Chad Valley’s recently released eponymous EP showcases his talents for taking the already infectious balearic pop of the eighties and cutting and adding luscious hazy samples in addition to incorporating a strong R&B edge.
Antonio Rowe
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
West’s long-awaited masterpiece sees him finally reach the potential that was clear for all to see in College Dropout. It’s undeniably brilliant, Antonio Rowe gushes.
Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr Rager
Here, the listener is delving deeper into the neurotic, endorphine-famished mind of Scott Mescudi – a vast emotional and overtly melancholic wasteland where solitary and anti-social thoughts are present. Yes it’s a trip, and not an easy one at that, but one that the listener will reap the rewards for taking.
Chiddy Bang – The Preview
Obviously this electro-pop/rap duo may not be on par with fellow college dropout Kanye West, however this album-taster displays the boys keen eye for a tuneful melody and various enjoyable indie samples. But come next year when their debut The Swelly Express is released, the amount of originality present in the material is what will truly determine whether or not these guys make their own stamp.
Warpaint – The Fool
On first listen The Fool could idly be mistaken as a chaotic mess – a collection of great notions, but when brought together they appear at odds with one another. Although after a couple of listens the ethereal vocals, coarse melodies and abysmal sonics never gelled quite so successfully. With each song being a transcendental uneven shot of cosmic energy. TLOBF’s Antonio Rowe explains.
SOTD #151 // Jamie xx: ‘Far Nearer’
‘Far Nearer’ is Jamie from the xx solo debut, it’s a track that swaps his band’s intimate bedroom atmospherics for a vibrant, glowing ambience. A post dubstep track, similar to the recent sounds of Mount Kimbie but with a calypso/funky-house undercurrent.
Spectrals – Extended Play
Extended Play is definitely pleasant but the lack of originality could become a bigger problem when Jones starts on his debut LP.
Tinie Tempah – Disc-o-very
If Tinie uses less contradictive chat about fame and pop culture references and more wordplay, then he clearly witholds the potential to become something more than just another creator of great rap/pop songs.
Kisses – The Heart Of The Nightlight
Kisses produce a debut disc full of endorphined-fuelled shimmering disco/hypnagogic pop tracks, that are bound to set both the heart and the feet fluttering, whether that’s everyone or a select few, remains to be seen. Antonio Rowe explains…
Glasser – Ring
Ring by Glasser is as it’s cover art dennotes – a vast vibrant kaleidoscope, each colour representing a certain sound or instrument from the impressive array that she somehow manages to cram into the nine tracks.
Wild Nothing – Golden Haze EP
Want more dreamy shoegaze goodness? Good, because Wild Nothing has got bucket loads of the stuff.
SOTD #136 // Warpaint: ‘Undertow’
The first pharse that springs to mind is unhinged opulence, with the listener being treated to everything from luxuriously deep guitar harmonies to numerous-part heavenly warblings – it avoids the risk of being over-produced thanks to the fact that everything is so raw and, dare I say, understated.