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.

LONDON GRAMMAR

I've had a thing recently for songs that seem to start quietly and unassumingly but gradually progress and build slowly and steadily until suddenly that simple vocal is surrounded by numerous layers of lush drums, melodic keys & spine-tingling backing vocals. I love the suspense and the surprise element of it all along with the excitement.

Here is my latest offering of beautiful, suspenseful music, London Grammar. There's little information regarding the very slick sounding outfit. From what I can gather there are 3 of them and they are, as there name might suggest, based in London. 

The track below, Metal & Dust, is from their debut EP under the same name and it's a stunner. 

It starts off with lead vocalist, Hannah, singing over a mesmerizing and soft instrumental with the introduction and withdrawal of drums adding emphasis only when it's needed. The final minute sees Hannah's vocals chopped and broken along with layer upon layer added to lead to an unwanted end. Truth be told I think it ends all to soon but that has just resulted in a LOT of repeat plays.

Really looking forward to hearing more from this mysterious group.

INTRODUCING: VALENTINA

Introducing Valentina, a young London singer of Italian and English heritage with a voice so endearing and captivating it makes a 5 minute track seem like 5 seconds.

Now chances are you have heard this voice before, in fact I reckon I could make a pretty safe bet that you have actually danced to her voice at some point in the last 2 years. She is the girl that provides the stunning vocals to Joe Goddard's near perfect, dance floor smashing monster Gabrielle. She has also lent her vocals to Two Door Cinema Club on their latest album Beacon on the track The World Is Watching.

Wolves is her first official outing by herself. A beautiful, blissful song in which Valentina's voice seems to climb through layers of down-tempo production which soothes and excites at the same time. The production is taken care of by the highly respected and critically acclaimed Kwes and the two are said to be working together on future releases. I get a feeling we'll be hearing much more of Valentina in the years to come.

A MUCH WELCOMED RETURN: YYYs - SACRILEGE

And they're back! It's been 4 whole years since the colourful Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their last album, the incredible It's Blitz! and since January's announcement of the new album Mosquito there has been an exciting anticipation with as to which direction the 4th record is going to go.

Up until this week the only insight to the Mosquito has been a release date and a rather bizzare album cover. The image resembles something from a graphic novel nightmare. A twisted version Nirvana's Nevermind album art. It does however fit in to the eccentric style the YYYs have been delivering since 2000. But on Monday, on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show, the YYYs premiered Sacrilege.

Anyone who has listened to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs before will feel immediately comfortable with Karen O's distinguished mix of seductive vocals and soft shrieks that work terrifically with Nick Zimmer's flawless guitar work. The whole song seems to build up and up until it explodes with a huge gospel choir finish, which, while surprising at first, adds a new element to the track and showcases the YYYs in a different style altogether.

So good to have these guys back and sounding so good! All the anticipation look towards the 15th of April, when Mosquito drops.

    

ALUNAGEORGE - ATTRACTING FLIES

The AlunaGeorge train cannot be stopped right now. 

Fresh from a recent number 2 appearance on the UK charts with the stomping Disclosure track White Noise to go with their number 2 position in the BBC's Sound of 2013 the house/R&B/pop duo add another pulsating single to their catalogue of catchy bass-led releases.

 

With Attracting Flies, AlunaGeorge seemed to have upped the tempo to a level which almost forces you to dance or tap a foot at the very least. If the combination Aluna's vocals and George's crisp production can continue receiving the exposure it deserves then it will surely be a hell of a year for the young duo.

Attracting Flies is released on March 10th with their debut album Body Music set for July 1st. I can already sense a summer anthem is on its way.