New Music Review #62

Another ten songs that you need to hear!

Artan - My Brudda

A whole range of cultural references - both contemporary, retro and obscure - are whipped up into a simply produced grime track but one with some more commercial sensibilities in its beats and chorus. (6.5/10)

Beauty - Fallen Famous

Beauty are back with their latest single, a soft-rock track with a swaggery lyrical delivery. The chorus may be a bit damp in parts but the attitude-filled verses with their strong pop style build it up well. (6.5/10)

Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)

Only recently coming to our musical attention this is a catchy, ballsy club-pop tune with a big stadium-friendly chorus and a great foot-tapping beat. (7.5/10)

HVNNIBVL - On and On

'On and On' is a catchy, funky EDM number with a throbbing strong production. The chorus may be a little overly familiar but its all wrapped up as a good little summer anthem. (6.5/10)

Kehlani - Undercover (Coucheron Remix)

Like a lot of contemporary club-EDM the chorus is very samey but the sweet vocals, smooth electronic music and building Moloko-style tempo work in its favour. (6.5/10)

Makala - Strong

With a throbbing grime-beat this is a change in direction for Makala, with more committed production behind its tubthumbing lyrics. (6.5/10)

Sharon Shannon - The Machine

With some biting politically-charged lyrics wrapped up in a perky, Eurovision-esque summery track, this is a well-positioned balance of styles and themes, and a quirky building Celtic theme, with the language shifts well timed too. Great! (7/10)

Shaun Kelly and the Returned Gifts - Cadillac

With hints of Squeeze's 'Cool For Cats' this is a catchy, bouncy summer hit with a joyful vibe and a vocal enthusiasm that puts a smile on your face. (7/10)

Show of Hands - No Secrets

With a vocalist that's rather listenable and a music backing track that builds up, 'No Secrets' comes across as a song that sounds like Bruce Springsteen in his prime if he cheered up a little. Nice. (7/10)

The Wild Things - F.I.A.

With the F.I.A. a cleaned up declaration of defiance, this is a grungy, lo-fi rock number with the lead vocals adding some heft to a simple, yet head-nodding, number. (6.5/10)