Noga Erez - End of the Road (Official Video)

Slayer of internet and social media mores, Noga Erez has just released her second album KIDS. 'End of the Road' was the third track she released and, like last years 'VIEWS', it's a strutty slice of spitfire lyrics, beats and attitude. 

Dream Wife - Sports!

The peerless Dream Wife released their debut album last year and, for me, 'Sports!', with its loping bassline, snotty vocals and damn catchy riffs was the standout track. The video feels like an homage to Power Rangers and Rollerderby, which feels weirdly appropriate. 

Dead Nature - Red Clouds (Official Video)

Following on from yesterdays slice of post punk synth pop slice of inspiration, it seemed only right to continue with the theme. Dead Nature's singer is even wearing an orange jacket here! I mean, I don't think they conferred with Molchat Doma on this, but it's a weird coincidence all the same...

Molchat Doma - Zvezdy (Official Music Video) Молчат Дома - Звёзды

Belarusian band Molchat Doma formed in Minsk in 2017. Taking inspiration from post punk and synth pop, their style can vary but, at its heart there is always a strong early 1980s element. With 'Zvezdy', a song in which they sound like a more cheerful Joy Division, they use the video to create a subtley surreal but inspiring tale of resistance and rebellion which feels very timely. 

People Club - Francine

Following on from last years startling statement of intent, 'Lay Down Your Weapons', the multi-national but Berlin based bands follow up is a quieter, more reflective piece. As with 'LDYW', it shows what a tight, polished band they are as well as providing a refreshing take on anthemic guitar based indie rock. 'Francine' doesn't hang around, but then it doesn't need to. 

Cults - Shoulders To My Feet (Official Video)

Cults 'Shoulders To My Feet' missed out on a slot in my 2020 songs of the year list because it was A) Released as a single quite late in the year (November or December I think...) B) Was taken from an album I'd  not been massively into and C) Sometimes it just takes me a while to catch up with listening to things. I sometimes have a generous interpretation of the what makes a year to allow for this kind of lag so, with that in mind, it might make the 2021 list. We'll see.

Taking a step away from fast paced punk laced indie pop, 'Shoulders To My Feet' is a broodingly atmospheric slice of wonky indie pop. Sweet but slightly off kilter, hypnotic and seemingly straightforward, yet... not. It's an unassuming earworm but, once it's there, it's there to stay.

Jayda G - 'Both Of Us' (Official Video)

The anthem to a lost summer, 'Both Of Us' remains a classy dance track that will endure. 

Becky and the Birds - Wondering (Official Video)

Becky and the Birds released this sophisticated, spring like, slightly wistful slice of minimal electro infused pop back in March 2020. Most of her 2020 tour didn't happen but it's to be hoped that there will be more singles this year and, please, please a debut album. 

Major Lazer & DJ Snake - Lean On (feat. MØ) (Official Music Video)

I thought I'd continue last nights Scandi pop theme by posting this collaboration between Major Lazer, DJ Snake and MØ, in which the latter turns up the intensity and glowers magnificently throughout. One of her most energetically ferocious tracks, 'Lean On' has an uplifting pop shimmer that lends itself to most occasions. Eminently suitable for that kitchen disco if it's still going. 

Lydmor: Someone We Used To Love (official video)

The world of Scandi pop has thrown out some tremendous sad bangers over the past ten or so years, Robyn's 'Dancing On My Own' being the classic example. This slightly sweary slice of turbo charged electro pop from rising star Lydmor is a great recent addition to the oevre, the line "I can feel the love retreating in you; fuck", when set against a turbo charged series of chunky beats feels unbearably poignant while still eminently danceable to. One for the kitchen disco this one. 

Allie X – Casanova ft. VÉRITÉ

Sometime last year I decided that Allie X was the unsung art pop goddess of our times, and I stand by that today: She is. The ear worm that is 'Casanova' was released in 2017, a full three years before the dark pop masterpiece that was last years Cape God, and it shows X at her subversive pop best. She's a woman with an unlimited supply of great hooks, which she deploys to great effect, making for a range of irresistible bangers. 

That will be all for today class. 

Jessie Ware - The Kill

Jessie Ware always was the boss of sultry, sophisticated disco. Last years What's Your Pleasure? was dripping with complex, string drenched, grown up dance beats like lead single 'The Kill'. It's alluring and atmospheric in equal measure, controlled and almost purring. A treat. 

Natasha Kmeto - trust issues

Taken from last years you've never danced alone album, 'trust issues' shows Natasha Kmeto at her most sparsely intimate. It's minimal but its hypnotic, poignant and unflinchingly honest. Like a diary entry set to an electro soundscape. 

Georgie - Chasing Kites (Live at Trinity Church, Nottingham, 2019)

Nottinghamshire singer/songwriter Georgie has toured with Jake Bugg and, in many ways, 'Chasing Kites', which is taken from her live album Georgie Live!, is her strongest song. A stripped down piano track, it simply lays out that age old dilemma: The chain of he loves her but she loves someone else, and no one is happy. But in this case there's enough self awareness on the part of our narrater to know that to continue with this chase is pointless, so she's walking away with a regretful wistful smile. Contained, controlled, dignified, and classic. 

