BENIN CITY - FAITHLESS

It was about a year ago that Benin City introduced their dark, captivating sound to the world. Both Baby and  My Love showcase the great depths of the London based trio. Baby is a perfect example of the way they constantly switch tempos, creating elements of mystery and woozy suspense whilst My Love illustrates vocalist Joshua Idehen's explicit lyrical ability, an ability mastered through his prominent presence on the spoken word scene.

Benin City

The group's latest offering, Faithless, takes them to another depth. The dark, menacing vocals complement a accelerating electric drum beat that eventually explodes into a mammoth synth-led riff,  that really grabs a hold of you. Faithless is sinister, endearing and intriguing all at the same time.

Faithless is the 1st official single released off their upcoming debut Fires In The Park, released on the 1st of July, and it's sure to be unlike any thing else you'll hear this year.

THE OH HELLO'S

Sometimes all it takes is 90 seconds. To be more specific 97 seconds consisting of 3 verses of thought provoking lyrics. Sometimes that's all you need.

"I've seen the true face of the things you call Life. 

The voice of the siren that holds your desires.

But Death, she is cunning, and clever as hell, 

and she'll eat you alive."

So that was Maggie and Tyler Heath, a sibling duo from Texas who make superb folk rock music under the name The Oh Hello's. While creating a steady following stateside over the last year they released their debut album Through the Deep, Dark Valley last October which they produced and released fully independently. Like all great folk albums it's a self-contained concept album which the band themselves state is at its best when "listened to in its entirety, in chronological order, in one sitting." For that full listening experience head to their bandcamp where you can also buy the album on a lovely "name your price" scheme. Fans of The Lumineers, Edward Sharpe and Of Monsters Of Men should be all over this!

MOUNT KIMBIE - MADE TO STRAY

It's been a little while since we heard from post dubstep pioneers Mount Kimbie. Their huge 2010 release Crooks & Lovers gained an incredible amount of critical success and their unique blend of melody driven, minimalistic 2-step made the duo one of the hottest electronic acts of both 2010 & 2011. Three years on from then sees the return of Mount Kimbie along with a new album released on Warp Records at the end of April and a brand new single: Made To Stray.

Mount Kimbie have a knack for putting sounds together that other producers would steer clear of and Made To Stray is no different. You may raise your eyebrows after the first 90 seconds as high tempo percussion loops over a low-fi broken beat which transitions into a basic house beat. After the initial build up kicks in and the track suddenly is filled with lush keys and echoing drums you'll find yourself so immersed that the vocal at around the 3 minute mark will come as a perfect, if not unexpected, surprise and you'll probably forget what the start of the track sounded like, which means you'll just have to listen to it again....and again.

This little beauty is FREE at the small cost of your email address. Lovely stuff.

NEW LES SINS

Chaz Bundick's little side project was responsible for Fetch one of my favourite electro house songs of last year. But with Chaz currently on a world tour supporting a new album Anything In Return released by his excellent core project, Toro Y Moi, a new Les Sins release has come as a unexpected but welcome surprise.

That being said Grind could easily be a B-Side to any of Toro Y Moi's recent releases which amplifies Chaz's  summery dance development. It's happy, it's fun, it's funky, it's disgustingly chill and it makes me feel that summer isn't so far away.

Like the previous Les Sins record, Grind is being released through Dan Snaith's (Caribou/Daphni) innovative Jiaolong label on the 18th of March.