New Music Review #58

Ten more songs you need to hear!

ARTAN - Opposite Interests

A cooler, more interestingly produced track than the usual entries in the genre, this is a catchy, calm song with a stronger lyrical focus than you'd expect and a production style that reminds me a little of Enigma at their height. (6.5/10)

Father John Misty - Total Entertainment Forever

The best song off Misty's latest album, 'Total Entertainment Forever' doesn't quite live up to its opening lines and flatly avoids anything commercial but it is fun in a quirky way. (6/10)

Jerry Williams - I’m Not in Love With You

With hints of Lily Allen in her vocal style, this is a sweet little stripped back number with an emotional heart and hints of ballsy attitude. (7/10)

JP Cooper - Passport Home

Another great little indie-pop number from Cooper that mixes gentle music, a sweet voice, touching lyrics, gospel-feel and little sparks of interest based around the whistling sections and other neat little tricks. (7.5/10)

Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood - The Fighter

Less country than you'd expect from the pair, this is a bouncy, call-and-response focussed pop number with heart. Nice! (7/10)

Linkin Park - Invisible

Linkin Park may have gone a bit more pop recently and - whisper it - a little blander with tracks like this, but it plays out nicely even if the chorus is too repetitive and I miss the louder, rappier band. (6/10)

Sparks - What The Hell Is It This Time?

It might not be as musically different as you'd expect from the ever-changing duo, sounding as it does like 'This is the Renaissance' and songs from that era, but it's another quirky and eccentric pop-electronic number from the musical veterans with an intriguing topic tackled with their usual wit. (7.5/10)

Steps - Story Of A Heart 

A cover of a song by 50% of Abba, some of the lyrics may be a little bland ("staring at the back of a bus??") but it's a touching heart-felt ballad delivered well. (7/10)

Two4Kay - 2 2 Badmind

It may revel in a few genre cliches but it's actually a pretty fun summer-friendly club number with a mixture of rnb and urban styles. (6/10)

The Vamps and Martin Jensen - Middle Of The Night

The Vamps border on sell-out with this club-focussed number but it has a certain amount of catchiness amongst its familiarity. (6.5/10)

New Music Review #49

Ten more songs to hear!

Alessia Cara - The Other Side 

Though there are hints of autotune in the delivery, this cut back ballad is a brilliant showcase of Cara's delightfully sweet vocals and a cool, calming number. (7/10)

Dashni Morad - Love Wins

With hints of Eurovision before the surprising and refreshing rnb-influenced breakdown appears, this is a catchy electro-indie track with solid production values and a fun pace. (7/10)

Hannah Grace - Praise You

Hannah Grace delivers a stripped back and soulful version of the Norman Cook classic which is - whisper it - actually a little bit better than the original. With a lovely soulful voice, this is a delightful version. (7.5/10)

Indalo Man - Te Quiero Mucho

Sounding like a more credible and original version of Steps’ ‘Summer of Love’ this is a summery, catchy, clap-hefty samba hit that will get your foot tapping. Listen to with a margherita. (7.5/10)

Lady Gaga - The Cure

After a handful of so-so singles 'The Cure' is a definite return to form for GaGa. Well-written lyrics, understated delivery, and some catchy production work, this is a great little number. (8/10)

Linkin Park feat. Pusha T and Stormzy - Good Goodbye

Linkin Park continue to surprise with their new tracks, expanding their sound through collaborations. This might not please long-term Park fans but I really like the combination of their sound - here in its gentler form - and adoption of two big guest acts. (7/10)

Lovespeake feat. Max Frost – Novocaine

Based on a smooth electronic riff, ‘Novocaine’ is a light electro-indie number landmarked by Frost’s laid-back and airy vocals, but with another musical funk to give it more beef. (7/10)

Noah Cyrus - Stay Together

More interesting than the work of the more famous Cyrus, this is a well produced slow-tempo pop number with some catchy chantable sections. Nice. (7/10)

S.O.S - Silent Witness

Throwing up a variety of paces in lyrical delivery, S.O.S. is back with another perky pop number with some thoughtful lyrics, alas not about the television show. A grower. (6.5/10)

Yoe Mase - La da Dedu

Another smooth and soothing track from Yoe Masu, taking a laid back backline and adding over it some complimentary effects and vocals all delivered is in trademark chilled out style. Cool. (6.5/10)

New Music Review #35

More music for your listening pleasure!

Alesso - Falling

'Falling' is not massively revolutionary - it's a pretty by-the-numbers dance track - but it's catchy and danceable enough to hold together, held together by the alluring lead vocals. (6/10)

Circa Waves - Fire That Burns

'Fire That Burns' is not their best but it's another perky little pop song with indie overtones that give it a bit more bite. (6/10)

Flo Rida feat. Sage The Gemini - Game Time

Let's by honest: the lyrics are naff, the production cliched, and the vocals heavily autotuned, but there's something catchy about the record amongst its absurdity, though not sure about the dubstep-basketball-sound-effect breakdown. (6/10)

Gary Barlow - Yorkshire

Taken from the new 'Calendar Girls' musical, this song might be a little cliched (and that's coming from someone who is from and live in Yorkshire) but its stripped back, jaunty, tongue-in-cheek tone is fun and singable. (7.5/10)

Lana Del Rey - Love

Don't expect anything different in sound from Del Rey with 'Love'. It's once more dark, slow and depressing but aside from the lacklustre breakdown it's a pretty smooth and relaxing little indie number, though it's definitely more of the same. (6.5/10)

Linkin Park feat. Kiiara - Heavy

Quite relaxed by Linkin Park's standards, this might split the fan base after something louder, screamier, rappier and, ironically, heavier, but the balance of vocals and the stripped back feel works for me. (7/10)

Marc Almond - A Kind Of Love

It's been a while since Marc Almond has been in the musical public eye but with new music like this fun, poppy number he's clearly been missed. A simple but optimistic little pop number. (7/10)

Mike Posner - In The Arms Of A Stranger (Grey Remix) 

It's not a huge departure from his previous singles in terms of sound (once more a remix adds extra flavour to the record) but it's bouncy production with layered vocals in different styles gives it some gusto that carries it well. (6.5/10)

Pitbull feat. Stephen Marley - Options

This slow and sultry number is actually really Stephen Marley's piece and Pitbull's contributions are pretty unnecessary and the song's better without him. (6.5/10)

Young Astronaut - Chasing El Dorado

Initially coming across as quite a slow and maudlin piece, 'Chasing El Dorado' quickly grows into a building, evocative and well produced slice of indie with some western cinematic undertones and a dark, broody appeal. (7.5/10)