Music – Page 7

Single review: Louisa Johnson – ‘Forever Young’

The X Factor conveyor belt comes back around with a Bob Dylan cover that requires patience and misplaced dedication.

Originally published in The Edge

Though the rest of the non-Adele world has moved on, The X Factor seems determined to churn out merchants of meandering vanilla pop. Bob Dylan’s 1974 track ‘Forever Young’ is the latest song with connotations of youthful exuberance and defiance of adversity to receive an agonising balladisation for the festive charts, as 17-year-old Louisa Johnson warbles on the subject of fulfilling dreams and growing up and all that nonsense, with the word “may” appearing every 10 seconds and the title repeated so often it loses meaning. Continue reading “Single review: Louisa Johnson – ‘Forever Young’”

Album review: SOPHIE – Product

Beginning and ending with the only two tracks worth listening to, SOPHIE’s collection of singles leaves more than just an unpleasant ringing behind.

Originally published in The Edge

To celebrate Black Friday, SOPHIE, the foremost enigma of electronic pop who once described his genre as ‘advertising’, has released debut album Product in formats ranging from CD to…silicon thing. The London-based producer, who was last heard soundtracking a McDonald’s commercial (‘LEMONADE’) and collaborating with Madonna and Diplo (‘Bitch I’m Madonna’), made a pseudonym for himself in 2013 when his rather unique approach to the fundamentals of sound production, drowned in a sickly sweet marinade, surfaced through Glaswegian label Numbers. Continue reading “Album review: SOPHIE – Product”

Single review: Coldplay – ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’

The dawn after the night of Ghost Stories, Adventure Of A Lifetime is an enticing sniff of Coldplay’s happiest album yet.

Originally published in The Edge

Where did Coldplay go after Ghost Stories? Back to the studio to make their happiest album yet, apparently. After teasers in the tube, our first taste of A Head Full Of Dreams comes in the shape of ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’, where Chris Martin oozes swagger with surprising aplomb. Continue reading “Single review: Coldplay – ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’”

Single review: Miike Snow – ‘Heart Is Full’

A ’60s sample sets up a refreshing teaser of the bizarre trio’s third LP.

Originally published in The Edge

Miike Snow may bear the least autocorrect-friendly band name this side of the Åland Islands, but the trio certainly knows how to make a catchy song. Between Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, and Andrew Wyatt you’ll find the duo behind Britney Spears‘ ‘Toxic,’ a singer/songwriter who composed a ballet with Mark Ronson, and one half of Galantis. ‘Heart Is Full’ is their first release together in three years, and signifies a marked change in direction from their indie pop heritage. Continue reading “Single review: Miike Snow – ‘Heart Is Full’”

Album review: Pentatonix – Pentatonix

Pentatonix’s self-titled quest to legitimise acapella music in a charting context brings us one of the year’s most enjoyable and varied pop records.

Originally published in The Edge

If I had a pound for every time I’d seen a link to Pentatonix’s self-titled debut album on social media over the last week, dealing with student loans would be a thing of the past. Their onslaught of promotion may appear desperate, though it is perhaps more appropriately understood as a battle to legitimise acapella music in a post-Pitch Perfect world. Continue reading “Album review: Pentatonix – Pentatonix”

Single review: Redlight feat. Melisa Whiskey – ‘Threshold’

A dark and restrained cut from Bristol’s finest serves as a promising hint for his upcoming debut LP.

Originally published in The Edge

Opening with a twelve-piece orchestra building a foundation reminiscent of Ian Brown‘s ‘F.E.A.R.,’ ‘Threshold’ lacks the typical elasticity of Redlight‘s work, though not the listenability.

Compared to previous singles ‘Gold Teeth’ and ‘Lion Jungle’, the radio-friendly sensibilities are explicit. Vocalist Melisa Whiskey leads us through a tale of a relationship that’s falling apart packed with clichés (the finest – “we just keep treading on these fault lines” – appears in the pre-chorus), whilst superb production and subtle instrumentation keeps the listener clinging on. Even the backing fading to near nought cannot hinder it, as Whiskey soars before an emphatic climax that disappoints only in its curtailed duration. Continue reading “Single review: Redlight feat. Melisa Whiskey – ‘Threshold’”

Single review: Diplo & Sleepy Tom – ‘Be Right There’

An expert combination of ’90s R&B and future house tendencies provides the perfect antidote to the impending winter blues.

Originally published in The Edge

Is Diplo human? It’s hard to tell. 2015 has already seen him produce half a Madonna album, release two collaborative records of his own (under the Major Lazer and Jack Ü monikers) which saw singles running charts worldwide, remix Tiësto and Rihanna, launch a second radio show, and release another track with MØ. His finest four minutes, though? ‘Be Right There,’ a reconstruction of Jade‘s 1992 single ‘Don’t Walk Away‘ alongside Canadian upcomer and fellow workaholic Sleepy Tom. Continue reading “Single review: Diplo & Sleepy Tom – ‘Be Right There’”

Single review: Bloc Party – ‘The Love Within’

Bloc Party 2.0 slinks to the fore with a delightful display of technique and imagery.

Originally published in The Edge

The Bloc Party of 2015 is not the Bloc Party you know and love, or even the Bloc Party of Four. Since their latest hiatus began in 2013, half the band – drummer Matt Tong and bassist/backing vocalist/glockenspiel player/album art designer Gordon Moakes – have split away after being together through much of this millennium. Early 2016 will bring new album Hymns, with added Louise Bartle and Justin Harris, and ‘The Love Within’ is our first chance to gauge the transition. Continue reading “Single review: Bloc Party – ‘The Love Within’”

Album review: Avicii – Stories

Avicii falls with a case of second album syndrome that may have improved instrument choices but ultimately holds the record back from delivering upon its potential.

Originally published in The Edge

Whereas Avicii’s 2013 debut album True favoured banjos in a flamboyant display of its bluegrass and country influences, his new release Stories incorporates a far wider gamut of styles. The result, however, is not dissimilar, as the variation within tracks and perplexing curation produces an incoherent yet steady album experience.

On occasions where Tim Bergling introduces uncultivated ground with Stories – and there are indeed many – contrasting styles don’t quite meld sufficiently. The trap breakdown of ‘Pure Grinding’ after bluesy mumblings on work ethic – “started out with nothing and still got most of it left” – does nothing to inspire, and its companion promotional single ‘For A Better Day’ meanders along with only a tambourine and staccato piano beneath Alex Ebert’s strained soul. The honour of the most startling track falls to ‘Can’t Catch Me,’ a nostalgic reggae duet between Wyclef Jean and Matisyahu. Continue reading “Album review: Avicii – Stories”

Album review: Jamie xx – In Colour

Originally published in The Broadie

I’ve always wished for some kind of innate musical talent. Being able to pick up an instrument and make a pleasant noise or convey some form of legible tune would be marvellous. Pointless and only enhancing my laziness, but marvellous nevertheless.

Jamie Smith, better known as the production third of The xx and a producer in his own right, brought me closest to such an experience during the German exchange in year 9. Within seconds of spotting a steel drum, I was merrily reciting his recent release ‘Far Nearer’, which has maintained its spot as my song for the sun bursting through into summer ever since.

Such, well, straightforward radiance is reflected in the chromatic cover of debut long-release In Colour, though the LP is unfortunately not as prevailingly joyous as this implies. Continue reading “Album review: Jamie xx – In Colour”