anticipated new album RTJ4. It will be released on June 5th via Jewel Runners/BMG, and will feature their previously released tracks “Ooh LA LA” and “Yankee and the Brave.” The album will also feature appearances by Zack de la Rocha, Josh Homme, Mavis Staples, Pharrell Williams, and 2 Chainz. You can check out the album’s tracklist below:
RTJ4Tracklist:
01. Yankee and the Brave (Episode 4)
02. Ooh LA LA (feat. Greg Nice and DJ Premier)
03. Out of Site (feat. 2 Chainz)
04. Holy Calamafuck
05. Goonies vs. E.T.
06. Walking in the Snow
07. JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack de la Rocha)
08. Never Look Back
09. The Ground Below
10. Pulling the Pin (feat. Mavis Staples & Josh Homme)
11. A Few Words for the Firing Squad (Radiation)
Hailing from New Delhi, musician Gaurav Balani has played with numerous musicians primarily playing bass, so he is an experienced musician who knows his away around collaborations, and his ambition most definitely shows on his debut E.P. The Commons under his project “Inalab.” Assembling musicians Shruti Dhasmana on vocals, Suyash Gabriel on drums, and Archit Anand and Shashank Singhania on keys and flute, Balani has composed a grandiose work of art that’s carefully constructed as opposed to sounding too self-indulgent. Rich in orchestral arrangements and a hint of Progressive Rock, The Commons fearlessly blends various genres and the result is an epic journey that contains a large cinematic tone. This E.P. ranges from jam band excitement to roaring songs with Dhasmana delivering soaring vocals that perfectly reflect the infectiously dramatic tone. There is never an empty space on this E.P. as the rhythm section manages to be distinct but never overbearing, the keys and sound textures add an Electronic element that brings forth a spacey and atmospheric tone, and the flute arrangements are undeniable as they soar majestically. Dhasmana’s powerful vocals grounds the music and makes it human contrasting the otherworldly sounds of the instrumentation. This is the perfect example of how a musical composition can be immensely detailed without sounding over-produced and can be translated flawlessly live, and that’s no easy feat. The Commons is some of the most inspired and utterly addictive music i’ve heard all year. I’m begging to hear more.
Just when I was starting to lose faith in contemporary Hip Hop, out from the underground emerges two Hip Hop scholars from the Central Valley to slap me back into reality. The reality being that Hip Hop with true artistry is far from dead, and this is a refreshing realization. With MC Zak Gutierrez A.K.A. Sacrilege and Aidan Lozano A.K.A. USB on production, Grey Skies & Palm Trees is just what Hip Hop fiends unsatisfied with the current Hip Hop landscape littered with generic Trap beats and mumble clones have been yearning for, but by no means does this E.P. carry an overbearing “old head” mentality. Instead, Sacrilege delivers introspective lyricism more focused on confronting his personal demons and past hardships to work toward a better tomorrow than telling us all how dope he is. He doesn’t need to tell us how dope he is. It’s clear the guy can fuck you up on the mic, and what better way to compliment his flow than to back him with “Boom Bap” dominated production that’s immaculately produced with an incredible attention to detail that’s distinct enough to separate itself from dusty old lo-fi beats of yesterday. This is music that evokes the spirit of underground Hip Hop of the 2000’s, but at the same time isn’t stuck in the past, and it’s clear that Sacrilege is on a mission to take Hip Hop back to a place of artistic integrity. This one’s for the culture. This is only the beginning.
Maynard James Keenan is no stranger to the subject of the apocalypse or the end of the world. Just listen to TOOL’s “Aenima” and you’ll get an idea of his opinion on the matter. Now in 2020, a time where “the end of the world,” is unlikely but doesn’t sound far fetched as this pandemic separates the smart ones who heed the warnings from the toilet paper hoarders, Keenan faces this subject head-on with his band Puscifer’s new single “Apocalyptical.” This is the band’s first release in five years following the band’s last album Money Shot, and it features Keenan and fellow member Carina Round trading vocal duties as we’ve come to expect that of the band by now. This track is very “Puscifer” with Electronic-laden production combined with guitars and drums that sound very reminiscent of Peter Gabriel’s “Intruder.” It’s an interesting track, and the music video is even more interesting. You can watch the music video for “Apocalyptical” below:
It’s rare when a band can capture the live experience in the studio. Four-piece band “Blue Orchid Reaction” have done it in a way that seems effortlessly on their new E.P. Four Chord Theory, but there is nothing half-assed about their music whatsoever, because the attention to structure and clean production is proof that the band ain’t screwing around. Four Chord Theory is a fitting title, because these songs are instrumentally simplistic, evoking the spirit of minimal “Indie Rock” and even “Post-Punk” that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Senses Working Overtime compilation, but the way these songs flow, the drive, and the passion are all complex. Not one beat or note is wasted as the band deliver a well thought out interplay with an ever-changing structure that never strays into patience testing repetition, and like I mentioned earlier, these are songs that you can just hear live. I mean, I dare you to not clap along to the track “Beta Makeup,” a Punk-driven track that was born to be played live, and considering our situation at the moment, not knowing when we’ll be able to see live bands again, music that gives you the illusion that you’re experiencing live music is just what us concert fiends need. This E.P. does feel like a tease, because the short length leaves you wanting more. It’s almost as if the band are cooking up something even better than the solid material they’ve given us so far, and i’m ready to hear it. Let’s see what you got next guys. No pressure.
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