Internet Songs of the Week
Say “hiyaaa” to a new crop of the web’s most notable tracks of the week
Wot a week eh. Wot a bloody week.
We’ve the had the good (Hodge’s dear old pa driving him all the way to Dimensions when he had a baddy ear), the bad (Morrissey probably putting himself on the cover of his first novel), and the ugly (Jessica Hopper eliciting hundreds of responses to the question: “Gals/other marginalized folks: what was your 1st brush (in music industry, journalism, scene) w/ idea that you didn’t “count”?”).
But we’ve lived through it. Have you? If not, welcome to the netherworld where Internet Songs of the Week inexplicably still exists. Demons want to get down too, you know.
And if you have, congratulations, and welcome to the weekend. Let us soundtrack that for you.
Julia Holter - Sea Calls Me Home
Domino RecordingsJulia Holter writes truly exceptional pop songs. There’s really no better way to put it. She’s revered by high brow commentators and casual listeners alike. It’s a simple intricacy that draws me in and keeps me hooked.
Oh yeah, and there’s this belting bit of saxophone near the end. Did you know I love saxophones? Well, if you didn’t, my official line on saxophones is that I love them.
Xu Paelk w.Simple Symmetry - Lipelis-Weirdshit.
L.I.E.SLong Island Electrical System throws in a curveball with their latest three track EP of edits from Lipelis. Edging away from their staple sound of gritty outsider techno, Lipelis’ Weirdshit is a wondrously left-field balearic disco edit married with some oddly hypnotic thai vocals bending around the funk.
Slow Meadow - A Farewell Sonata
Self-releasedListening to Slow Meadow is like breathing in, but not being overwhelmed by a gust of fresh air. Somewhere between the low rumble of strings and ambient pulses, is a sense of being trapped in time, and also being content with that idea. Without words, the piece speaks a silent song. Seven minutes of swelling sound exhales and time resumes its passing-by.
Farewell, Friday.
Le1f - Koi
Terrible RecordsThe last thing the world needs is another PC Music think piece, but this is genuinely an interesting development for SOPHIE’s brand of neon maximalism. Le1f kills it on Koi, where he gets fierce over the fluorescent bursts of the SOPHIE-produced beat, an in doing so, the New York rapper successfully removes any sneer from behind its sheen. The video is obviously amazing too, featuring vogueing in the rainforest and plenty of cartoonish details.
Plus it’s also the first track to be unveiled from Le1f’s Riot Boi album. Keep ’em coming.
Seer - Hive Mind
Art of PropagandaExcellent new bit from doomsy Vancouver unit Seer, which slips between an almost Deftones-ish wish-wash into blackened melodies and then some total Iron Monkey sludge gnarl. I like that. I like this.
Birdskulls - Ghost World
Dog Knights ProductionsIf you’ve heard Birdskulls before, you’ll know that lead singer, Jack, wears his heart on a sleeve. It’s reflected in the earnest, personal lyrics all of their songs share – you can’t help but relate. Ever had that feeling that a band is just soundtracking your life? As if that song was written just for you? Well Birdskulls is that band. Ghost World, the third single from their upcoming debut album Trickle, is no exception.
Updating or slightly tweaking older songs can be a double-edged sword sometimes. The purity and energy of the original usually gets lost and the final product ultimately disappoints. Yet the few subtle alterations to Ghost World turn an already amazing song into even more fantastic one. Jack’s vocals get stronger and more idiosyncratic, and the contrast between his soft delivery (reminiscent of Lou Barlow’s circa Sebadoh) in the verse and screechy chorus is truly captivating. The amplified, reverb drenched guitar grants the song’s already catchy nature an anthemic edge.
Birdskulls is most certainly a band you should know and love. Trickle comes out 5 October via Dog Knights Productions, but if you can’t wait that long (I know I can’t) come watch them shhhreeedddd at The Stag and Hounds on 29 September for The Art is Hard 5th Birthday takeover. See you at the rock show.
Romansoff - Seven Sins
Lobster ThereminThis cut from Romansoff’s Infinite Dreams EP, released this month on Lobster Theremin sub-label Mörk, appeared on Soundcloud a couple of days ago. It’s described there as “dream techno”, and that’s a pretty fair estimation of what’s going on. It’s heavy, and it pounds, but is so smothered in a wash of gauzy synths and woozy percussive rattles, it floats rather than punches. Techno to watch the sunset to.
SEXWITCH - Helelyosa
The Echo LabelI always found Bat for Lashes a bit banal while finding Natasha Khan completely intriguing, so this cut from SEXWITCH, the new collaboration between the queen herself and Toy’s Dan Carey, is the absolutely ideal solution for me.
Spooky, smoky bass rhythms shimmer while Khan incants such cool shit as “my dark girls are going on adventures, they’re not afraid of any dangers” and “our dark girls are setting fire to our sooouls!”
Perfectly portentous.
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