Let's Run Away Together

Will Butler - Anna

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

How did I miss this slice of pop magic?

I’m pretty sure Emma Stone is the very, very best of us. Also, note to self, buy sailor suit.

Your Gay Thoughts - To Disappear

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

You had me at the band name.

A discordant opening, To Disappear floats near the ether, just out of reach. Highlighted thoughout is a desperate flickering negative space—it finds lines and rhythms and seems to draw a path, but just as you think you’ve got it figured out, it slides away again. There’s a stunning array of sounds on offer, tied together by a compelling vocal melody.

Well worth a listen, and a watch (the video, from Japanese animator densuke28, follows a time-travelling future ape that I’ve nicknamed Gary), if not just because it has one of my favourite band names of the year thus far.

It is taken from the debut album, The Watercolors via King Deluxe.

Memory Flowers - Damage

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

“I’d rather be alone than hurting you.”

That riff in that bridge is glorious. Simple, clever, driving.

Brendan Maclean - Hugs Not Drugs (Or Both)

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

To summarise: Everyone you wish you were friends with having a party in a hotel room you wish you were in.

Gosh Brendan Maclean just keeps on raising the bar.

He’s followed up the phenomenal video for Tectonic with Hugs Not Drugs (Or Both). It is glorious pop, all but guaranteed to get your heart racing.

Skrillex & Diplo - Where Are Ü Now (with Justin Bieber)

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Ridiculously good production.

I never thought I’d be digging on anything that relates to Bieber so much, but that breakdown is absurdly catchy.

Brendan Maclean - Tectonic

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

“We’re getting closer all the time.”

Directed by Josh Harris, Brendan Maclean’s Tectonic is a blast. Stunningly choreographed, the video is a visually arresting mash-up of dance and animation.

Get the song via Bandcamp.

Ta-Ku featuring Wafia - American Girl

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Further proof that everything Wafia touches turns to gold.

American Girl started as a joke when I was watching old Kobe Bryant highlights and Estelle’s “American Boy” was the soundtrack. I really wanted to make a stripped back #emotional version that would play on its really great melodic structure. I reached out to my lovely friend Wafia to sing a duet with me & mustered enough courage to jump on the first verse. I’m very proud of this song. I hope you enjoy it.

Downtempo R&B joy.

Sufjan Stevens - Blue Bucket Of Gold (Remix)

Thu, 22 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Sufjan remixing Sufjan.

And it’s really good.

Nothing like an email from Asthmatic Kitty Records to break me from the reverie of Thursday afternoon. Especially when it involves a remix of Blue Bucket of Gold.

Sufjan has released a remix of “Blue Bucket of Gold” from his album Carrie & Lowell. Featuring members of Stevens’ touring band, and recorded by Tucker Martine in Portland, Oregon and at Stevens’ studio in Brooklyn, the remix is an interpretation of the band’s live version of the song.

I saw him at Royal Festival Hall in London, and I was floored by how different and electronically driven his interpretations of the songs from Carrie & Lowell were. At the time I was gutted it would probably be the only time I’d hear those versions, but clearly I was wrong.

Swim Season - Soldiers

Fri, 09 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Taken from their forthcoming EP, Cascades, this is pop perfection.

“In spite of all that is wrong in the person you desire, in spite of all the flashing lights that tell you to run from the situation, you remain to soldier through all that is bad for your vice.”

Full disclosure, I know these guys. They’re really great. But even if they were jerks I’d still write about their music because it’s so good.

Fortunately, they’re really great.

Soldiers has a maturity that belies the relative newness of the group, and it’s clear Swim Season have really found their feet. It’s taken from their new EP, Cascades, which you can pre-order and it makes me a tiny bit sad that summer is over in England.

Brightly - I Will Never Let You Go

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Shameless self promotion.

I’ve spent the last six months working on an interactive WebGL music video, called I Will Never Let You Go.

You can see it here.

And you can read about making it here.