Boy have we got some tasty musical treats for you this week! From the feature track by Childish Gambino an the highly anticipated new Arcade Fire track to some local gems from The Good Morrows, Brother James, Boys Boys Boys, and more, this is sure to whet your appetite for tunes!
Childish Gambino – ‘3005’
The loveable multi-talented actor-turned-rapper Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, has dropped the debut track from his upcoming sophomore record. Above all else, ‘3005’ is a sheer demonstration of Gambino’s expert versatility. Laying it down over futuristic synths and heavy pulses of bass, Gambino effortlessly shifts between a spitfire, no-breaths flow to a more broken down word play, then tops it off with his silky Drake-esque falsetto on the hook. Honestly, what can’t this man do? Because The Internet officially drops on December 10.
Brother James – ‘Singalong’
Brother James is made up of members from The Vasco Era, The Exploders, Rat & Co and Second Hand Heart, and they’ve just unveiled the first single from their debut album expected to release in early 2014. The amalgamation of these Australian bands was always going to be exciting, even just on paper, and this first track doesn’t disappoint. ‘Singalong’ builds up a wall of noisy garage rock with charged guitars and crashing cymbals, but gets polished up with well-paced classic rock structures and melodies. Meanwhile, The Vasco Era frontman Ted O’Neil provides the gritty lead vocals. Judging by this explosive debut track, Brother James are a force to be reckoned with.
Arcade Fire – ‘Afterlife’
Arcade Fire have released the second single off their highly anticipated fourth studio album Reflektor, and it’s a much more pop-skewed effort than the title track which dropped last month. ‘Afterlife’ is a deliciously bittersweet sing-along anthem about the uncertainty of death. Win Butler’s rapturous chants pose melancholic questions we ask ourselves in moments of an existential crisis, but over a backdrop of catchy electronic-tinged arrangements and with a trademark cathartic chorus, the journey – yes this song warrants the J word – manages to become uplifting. “Can we work it out?/ If we scream and shout/ Till we work it out?” Butler yells, and reminds us that sometimes the best solution in life is to blast a bit of Arcade Fire and let it all out. Reflektor is the follow-up to 2010’s Grammy-winning record The Suburbs, and it’s due out on October 29th.
The Good Morrows – ‘Help You Be Yourself’
Think Tame Impala mixed with The Kinks and a bit of The Vines, and you’d get Melbourne band The Good Morrows. Emerging from their garage with a psychedelic punk number entitled ‘Help You Help Yourself’, taking note of their catchy melodies is merely scratching the surface. Cruising vocals, a multitude of guitar effects, tight drumming… this track is 60s-esque simple, yet so intricate. A change in tempo leads the outro, and proves to be a simple yet effective way to end a very nice song.
Pretty City – ‘Falling In And Out Of Love’
Pretty City, from one of Australia’s prettiest cities, bring us ‘Falling In And Out Of Love’. It’s washy, dreamy and layered atop of a classic rock vibe. It’s a sound reminiscent of another time but still manages so much appeal. The spaced out vocals float over an otherwise gritty and driven mix. The Melbourne locals known for recording an entire song on an iPhone 4, carry that same headspace into this track, crafting something that is rather special . Pretty City are set to release their debut EP, ‘Heights’ in November.
Boys Boys Boys – ‘Holiday’
Super fun super poppy Perth babes Boys Boys Boys! sugary sweet new single is laden with synth hooks and gloriously tight harmonies. Upbeat, energetic and catchy as all hell, this six piece inject frenetic gurrrrl power into their tunes while keeping cute levels consistently high. If you don’t find yourself shouting out the chorus all day long we’d be pretty surprised.
Kristen Fletcher Trio – ‘Miss You Like Crazy’
Miss You Like Crazy’ is the second single from the Kristen Fletcher Trio’s yet to be released debut album. It’s a combination of genres as Fletcher blends pop and jazz sensibilities with years of classical experience behind her, the result is something that is rather unique on Australian shores. Incorporating electronic elements throughout, the juxtaposition of synthesised textures and an iconic jazz sound blurs the genre line even further. Fletcher’s smooth voice being the glue that holds the mix together.
The Mountains ‘1984’
Sydney indie-folk four piece The Mountains deliver an easy-listening gem, which sounds exactly like road trip along the coast. Sweet, overlapping guitar melodies disguise dark lyrics, which reference George Orwell’s totalitarian novel of the same name.