Jacknife Lee - The Studio ft. Bibi Bourelly & Barny Fletcher (Official V...

Both insanely catchy and oddly poignant in an age of wasted talent and wasted opportunities, the mildly potty mouthed 'The Studio' gives it plenty of attitude but it contains a basic sad truth: What can you do if you have a dream but you can't achieve it? This should have been massive last summer but, to be honest, it was maybe too near the knuckle or too sweary. Or both. 

Semisonic - You're Not Alone

Something of a 2020 call to arms, 'You're Not Alone' was the first song this US indie act had released since 2017. It can be read a number of ways, part musical hug, part declaration of intent, part indie rock anthem. But really, just the right song for the right moment. 

Lily & Madeleine - Canterbury Girls - 1/29/2019 - Paste Studios - New Yo...

The brooding, haunting atmosphere of 'Canterbury Girls' tends to stay with you after listening. Lily and Madeleine's harmonies, very like those of Hanna and JJ from Overcoats, overlap in such a complementary fashion that it's impossible to imagine them singing with anyone else. There's a restless spirit to 'Canterbury Girls' that sits well today, whereas 'Analogue Love', the lead single from the same album, feels painfully poignant in a pandemic context. 

Jess Williamson - Infinite Scroll (Official Video)

Taken from one of my favourite albums of last year, 'Infinite Scroll' is an elegant slice of poignant introspection on the theme of love rescinded, or possibly rejected - it's not clear. Williamson is good at conveying complex emotions easily and wrapping it all up in a kind of country tinged urban folk with, in this case at least, early seventies easy listening echoes. The result is something quite subtle and finely crafted that only improves with repeated listens, making Sorceress compulsive repeat listening. 

Priscilla Ahn - Fine On The Outside (lyric)

I've never been sure if 'Fine On The Outside' was written specifically for the Studio Ghibli anime When Marnie Was Here, or if Priscilla Ahn wrote it before the anime and it got picked up and used afterwards. I suspect the former though because the lyrics relate so closely to the plot and themes of the anime that it seems unlikely to have been written independently of it. It is well worth watching When Marnie Was Here because, even though it's sad, it's also a really moving, lovely story and the animation is beautiful. The song can be listened to independently of the anime and, due to the level of detail, it feels almost more like a novel or a short story than a song. Sometimes we are sad, sometimes we cry, sometimes we are not OK and, much like Arlo Parks' 'Black Dog' did last year, this song acknowledges that and gives the listener a space to be safe in. 

Shaefri - 23 (Official Lyric Video)

Irish singer/songwriter Shaefri tentatively released her debut EP last year and this, along with the 'letter to a younger self' 'Girl', was the standout track. Observational, gritty and matter of fact; it doesn't always make for easy listening, but it has a perceptive quality to it that feels very timely in 2021. It's a song about survival after all. 

Florence + The Machine - Moderation (Audio)

Released as a stand alone single during the Australian leg of the bands 2018-2019 tour, 'Moderation' sees Florence Welch revisiting her soul girl period, perhaps last seen on 2011's Ceremonials album. Somewhere between self laceration, exorcism and dialogue with an invisible second person, it proved to be a winner live as well as giving Welch ample licence to tear across the stage like a Pre-Raphaelite preacher. A deceptively complex song with multiple elements, it packs a lot into its three minutes, and is the kind of track you can return to again and again, hearing different aspects at different times. 

Fiona Apple - Relay (Official Audio)

A good part of the reason why people so enjoyed Fiona Apple's most recent album, Fetch The Boltcutters, was because it was the sound of a woman clearly not holding back. The sound of someone who has just had it and is going to let you know. Another good reason was the musical experimentation, including homemade instrumentation, which gave the album an innovative and organic feel that only enhanced the emotional honesty. 'Relay' conveys both of these elements to perfection.

Laura Nyro - Stoned Soul Picnic

I always think of 'Stoned Soul Picnic' as being, somehow, entry level Laura Nyro: A track to play to people who haven't heard her before, a song that, despite being excellent in its own right, only hints at the full scope of her talents. There are 60s R&B aspects, strings, soaring vocals, and moments where the track seems to change direction, only to return to its original refrain and rhythm. Start here, and with the rest of Eli & The Thirteenth Confession, then listen to more of her. 

Kelsey Lu - Morning Dew (Director's Cut)

Released last year, Kelsey Lu's 'Morning Dew' feels softly contemplative, evocative of new beginnings and, yes, hope. It has that intricately layered quality of sound that played so well on her debut album, Blood, while at the same time hinting towards expectations of album number two. There's been no announcement of a second album, but if the past year has taught me anything, it's patience. 

Maggie Rogers - Alaska

Who hasn't heard 'Alaska'? There was a time, a couple of years ago, where it seemed to be everywhere you went and, while familiarity often breeds contempt, in this case regularly encountering this unusual slice of electro-folk pop just made me love it all the more. It is ageing well too, and still sounds uplifting and fresh. Just the thing for a cold spring morning in March.