New Music Review #108

Ten more songs that you have to hear!

Amanda Mair - Empty Blockings

With a distinctive light and sweet vocal this is a nicely produced and warming indie-pop song built around a delightful vocal delivery. (7/10)

Andrew Applepie & Bjurman - Waltz of Despair

The title may suggest that it'll be a downbeat piece of music and whilst it cannot be described as uptempo its strong production, delicious vocals and interesting electronic vibes make for a beautifully composed chill-out number. (7.5/10)

Belle Ghoul - Lift Me Up

Another great single from Belle Ghoul. Partnered with a brilliant puppet-based video this is a foot-tapping indie-rock number that mixes harmonies, crisp production and a cool vibe into a sweet package. (7/10)

Big Shaq - Man's Not Hot

Chewing the scenery and doing a spot-on parody of the conventions of grime songs and videos this is both funny and pretty memorable. Nice. (6.5/10

Clean Bandit feat. Julia Michaels - I Miss You

Musically it might be a pretty standard affair from Clean Bandit but with Michaels heartfelt delivery of the downbeat lyrics to a missed ex it adds a certain level of emotional impact. (7/10)

Dagny - Love You Like That

One of our favourite artists at the moment this is another great track from Dagny with a catchy chorus, some fun lyrics and a foot-tapping vibe. Uplifting. (7/10)

Disciples - Jealousy

It's not breaking any particular mould created by Disciples but as an upbeat club tune it ticks all the boxes, the Rihanna-sounding vocals keeping things together next to the 90s-throw-back nonsense lyrics. (6.5/10)

The Fizz - Amen

75% of the original Buck's Fizz return with this Abba-esque perky pop song that will please their long term fans; inoffensive and fun, it's a nice slice of pop. (6/10)

MØ - Turn My Heart to Stone

With vocals that flick between Rihanna and a fun falsetto, this is a sultry swagger of a track with jazz influences in its free form structure. Nice. (6.5/10)

Rosko - Snifter

With a clear punky sound this is a raw little number with hints at something a little more commercial in its set-up and delivery. With its Cockney undertones this is a fun little distraction. (5.5/10)

New Music Review #68

Ten more tracks you need to hear!

Chlöe Howl - Magnetic

Finally, one of the best emerging artists of the last few years releases a new song. It might lack the bubblegum energy of 'Disappointed' or 'Not Strings' but this punky, funky ballad has plenty of bite, some great lyrics and a soaring chorus, all cemented together by Howl's distinctive and listenable voice. Welcome back! (7.5/10)

Clean Bandit & Marina and the Diamonds - Disconnect

It's a good day when Marina and the Diamonds come back, here teaming up with Clean Bandit. Here she's the better of the two thanks to her distinctive and emotional vocals, Clean Bandit cut back to a rather generic dance track, but together they work well. (7/10)

Dawa - Put It Away

'Put It Away' is a delightfully laid back track, stripped back to a simple guitar, cajon and the beautifully sung vocals of the two leads, their harmonies working together magically. (7/10)

DiRTY RADiO - Champagne Bubbles feat. 528

With lyrics that are definitely NSFW, outside of the words this is a catchy, quirky, bassy number which makes an impression in its sub-3-minutes time. Sounding like the Black Eyed Peas but with more conviction, it's worth a spin. (6.5/10)

Don E feat. Veeiye - You Know (Radio Edit)

A cut back reggae-infused track and though the lyrics may be a little bland and fag-packet, it has a loveable rhythm and production vibe. (6.5/10)

Fejká - Ghostlight (Radio Edit)

A laid-back, chilled out number, but with a delightful instrumental focus and some relaxing, other-worldly lyrics gently overlaid. Delightful. (7/10)

Paul Menel - Spanish Mane 

Like a jazzed up version of 'Man in the Moon' by REM at the start this is a bouncy, summery hit with a Spanish twist, plenty of brass and boundless energy, like the Mavericks on a big night out. (7/10)

Pressyes - Touch The Sky

'Touch the Sky' is a laid back ethereal number with a calming, other-worldly musical track and an alluring vocal line that is the perfect accompaniment for a laid-back summer's evening. (6.5/10)

Rude Kid - Master System

My favourite of the tracks on his latest EP, this short yet sweet instrumental harks back to the retro era of the title of the song. Quirky yet modern. (6/10)

Urband Soul - Wake up

With a strong ska and reggae feeling, this is an immediate and addictive tune matched with some well written and thought-provoking lyrics. (7/10)

New Music Review #43

Another ten songs you need to hear!

