New Music Review #85

Ten more tracks you must hear!

Ben Haenow - Alive 

Another strong pop song from the talent show winner. It's not the most memorable of songs after it finishes but its Biffy Clyro-lite vibe works well. (6/10)

Callaghan - Broken

Another beautifully written and performed track from the incredible voice of Callaghan. If this doesn't touch your heart strings not much else will! (7.5/10)

Carol Laula - 2nd Hand Joy

With folky undertones and the weaving in of a choir, there's an innocent and simple joy in this record with a bigger, catchy chorus. Delightfully different. (6.5/10)

Everything Everything - Desire

One of the most reliable bands around at the moment, 'Everything Everything' go a little bit Muse on this new release, a dramatically operatic falsetto-led number. (7/10)

Jack Found - Sundown

One of my favourite songs of the moment, this bouncy brass-hefty pop song sounds like Mark Owen with more energy and is a great catchy radio-friendly number. A must listen. (7.5/10)

Kele Okereke feat. Olly Alexander - Grounds for Resentment

The lead singer of Bloc Party shifts gear quite considerably on this slower ballad that has big echoes of the Feeling. Gentle yet touching this is a cool, chill-out number with strong lyrics and delivery. (6.5/10)

Lorde - Perfect Places

After the slightly off-the-wall 'Green Light' we get something more straight forward in 'Perfect Places' but the lyrics, delivery and driving pace all work well in creating a great little pop song. (7/10)

Pink - What About Us

Pink can often be relied upon to produce a great pop song and she does it again on this mid-tempo ballad. It's not a huge departure from some of her earlier material but it has enough heart and a strong enough chorus to win you over, and mixes in some nice dance elements too. (7/10)

Sea Girls - Call Me Out 

'Call Me Out' is a gentle slice of pop-indie that comes across as somewhere between the Killers and the similarly sounding Seafret. With a distinctive, foot-tapping chorus, this is a grower. (7/10)

Toddla T feat. Andrea Martin - Magnet

Keeping the backing track gentler lifts up the sweet and smooth vocals of Andrea Martin that gives this single its central emotional core. Chilled out and thoughtful. (6.5/10)

New Music Review #50

Ten more tracks you need to hear!

alt-J - In Cold Blood

Alt-J are back and though 'In Cold Blood' doesn't have the same hooky nature as their earlier material this is actually one of their best in a while, with several vocal hooks, a poppier overtone and some strong production. (7/10)

Carol Laula - August Leaves

It might have taken a while for this song to come to our attention but this is a beautiful understated indie-pop ballad with plenty of heart. Delightful. (7.5/10)

Cliff Richard & The Piano Guys - (It's Gonna Be) Okay

This collaboraton is a fun poppy number that's Cliff's best thing in years. With hints of 'Bright Light, Bright Light' this is a bouncy number that lights up the radio. (7.5/10)

Dua Lipa - Lost In Your Light feat. Miguel

A more subdued affair than her previous singles this is a strong ballad between the two vocalists and has plenty of emotion in there. (6.5/10)

Elles Bailey - Wildfire

'Wildfire' is a great pop-indie crossover with Bailey's vocals and the rough guitars complimenting each other on a mid-tempo hit. (7.5/10)

James TW - Ex

It perhaps run out of fresh ideas before its conclusion but it's a neat little indie-pop number. (7.5/10)

Oh Wonder - Ultralife

Taken from an upcoming new album this is 'Oh Wonder' on more uplifting form but still boasting their very listenable vocals and progressive strong structure. A little poppier than their last album but still great. (7.5/10)

Robbie Williams - The Heavy Entertainment Show

The opening track of Robbie's latest album finally gets a full video. A perfect opening song, this mixture of Williams' inflated ego and Serge Gainsbourg's sample works well in creating a rather eclectic story-driven song. (7.5/10)

Sam Way and Henry Dell - Pretty Liability

With hints of Example and Calvin Harris this is a bouncy pop-club crossover with a catchy poppy chorus. (7/10)

Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

Another fun pop song from Mendes with a heady mixture of building up production and very listenable lyrical delivery. Not earth shattering but good. (7/10)