Thursday 30 August 2012

TOP 10 OF AUGUST (Includes Mixtape)

A distinct lack of real summer anthems this month, and in true spirit of the non-summer which seems to have passed us by, the most impressive music this month seemed keener to advance into the colder, darker months.

Listen to my monthly mix below, and then scroll down to read what I have to say about my favourite tracks of the month.



10. Bebe Black - Deathwish

(Taken from 'The Black Lion Sessions' EP)

You may know her as the voice of Benga's 'Icon', but on "Deathwish", Bebe Black reveals a new side to herself as an artist. Unlike her assured swagger on 'Icon', Black's tone is more emotional and desperate here, her higher range recalling the distinct soft-opera of La Roux. She sings hopelessly, with chorus hook "loving you is turning to a deathwish, and there is no way out but this" flirting tragically with self-destruction and low self-esteem. An organic, Flo&TheMo-lite backing track, driven by an addictive, dancy synth piano hook leaves plenty of space for her fragile voice to breathe.

DOWNLOAD 'THE BLACK LION SESSIONS' EP FOR FREE HERE.


9. Teengirl Fantasy - Efx (feat. Kelela)
(Taken from 'Tracer')

Quirky bass/synth/whateverpop act Teengirl Fantasy, thus far known for icy synth house tracks such as "Motif", have taken a slight detour via the new wave of US dark'n'B ala Drake and The Weeknd, and it's a delightfully weird middle ground between the bajan pop vibes of old Rihanna and difficult but gorgeous swedish pop like The Knife and Niki & The Dove.


8. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)
(Single)


After guesting on Calvin Harris' functional but unambitious "Let's Go" not so long ago, it's predictable that Ne-Yo would continue with this direction in his solo material. However, when a big dance production is paired with the saccharine emotional piano led chord sequence and overwrought melodies that Ne-Yo so often brings to the table in his solo work, "Let Me Love You" ends up being a surprising pop triumph. Melodramatic yes, cheesy yes, but oh so, OH SO catchy and unfairly uplifting. Makes one grin like a buffoon.

7. Noisettes - Winner
(Taken from 'Contact')

After providing two stomping indie dance anthems on their last record, in "Never Forget You" and "Don't Upset The Rhythm", it's good to see them hit right back with a fist-pumping comeback single. Menacing guitars pace the room, the beat stomps aggressively and singer Shingai Shoniwa yells triumphantly "I feel like a winner!", and its an infectious feeling. Effortlessly feel-good and sassy, the Noisettes remind us why there's still a place for them.


6. The 1975 - The City
(Taken from 'Facedown' EP)


When The Big Pink failed to deliver another "Dominos" on their close-but-no-cigar sophomore, it's good to hear the best pop rock anthem that band never wrote, with a gritty heart and emotive delivery. A massive britpop beat meets a truly anthemic wall of distorted bass and waves of guitar, as the singer announces triumphantly in the chorus "if you wanna find out you know where the city is". An uplifting move-to-the-city anthem with an aftertaste of rebellion.

5. Benga - Pour Your Love (feat. Marlene)
(Taken from 'Chapter 2', release date 29/10)


If anyone misses the 2009/10 days of dubstep's real breakthrough to the mainstream, "Pour Your Love" reminds us just how big a role Benga's work with Magnetic Man and Katy B played. In the same vein as a track like "Katy On A Mission", but twice as big, the pulsating basslines and soaring lead melodies courtesy of superlative featured singer Marlene are truly thrilling in a way that no amount of cliched Skrillex bleeps and bloops could achieve, and is a perfect reminder of how melody in dubstep can be crucial to its longevity and commercial stance. In other words, WHAT a tune.


4. Passion Pit - Constant Conversations (St. Lucia Remix)
(Unofficial Remix)

On Gossamer, the original "Constant Conversations" is earthy and gritty, and sad in a mopy way, despite the beauty of its melancholic, self-reflective subject matter. But New York producer St Lucia had bigger ideas for the track. It's new wavey synth chords and vast reverb catapault the track into the stratosphere, and inject the previously depressive track with a heart-leaping sense of hope, especially once the track finally bursts free at 1:50. The vocal sample sounds epic as opposed to quirky, and that 70s keyboard lead is simply perfectly placed.