Billionaire - Reasons to be Fearful

Set to a mid-tempo swagger ‘Reasons to be Fearful’ switches up lyrics about buying beer with the sort of thing you’d expect from the Daily Mail. It lacks a big chorus and shows its hand within the first minute but it’s a good mix of simple, evocative production and good lyrics. (6.5/10)

Blondie – Fun

Blondie are back with a new album (“Pollinator”) and this is the lead single ahead of it. Catchy, poppy and danceable this is just what you’d expect for and hope from the band, and they don’t disappoint with this strong first-cut. (7.5/10)

Brenda Veila – Trouble

Sometimes I get a song in my review list that immediately jumps out at me, and this is one of them. A very promising early single from a singer whose young age doesn’t correlate with the power of her voice, though some lyrics are a little clunky in parts. ‘Trouble’ boasts one of the most memorable choruses around at the moment and doesn’t spoil the party elsewhere in the song. Great. (7.5/10)

Callaghan and Vincent Duffy - I Don't Know How To Lose You

Callaghan has a really beautiful voice and once more is showcased well on this song. Lyrically and musically it’s quite slow and dark, and rather short, but it’s nicely put together and emotive. (7/10)

Clean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson – Symphony

Like Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of Me’, there are certain songs that are getting overplayed at the moment, and this is one of them. But if you can get over the overfamiliarity this feels like Clean Bandit back on form, a strong mix of classical influences with Larsson’s delicious vocals and some sweet, loveable lyrics. Very well done. (7/10)

Cornerstone – Northern Light

With a Fleetwood Mac-sounding rock riff this has a throwback sound to the seventies, held together with the fragile voice of the lead singer and the chunky guitars. It might lack a certain spark to make it a classic, but it’s a solid pop-rock number with a neat chorus. (6.5/10)

DJ Premier X Miguel - 2 Lovin U

Though the single does sound like they’ve stolen the bass riff from an Arctic Monkeys song this mix of smooth rnb vocals, throbbing bassline, DJ effects and general confidence make this a great punchy number that crosses genres and mashes them up into something very listenable. (7.5/10)

Don Elito feat. Nado – You Alright Yeah (Radio Edit)

Switching up between grime and rnb, this is a poppier sounding entry into both genres with a cheeky confidence in its lyrics, which swerve between and around the genre clichés. The verses perhaps last a little too long between choruses, but it’s a promising quirky little number that embraces its London slang. (6.5/10)

Elea Calvet – Lust

Delivered in a slurry fashion, ‘Lust’ is a warbly affair which is not usually something I enjoy, but there’s something likeable about the flow of the lyrics and music throughout the song, not so much a structure as a journey. Definitely a grower, but it’s not a song that fits comfortably into a particular box. (6.5/10)

Emeli Sandé - Highs & Lows

Emeli continues on strong form with another bouncy, up-tempo song that gets your foot tapping and your vocal chords into overdrive. Poppy, catchy and, to roll out another cliché, radio friendly. A great pop number. (7.5/10)

Top 100 of 2016 (Part 5)

It's time for the fifth part of our top 100 countdown, taking us from 61 to 50. Don't forget to leave your comments below!

60 Michael Bublé - I Believe in You

59 Kerri Watt - The Wild

58 MIAMIGO - Everyone I Know

57 April Towers - Silent Fever 

56 Cody Chesnutt - I Stay Ready

55 Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie - Rockabye

54 Madness - Mr Apples

53 Skyler feat. Snoop Dogg - Fire

52 Paige Monroe - Call It Love 

51 Smoove & Turrell - You Could've Been a Lady