FAT STACKS OF TRACKS

Banks - Fall Over

A bit of wailing never did anyone any harm. Banks forming the soundtrack to my dark and cold early spring evening as I apply for jobs and attempt to fight off what feels like impending cold. 

M.I.A - Bad Girls (Leo Justi Remix)

Post-millenium game-changer M.I.A unveiled a mixtape today giving the world a little glimpse of what's to come in her FOURTHcoming studio album Matangi, due out in April.

Major Lazer - Watch Out For This (Bumaye) feat. Busy Signal, The Flexican & FS Green

AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies

I can't help but think that AlunaGeorge would be better if it was just "Aluna" Imagine it in your head for a second and it makes sense. She would be a stella solo artist, no?

Willy Moon - My Girl

Little Boots - Motorway

Good things come to those who wait.

Fans of Little Boots have had to wait a long time for any real indication of a new album release from Blackpool's finest electro-pop export, but it looks like that wait is now over.

'Motorway' is a solid slice of intelligently crafted electro pop, and at just over five minutes long, provides for a more than satisfying listening experience for those who have long anticipated new material. Infectious and dark, escapist in its lyrics and direction, the song feels more like the kind of music Little Boots wants to be making.

Victoria Hesketh is an underrated female artist in that her ability to craft great pop hooks is up there with many of her male contemporaries, Hot Chip and Metronomy to name a couple.

Crucially, Hesketh is a great preserver of the art of writing a classic pop music.

Her first album Hands was wrongly overhyped in the lead up to its release as a consequence of the BBC Sound of...poll. As such her skill for writing was perhaps shamefully overlooked by listeners buying into the misleading comparisons being thrown around at the time with the likes of Lady Gaga.  

If 'Motorway' is anything to go by however, the new album will see Little Boots return with more focus and a revised sound that is reflective of an artist more confident about who they are.

Frank Ocean - Eyes Like Sky

Supposedly this Frank Ocean track didn't make it onto Channel Orange, which upon listening quickly makes sense as it's a bit of a departure from the overall sound of the Grammy award-winning album.

'Eyes Like Sky' swaps R'n'B beats in favour of some simple guitar strumming over which Frank's vocals work unsurprisingly well. It's a refreshing angle from which to appreciate the man of the moment, and bodes well for the next album which Ocean is quoted to be "10 or 11 songs in"

Wild Belle- 'It's Too Late'

Exciting sounds from Chicago duo Wild Belle. Steady reggae infused rhythm that's met with a bit of slouchy sax over the top. Add to that some soulful vocals from lead singer Natalie Bergman and you have the makings of some wistful sounds that'll carry your imagination away to warm summer evenings and festival sunsets with friends.

There's also a neat little remix of the song by Employee of the Year

!!! - Slyd

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) are set to make a comeback this year after a long hiatus with a new album due out at the end of April.

'Slyd' is a downright disco banger, classic club-floor filler sound with a twist of funk synonymous with the group. Grab yourself a decent pair of headphones and ecoutez.

Romare - Taste of Honey (From the City) 

London via Paris producer and DJ Romare returns with a new EP on March 25th, entitled Love Songs, Part One.

Taste of Honey (From the City) is an impressive sample of what's to come from the artist whose first EP Meditations on Afrocentrism layered a variety of musical samples as it investigated the relationship between different musical cultures.

It might sound like an undergrad thesis, but this is an important exercise in seeking ways to represent authentic black experience through sound. Romare puts a lot of careful thought into his sampling, what emerges is a tribute of sorts to both African and African-American music. It's impressive and ambitious whilst also just providing a great listening experience.

London Grammar - Metal & Dust

London Grammar stirred up a bit of hype at the end of last year with their first release "Hey Now"

This second cut 'Metal & Dust' is taken from their debut EP of the same name, due for release on the 25th February.

It's a promising follow-up to their first release, offering up a similar intelligent and easy-listening vibe which right now, I just appreciate.

CocoRosie - Gravediggress

A welcome return for CocoRosie in this, the first glimpse of their soon to be released album 'Tales of a Grass Widow' on May 27th here in Europe.

'Gravediggress' adopts a Timbaland-esque beat that actually works really well alongside the infantile, ghost-of-christmas-past like vocal that sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady are now instantly recognisable for. I mean it's creepy sounding, but CocoRosie have quite a niche following that love that sound and with the leavings towards a slightly more hip hop sound in this track, this could be the album to attract more listeners and widen that fan base.

Ghostpoet - MSI MUSMID

Ghostpoet unveiled a new track today in which he talks about how dim sum and noodles makes him feel alright, which is fair enough.

'Minimal' is probably the best way to approach this, Ghostpoet stays true to the glitch rhythm/ easy going vocal that largely defined the first album. The track will be available as a free download once it has been reposted 1000 times on Soundcloud. 

Haim - Falling

Instant gratification upon first listen, when it comes to music, can be a rare thing.

Being bestowed with the "Sound of..." isn't an easy thing to negotiate, in the past the title has knocked artists off course a little bit (sadly Little Boots) as they get caught up in the hype and record label expectation. 

From the opening few bars of new single "Falling", HAIM manage to hook your ears and reel you right on in with this infectious pop jam, reassuring you that the three sisters' are still intent on keeping up the momentum they picked up towards the end of last year. 

The track features those sharp, short, breathy Michael Jackon-esque intakes that are kinda becoming signature HAIM.

Pink Matter - Frank Ocean (Big Boi & Andre 3000 Remix)

Big Boi & Andre 3000 reunite to deliver this sublime rework of Frank Ocean, beautifully crafted for your listening pleasure. 

This is a soulful remix of a track comprising two perfect halves. The first half is just stripped back Frank that will make you sit back and really take note of the guy's true vocal ability. The man can really sing, that falsetto cannot be denied.  

James Blake - Retrograde

I mean, obviously this is great. Jimmy Blake slides past Disclosure & AlunaGeorge, taking number one spot for Best Track of 2013 Thus Far. Something tells me he might be there a while.

Sometimes you just need to let the music speak for itself.