Sia- Elastic Heart (Clams Casino remix)
https://soundcloud.com/siamusic/sia-elastic-heart-clams-casino-remix
Sia released the original version of Elastic Heart about two weeks ago, but it pales in comparison to this remix. The original is jittery and disjointed whereas this track is smooth and cohesive. Clams Casino once again shows the importance of good production to a track. He mellows out the whole song with the low tempo production and improves it immensely. As with the original, Sia’s voice is centre place, but in the remix the production fits in more naturally with the vocals, where as in the original there’s a fight between them for the spotlight. The biggest compliment you can give this song is that it sounds like it should be the original.
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Saturday, Monday- Marble Coast (ft. Brolin)
Marble Coast is the first single from Saturday, Monday’s new EP Late, due out March 23 via Despotz. The Swedish producer teams up with Londoner Brolin in this beautifully relaxed electric lullaby. Looping strings and Brolin’s sweet voice are cut with harsh synth. The production is uncomplicated but the parts are layered well, with the contrast between the strings and synth making this an interesting listen. Talking about the inspiration for the song, the Swede spoke about how when he was DJing he would experiment by looping strings over techno beats. If this song is anything to go by, the experiment was a success. Hopefully the EP will be more of the same.
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Kendrick Lamar- The Blacker the Berry
Following Kendrick Lamar’s double success at the Grammy’s for his 2014 track i, he has released The Blacker the Berry. The two tracks are radically different in many ways: the production of Boi-1da and Terrence Martin gives the track the thump that i lacked while tonally they are like chalk and cheese. Every second of The Blacker the Berry seethes with anger; Lamar’s anger at a society and a culture which restrict and hurt his community. But the worst of Lamar’s anger is reserved for himself and for other young black men. In the final lines, Lamar tells us why he is angry; “So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang banging made me kill a nigga blacker than me?” It is hypocrisy which Lamar is accusing himself and others of. They reject the stereotype which American society has placed upon them, but in many instances they end up perpetuating it. If i is about love, both for himself and his community, than The Blacker the Berry is the other side of the coin. This is an excellent song and his new album cannot come out fast enough.
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Hot Chip – Huarache Lights
Huarache Lights is the first single from Hot Chip’s forthcoming album, Why Make Sense?. This album will be their sixth studio album and is being released on May 18. This track has all the hallmarks of a Hot Chip track: the 80s throwback sound, Alex Taylor’s singular vocals, liberal use of keyboards. There’s a huge amount going on in this song with the vocals, the sample (Think (about it), by Lynn Collins), keyboards, guitars, drums, but that’s the Hot Chip way. You can almost imagine each of the band playing two instruments. The multitude of instruments and sounds work in contrast with Alex Taylor’s delicate yet piercing voice. They are walking the fine line between having a lot going on in their song and having too much going on with skill. A special edition of the album will be available to buy which comes with their new EP, Separate. You can pre-order their album here.