DOWNLOAD THE TRACK FOR FREE HERE.

3. Aaliyah - Enough Said (feat. Drake)
(Single)

Not quite a hologram, but hearing Aaliyah's silky and insanely sexy voice matched with Drake's producer 40's thick, ambient, bass heavy production in 2012 is something undeniably quite wonderful. It's almost a shame when Drake turns up, Aaliyah's voice is that show stopping, from the irresistible string of "yeah"s that make up the songs focal hook to her heavenly, fragile ad libs. Nevertheless, Drake is full on 'Take Care'-reflective here in his verse, and although he's upstaged by the late diva, they make a strangely apt pairing, the song playing like a hazy dream, in which Aaliyah is still alive and producing beautiful music, and Drake wakes in the morning, rubbing his eyes, trying desperately to recall what he just dreamt.

2. Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments
(Taken from 'Devotion')

On first listen, with its gently distorted heavy handed drum beat, it would be easy to dismiss "Wildest Moments" as a power ballad, but it's much simpler and more elegant than that. There is no musical climax, not much range for Ware to enjoy, but it her effortless, unaffected and beautiful delivery that really allow the words of this understated, yet incredible ballad to resonate and emotionally connect with her listener. She sings calmly of the bittersweet turmoil in her relationship, and despite this calm, her voice shimmers as she sings "we could be the greatest... we could be the worst of all", and what is left unsaid, is said here without words.  When Jessie Ware demonstrates such a powerhouse voice on other tracks, a song like this being a highlight on her incredible debut is nothing short of remarkable.

1. Wild Nothing - Paradise
(Taken from 'Nocturne')


After the shoegazery new wave of their debut Gemini, Wild Nothing's sophomore full length Nocturne is certainly the stronger, more confident record, and "Paradise" is its restless, romantic heartbeat. Five and a half minutes pass without much changing, but each melody that introduces itself is a beautiful revelation. A jangly lead guitar and feathery flute melody provide enough musical joy between them than was heard on the entire of (the still quite enjoyable) Gemini, and the brief vocal refrain is subtle but effortlessly grand. It is however the two and a half minute breakdown, carried on three gorgeous chords, that truly makes the track, giving it its warm, welcoming heart. When the whole band kicks back in for the final minute, it is one of the most joyous moments in pop music this year.

- Joe Copplestone, 30/08/12

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Sub Focus - 'Tidal Wave' (feat. Alpines)

Just when it seemed no 2012 EDM track would top the glorious "Out The Blue", along comes a track that stumps even that track with its sheer euphoric beauty and emotional high. "Tidal Wave" takes the angelic, La Roux-esque vocals of Alpines, and pairs it with an epic yet jagged edged march that bursts into break-beat just as you get comfy with it, synth fireworks abound. More of a vocal track than "Out The Blue", it's also a lot warmer and dare I say more beautiful. And for what was thus far a front runner for dance track of the year, this speaks volume upon volume on how incredible Sub Focus' sophomore effort could be.

Think "Out The Blue" merged with Labrinth's "Earthquake" and the legendary Skream mix of La Roux's "In For The Kill". As Zane Lowe says: "Massive, Massive, MASSIVE!"

The most gleeful moment? 3.33.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Christina Aguilera - Your Body (Demo)

Guilty pleasure alert. Since this demo surfaced online, there has been a lot of talk about it being an underwhelming, Britney knock off.

But I don't get that. Indeed, it's an obnoxious club anthem, with a chorus ripped straight from Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream", but it's jam packed with (other) hooks, has some top notch yelping from Christina, and is no doubt aeons ahead of the dull "Not Myself Tonight", her last lead single.

The video is sped up and incredibly low quality, but naturally, as with every high profile leak, the song gets taken down as soon as it's posted, so this is the best to be found du jour.

GivePopAChance on Soundcloud!

GivePopAChance now has its own Soundcloud page! Go to www.soundcloud.com/givepopachance to follow my weekly and monthly mixtapes and minimixes, which you can also preview below! ENJOY!

