Here’s February’s mixtape!
Tag: Frances
Music Monday – Volume Eighty Three
1) Sia – Reaper
Australian songstress/hit songwriter Sia delivers a hot new Pop track co-written with none other but Mr Kanye West. Relatively jovial and laid back compared to Sia’s other works, this is a catchy chilled-out track with bizzarely, hospital-like beeping, rich harmonies and a seriously funky bass line.
2) Raleigh Ritchie & Stormzy – Keep it Simple
Raleigh Ritchie delivers another hit, this time aided with a rap from Stormzy. Warm synthesisers, Ritchie’s rich vocals and catchy dance beats carry this utterly brilliant R&B track.
3) Chairlift – Crying in Public
Cool, chilled-out synthpop track from American duo Chairlift. The care-free, minimalistic production and Caroline Polachek’s syrupy sweet vocals are perfect.
4) Birdy – Keeping Your Head Up
‘Keeping Your Head Up’ marks a significant musical departure for Birdy, best known for her haunting, heartfelt piano ballads. Channelling Foxes, ‘Keeping Your Head Up’ is a catchy dance-pop track full of hand claps, catchy piano riffs and an irresistibly catchy hook.
5) Frances – Borrowed Time
Co-written with Howard from Disclosure, this chilled-out house track mirrors 70’s Pop with lushly layered harmonies, rich gospel-like vocals and squeaky synthesisers. It’s a different side to Frances but one which works beautifully.
6) Dua Lipa – Be The One (Club Edit Remix)
Hot, idiosyncratic club record featuring a reggae-like bounce, clinking synths and a devilishly catchy chorus.
7) Prince – Baltimore
The King of Cool, Prince released ‘HitNRun Phase 2’ in December. This is its funky opening track featuring polished brass elements, raw acoustic guitar strums and a dirty rhythm, it’s Prince at his best.
8) Laura Mvula ft Nile Rodgers – Overcome
Chic legend Nile Rodgers lends his production to funky jazz/R&B fusion. Mvula’s pure, soulful vocals are perfect as always and lushly layered into a glorious wall of sound over Rodgers’ funky guitar riffs.
9) The 1975 – The Sound
The second single from The 1975’s upcoming second album ‘I Like it When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’, ‘The Sound’ is a huge tropical-house influenced Pop track. Incessantly catchy with a brilliantly buoyant Chorus, it’s one of the funkiest and catchiest Pop tracks in a long time.
10) Allie X – Never Enough
Sultry electropop track with an insanely huge Chorus. Clearly influenced by 80’s Pop, it’s cool, brilliantly layered and an overall huge song.
Music Monday – Volume Seventy Four
1) Nothing But Thieves – Six Billion
Haunting and powerful track from Nothing But Thieves’ début album. Moody guitar riffs, front man Conor Mason’s Jeff Buckley-like vocals and eerie sounds result in a gorgeously endearing track.
2) Nothing But Thieves – Excuse Me
Euphoric opener to Nothing But Thieves’ début album. Haunting and gentle verses develop into an epic and powerful Chorus with gorgeous falsetto vocals.
3) Nothing But Thieves – If I Get High
Gentle guitar riffs and Conor Mason’s beautifully unique voice carry this track which ends with an epic climax.
4) Katy Perry – Mannequin
Witty and clever lyrics, quirky instrumentation; this is Katy Perry at her best. Before pop producers transformed her into a very different artist, this is the Katy Perry more should be familiar with – the singer-songwriter. Underrated track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6YVnl83IWQ
5) Ellie Goulding – Army
After the disappointing change of direction exhibited on previous single ‘On My Mind’, this beautiful ballad marks the return of the Ellie Goulding we all know and love. Dreamy synthesisers, reverberating vocals and crashing percussion are featured throughout and it’s a gorgeous song. Think ‘Love Me Like You Do’ Part II but less repetitive and irritating.
6) The Temper Trap – Sweet Deposition
Gorgeous and powerful indie-rock ballad.
7) Katy Perry – If You Can Afford Me
Another track from Katy’s début album ‘One of the Boys’, back in her singer-songwriter days. Clever lyrics and a brilliantly catchy pop-rock track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhierzQiLcs
8) Frances & Ritual – When It Comes To Us
Gorgeous and haunting ballad full of reverberating electro elements not too dissimilar from William Orbit’s work with All Saints. Both artists deliver beautiful vocal performances and this is is just incredibly beautiful.
9) Markus Feehily – Simple Love
Lovely and unique ballad from the ex-Westlife member. The sped up/altered pitch refrain in the chorus is quirky and works beautifully on this great track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ3D4dOnZ_4
10) Markus Feehily – Only You
Gorgeous ballad from ex-Westlife member Markus Feehily’s début solo album ‘Fire’. It’s a little in the same vein as Westlife’s later work but an uplifting and beautiful song.
Music Monday – Volume Sixty Nine
1) Seal – Every Time I’m With You
Seal returns with a gorgeous and triumphant ballad abundant with his signature raspy vocals, gentle guitar strums and sweeping strings. This is Seal’s first original track in five years; previous two albums were cover albums of Soul classics. ‘Every Time I’m With You’ is the lead single from Seal’s upcoming album ‘Seal 7’, released on 6th November.
2) Frances – Grow
Beautiful, emotive piano ballad by up and coming British indie artist Frances. Gorgeous song definitely worth a listen.
3) Frances – What Do You Mean (Radio 1 Live Lounge)
Frances was fortunate enough to be invited to perform in Radio 1’s Live Lounge following The Libertines’ cancellation. She performed a gorgeous piano cover of Justin Bieber’s huge Summer smash ‘What Do You Mean’. Beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9skelI9roZc
4) Jamie Woon – Sharpness
Soft soul track featuring a punchy bass line, catchy percussion and gentle vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhNBG4yycY
5) Duran Duran – Pressure Off
Effortlessly catchy track from Duran Duran’s latest studio album. Aided by Chic mastermind Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Mr Hudson and Janelle Monrae, ‘Pressure Off’ is a rousing pop track featuring funky guitar riffs, punchy percussion and a huge stadium-anthem chorus. Awesome track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYpnpYDQdbk
6) Duran Duran – You Kill Me With Silence
Dark, hip-hop influenced verses evolve into a soaring and infectious chorus on this emotive synthpop track. Produced by Mr Hudson, it builds up to an eerie and eclectic ending rife with giggling synthesisers, distorted sounds, wailing sounds and hip hop beats.
7) Death and The Stars – Sad Drive
Awesome ’80’s-esque driving rock ballad masterminded by Ben Mark (frequent Take That and Mark Owen co-writer).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjpNrjz38AI
8) Sam Smith & Disclosure – Hotline Bling (Radio 1 Live Lounge)
Incredible interpretation of Drake’s R&B jam. Sam Smith sprinkles his emotive vocals over Disclosure’s funky tropical house backing track full of punchy bass, steel-pan like keys and air crushing synths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDCcC_psV24
9) Nathan Sykes – Ordinary People (Live)
Ex member of The Wanted Nathan Sykes showcases his syrupy smooth, soulful vocals on this acoustic interpretation of John Legend’s beautiful ‘Ordinary People’. A fine, relaxing cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIZ21oMzU6k
10) James Bay – Scars
James Bay once again reinforces why he is one of the biggest stars in the UK right now. Emotive and raw folk-rock track comprised of nothing but organic instruments. Gorgeous.
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