#1 - Like A Hunger - Wilma Archer, Amber Mark
Mainly releasing under the name Slime, as Wilma Archer he had only released this and a song called 'Scarecrow' when it came out. He's from Newcastle, and he claims in an interview that his instrumental is 'inspired by that crude, bold kind of sarcasm that can follow a misunderstanding between people' and that Amber Mark, the vocalist, never heard it that way, so there's an irony in opposing sentiments. I really like that, and you can so hear it throughout the song. The ominous intro and grumbling of the guitar bounce so cleanly off the sweetness of the harmonies in the chorus, and her voice bounces over the claps underneath so perfectly, and her lyrics hold such a bountiful love in them. It's so satisfying when ideas that stand against each other blend into a wonderful mix like this. On a jokes note, the little drum motif just before the chorus really reminds me of the sound UE Boom speakers make when they're searching for a bluetooth device hahaha, way too specific but there you go. Overall, such a peng chill song, and once you hear it a few times, it's so hard not to sing along.
#2 Slow Centre - Roland Tings
The word ecliptical just naturally comes to mind as soon as I listen to this. It's quite a masterpiece, with sections that can definitely be completely distinguished from one another. The first couple of minutes really create a hypnotic zen and I can imagine meditation working quite well with this on really quietly. Once the kick gets introduced, and not long after a house-esque beat, it rises up into the sky and takes more of an aetherial vibe. The bells used sound quite 'traditional' so I guess that's where this ideas come from, but from 4:45 we're transferred into more industrial techno darkness. The warmth gradually creeps back in and then the two combine, with the odd drone noise here and there, into this finale which has a weird humour surrounding its resounding send off to the piece. It's a great way to bring it all together, and how smoothly he manages to pass from each of these messages makes it really impressive for me. It came out a couple years ago, and Roland Tings is a Melbourne-based producer. Bandcamp calls the whole album 'oddball material' and that's what makes this song sick to be honest, so excited to listen to the rest.
#3 - San Junipero - Llewellyn
Italo Disco vibes in an 8-minute journey through the soundwaves. The synths are so unreal, and how easily it pulls off both an old school dance floor movement and an emotional depth that just continues as the held notes bulge and bend as if you're slowly breathing in and out. The same four chords repeating over and over combined with the length of the song almost makes it feel like a pilgrimage, as if the journey is long but the motive stays the same throughout. It manages to stay very much simple, but at the same time achieve so much with that and never repeats itself. After hearing lots of goofy or cheerful tones in the genre recently, I've found this refreshing and it added a new element for what comes to mind when I hear the word disco. I really can't find much out about Llewelyn, but he's German and this is his main hit.
#4 - Red Lines - Fakear
So this week two of this French producer's songs were up for contention, but I this one topped it for me (check out 'Something Wonderful' too though). This track has an innocence to it, and it feels like the kind of warmth you get watching kids having fun. As I write this, the sample of singing children singing slowly builds up to playful chorus. Whatever the plucked string instrument is, it replies to the vocals and creates this leisurely dialogue that carries you through the song. The album is called 'Animal' and it came out in 2016. I've just found out online that he's supported Bonobo and ODESZA before, which is mad cause the first thing I thought when I heard this and 'Something Wonderful' is that it was giving me 'Odesza' vibes, in the range in world sounds of the samples and the agreeableness of everything electronic. The track just makes you feel happy, and who doesn't want that?
#5 - Dreamless - Young Marco
'This' premier article compares it to Oni Ayhun’s legendary track ‘OAR003-B‘, which is a huge compliment as that 11-minute beast is quite the accomplishment. I don't think this quite achieves such a victorious build up, but it does seem to have a similar sense of grandeur. The bassline and kick are both punctual, paired with the tempo giving it a marching pace, and I'd bare love to hop round in a club to it, it's really light-hearted. Haven't got too much else to say on it, but I couldn't help feeling it was worth mentioning.
#6 - LesAlpx - Floating Points
Okay... this one didn't come up on my Discover but as soon as I heard the first beep-melody I couldn't resist mentioning it. Floating Points is back, and it's a release on Ninja Tune. I'm already dying to hear the B-side but let's talk about this banger first. SO. GOOD. The bulk of the texture is dark and gritty, rasping beneath the occasional signal beam is heard above, as they flit about like vultures. There's such a malice to the sound which I really wasn't expecting, but absolutely love. And, yes, sorry, but at 2:08 the huge crescendo to silence drop obviously made me go mental. Think it's an absolute dancefloor banger, and very excited to hear it at Fabric in a couple weeks. He says he's gone back to the dancefloor routes of his music, recalling places like Plastic People, and through this track you almost feel he takes you back there with him. The release has come with some really peng visuals that nicely compliment the oily murkiness of the music.
So that's all, really enjoyed coming back to doing this, I always think it's best to avoid repeating an idea too much, but sometimes straight up talking about individual songs is the most satisfying thing. Everyone going to Glasto this week have the best time, I flopped multiple times at sorting a ticket but am still so gassed on the excitement. Oh, also just remembered, Daphni's 'Sizzling' EP came out recently and I've got to quickly sing its praises. It keeps up Daphni's 'dance floor ready' theme perfectly and every track has such soul, it's fantastic. The namesake track is a strong leader, but 'Just' also stood out to me as an absolute banger.