 Latest tracks by GivePopAChance 

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Dear Prudence - Coming Apart Again (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Following in the footsteps of Charli XCX and Haim, Dear Prudence takes the baton for gothic, female fronted pop and takes it to a heavy, epic place. Lead singer, the glamorously named Madeleine Poncia, has a Kate Nash twang to her voice, but this is no punk rock wannabe. On the triumphantly bittersweet chorus, her voice soars as a wall of guitar attempts to pound the track into the ground. It's full of melancholic cliches ("is this the end of always and forever?") but when its delivered with such finesse and glorious melodrama, Dear Prudence have a hall pass to milk melancholia for all its worth.

Download the track for free HERE.

For fans of: Charli XCX, Haim, The Horrors

Tuesday 21 August 2012

AlunaGeorge - Your Drums, Your Love

As AlunaGeorge climb their way out of blogosphere up onto the ledge where the Jessie Wares and Delilahs of the UK sit comfortably, it would seem that itsy bitsy voiced Aluna Francis and her meticulous producer George Reid walk the line between the bassy and soulful as good as any of their peers. Whilst she may not have the effortless vocal of a singer like Jessie Ware or the instantly recognizable and arresting tone of Delilah, Francis' voice is light enough to ride Reid's deliciously seductive R&B grooves. "Your Drums Your Love" has a hook as strong and a lumbering bass as addictive as "You Know You Like It" before, and this can only raise expectations for their debut album, due 2013, even higher.

 Your Drums, Your Love by AlunaGeorge

Friday 10 August 2012

WEEKEND MINIMIX - 10/08


For my first weekly weekend minimix, I've gone for some straight up dance, with a few alternative frills along the way ;)

Tracklisting:
1.  Phonat - Set Me Free 
2.  TEED - Tapes and Money 
3.  Eli & Fur - Sea of Stars 
4.  Bright Light x2 - Disco Moment (Fear of Tigers Mix) 
5.  Miami Horror - Sometimes (Shazam Mix) 
6.  Icona Pop - I Love It

DANCE AND ENJOY!


 WEEKEND MINIMIX 10/08/12 by JoeCopplestone

Popdar: Best New Music - 06/08


Another moderate quality music drought this week, thank you very much Olympics (!), but there are, as always, some proper finds if you look hard for them.

AALIYAH - ENOUGH SAID (FEAT. DRAKE)

Not quite a hologram, but hearing Aaliyah's silky and insanely sexy voice matched with Drake's producer 40's thick, ambient, bass heavy production in 2012 is something undeniably quite wonderful. It's almost a shame when Drake turns up, Aaliyah's voice is that show stopping, from the irresistible string of "yeah"s that make up the songs focal hook to her heavenly, fragile ad libs. Nevertheless, Drake is full on 'Take Care'-reflective here in his verse, and although he's upstaged by the late diva, they make a strangely apt pairing, the song playing like a hazy dream, in which Aaliyah is still alive and producing beautiful music, and Drake wakes in the morning, rubbing his eyes, trying desperately to recall what he just dreamt.

For fans of: The Weeknd, everyone involved with the track.

 Aaliyah - "Enough Said" (feat. Drake) by FUTURESOUND / BGR

AYLEN & D!RTY AUDIO - DIFFERENT CITIES (FEAT. JITTA ON THE TRACK)
FREE DOWNLOAD ON SOUNDCLOUD

Thanks to @poundpoundpound's INSANE moombahton mix last week on www.moombaplus.com radio, I came across this filthy, untamable monster of a track. A thunderous kick beats sparsely, as a string of rapid deadmau5 chords build to a crescendo before dropping into beautiful chaos, the rabid lead flailing and foaming at the mouth.

For fans of: Knife Party, Diplo, DIRTY Moombahton.

 D!RTY AUD!O x Aylen feat. Jitta On The Track - Different Cities (Original Mix) by D!RTY AUD!O

BEAT CONNECTION - THE PALACE GARDEN
ALBUM OUT NOW

After last year's blissfully euphoric slice of balearica that was Beat Connection's debut EP Surf Noir, the chillwavers are back with their first full length record. Whilst nothing here quite matches the sheer sunkissed splendour of "In The Water" or "Theme From Yours Truly", the band have found a comfortable niche between Friendly Fires and Washed Out, with tracks like "Palace Garden, 4am" and "Further Out" oozing chilled poolside party charm with their deep, funky basslines and some delicious steel pans flourishes. "Think Feel" stands out however, with the subtly steamy vocals of Chelsey Scheffe perfectly complimenting the track's dark xx-tinged synthpop.

