Forever, “Hymn”
London-based Coyote Records has been knocking out a load of nice releases over the last few years. Case in point: this new one from Forever. Creepy, kooky, and as slow burning as a Scandinavian crime drama, there’s a whole EP of the stuff to follow next month.
Sonikku, “Dilemma”
Having made a really great mix for us a few months back, Sonikku has twisted our all-time favorite karaoke tune into a Sega mega-vibe garage winner. Now, who remembers that time Kelly tried texting Nelly via an Excel spreadsheet?
Cabbage, “Gibraltar Ape”
We liked Cabbage when we first heard them a year ago and we still like them now. This one’s produced by The Coral’s James Skelly — a man quietly building a sort of Northern Hitsville from his Parr Street Studio base — and sees singer/guitarist Joe Martin slowly transform into an ape, for reasons that remain unclear. It’s all very silly and all very catchy. Which, to be honest, is exactly what you want.
Zoee, 1-2-1
You may remember Zoee from such music videos as The Rhythm Method’s “Cruel” daytime pub karaoke party and that video of her shot through a window for “Insecure (7,8,9).” While the start of “1-2-1″ makes us very anxious, the rest is a nice electro-pop number inspired by Zoee’s fascination with — yep, you guessed it — serial monogamy. “I feel the need to be wanted can sometimes override the need to be loved,” she told us. “That need is reflected in the manic arpeggios and voice-in-your-head backing vocals.”
Umoja, “Take Me High”
We didn’t know that a thing called Awesome Tapes From Africa existed until the other day when we found out that, in fact, a thing called Awesome Tapes From Africa does exist, releasing awesome tracks such as this one: a bubblegum hit from South Africa’s violent apartheid peak. You can get it on LP in May too, if you can wait that long.
Sturla Atlas, “101 Nights” LP
Our Icelandic pals are back with another impressive LP. With wunderkid Aron Can on the very first track, they start as they mean to, going on through eight tracks of break-ups, crushes, and sexy time. They’re a romantic bunch. Our “101 Nights” in shining armor.
Azizi Gibson, “Nintendo King” Prod. Tuka & 8sho
Turns out the king of Nintendo is not Tatsumi Kimishima as we all thought but Frankfurt-born rapper of rap Azizi Gibson. Formerly on Flying Lotus’s Brainfeeder imprint, he’s just launched his own label, preHISTORIC, and is joining the very good THEY. on a European tour in May. Stick this one in your Mario Kart until then (no pun intendo).
A.CHAL, “To the Light”
“Eyes bloodshed, marijuana. Staring at the eyes of my Karma. I’m bumping Michael Jackson and Nirvana. I’m tryna find my way to Madonna,” go the lyrics to this one by Peruvian purveyor of sexy, stoner music A.CHAL. Come to think of it, swap Madonna for McDonalds and you’d have the ultimate munchies anthem, wouldn’t you?
Celeste, “Chocolate”
This next one without a doubt wins Most Soulful Track of the Week award. Taken from 22-year-old Celeste’s debut EP Milk & Honey (out now on Lily Allen’s Bank Holiday Records), the Jakwob-produced “Chocolate” will melt even the coldest of hearts. Ideal listening for those brooding moments when all you want to do is sit in a dark room under a red light thinking of the worst but listening to the best.
The Orielles, “Sugar Tastes Like Salt”
Like the good music fans we are, we’ve been stalking The Orielles for a while now. Out on London’s Heavenly Recordings (home to The Wytches, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and TOY) “Sugar Tastes Like Salt” has the Yorkshire newcomers reference Tarentino’s Death Proof.
Credits
Text Frankie Dunn and Matthew Whitehouse