For fans of: Friendly Fires, Washed Out, The xx.

 Think/Feel by Beat Connection

KISSES - FUNNY HEARTBEAT
SINGLE OUT NOW

More summer fun in Kisses's new single. Whilst not quite topping their stunning debut single "Bermuda" or its beautiful follow up "People Can Do The Most Amazing of Things", the summery indiepoppers gain points for the sheer effortlessness in which the laid back optimism gleams from this track, in which two lovely chords loop round and round beneath a driving beat and shooting star synths. Twee in the extreme, and unashamedly so.

For fans of: Fun, The Cure, The Smiths.

 Funny Heartbeat by Kisses

NE-YO - LET ME LOVE YOU (UNTIL YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF)
SINGLE OUT NOW

After guesting on Calvin Harris' functional but unambitious "Let's Go" not so long ago, it's predictable that Ne-Yo would continue with this direction in his solo material. However, when a big dance production is paired with the saccharine emotional piano led chord sequence and overwrought melodies that Ne-Yo so often brings to the table in his solo work, "Let Me Love You" ends up being a surprising pop triumph. Melodramatic yes, cheesy yes, but oh so, OH SO catchy and unfairly uplifting. Makes one grin like a buffoon.

For fans of: This kind of chart pop shit.

 "Let Me Love You" - NE-YO by Neyo Red

REDLIGHT - LOST IN YOUR LOVE
SINGLE OUT NOW

Continuing in the 90s dance mould of Redlight's last smash "Get Out My Head", "Lost In Your Love" is more commercial with its piano house intentions, with flecks of decade old funky house combined with a very current ravepop sound.

For fans of: Calvin Harris, Funky House.

 REDLIGHT ‘LOST IN YOUR LOVE’ – ANNIE MAC SPECIAL DELIVERY, RADIO 1 by Redlight UK

TEENGIRL FANTASY - EFX (FEAT. KELELA)
SINGLE OUT NOW

Quirky bass/synth/whateverpop act Teengirl Fantasy, thus far known for icy synth house tracks such as "Motif", have taken a slight detour via the new wave of US dark'n'B ala Drake and The Weeknd, and it's a delightfully weird middle ground between the bajan pop vibes of old Rihanna and difficult but gorgeous swedish pop like The Knife and Niki & The Dove.

For fans of: Rihanna, The Knife, Niki & The Dove.

 EFX ft. Kelela by Teengirl Fantasy

WILD NOTHING - PARADISE
ALBUM "NOCTURNE" OUT 27/08

After the shoegazery new wave of their debut "Gemini", Wild Nothing's sophomore full length Nocturne is looking to be a tad more anthemic, if second preview track "Paradise" is anything to go by. First single "Shadow" was earthier and lovelier than anything off "Gemini", with its Fleetwood Mac 70s rock demeanor and a majestic lead melody, but "Paradise" is an even further step into the epicsphere. Five and a half minutes pass without much happening, but each melody that introduces itself is a beautiful revelation. A jangly lead guitar and feathery flute melody provide enough musical joy between them than was heard on the entire of (the still quite enjoyable) "Gemini", and the brief vocal refrain is subtle but effortlessly grand. It is however the two and a half minute breakdown, carried on three gorgeous chords, that truly makes the track, giving it its warm, welcoming heart. When the whole band kicks back in for the final minute, it is one of the most joyous moments in pop music this year.

For fans of: The Radio Dept, The Cure, JJ.

 Wild Nothing // "Paradise" by capturedtracks

THE 1975 - THE CITY
"FACEDOWN" EP OUT NOW

To finish, a grand pop rock anthem, with a gritty heart that The Script et al could never hope to touch. A massive britpop beat meets a truly anthemic wall of distorted bass and waves of guitar, as the singer announces triumphantly in the chorus "if you wanna find out you know where the city is". An uplifting move-to-the-city anthem with an aftertaste of rebellion.

For fans of: The Big Pink, Bloc Party, White Lies.

 The City by the1975