Kiddy Smile
One Trick Pony
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Camp, queer French artist Kiddy Smile finally has an album, Dickmatized his collaboration with Crookers is here, but sadly his brilliant single Let a Bitch Know has not been included. Not to worry, there’s some awesome dance tunes including House of God, Movin On Out and Be Honest. The x-rated Slap My Butt is backed by an acid house beat and comical lyrics, while Burn the House Down is epic – one very proud gay album anbd Kiddy Smile is no one-trick-pony.
Why Don’t We
8 Letters
★ ★ ★
Why Don’t We follow in the footsteps of One Direction, Westlife and NKOTB, yes they’re the latest boyband. Short and sweet, the accurately named 8 Letters is a concise offering. Things get moving pretty quickly, Talk features the brilliant lyric ‘we go breaking up like cell phones’, this appears alongside their other radio hit Hooked. Friends, like every tune at the moment has a steel drum in the mix, the other tracks are a bit darker and brooding. No surprises here.
Kovacs
Cheap Smell
★ ★ ★ ★
The first thing that hits you with this album is the intriguing jazz fused voice of Dutch singer Sharon Kovacs. She could sing a Bond theme in her sleep. Packed with style and attitude this album traverses genres between jazz, pop and a health dose of theatrical cabaret. The album’s produced by Liam Howe who has worked with Adele and Lana Del Ray. Stand out tracks are Midnight Medicine, Priceless and Black Spider. The closing track Final Song is the perfect end to an album.
Fresh Tracks Janet Jackson & Damn Yankee – Made for Now as good as anything Miss Janet has done before Neneh Cherry – Kong teaming up with Four Tet and 3D from Massive Attack for a great slice of trip-hop Tkay Maidza – Big Things this chilled out reggae tune in something different from Maidza Sophie Ellis Bextor – Love is You a cover of the song her most famous tune samples Villagers- Trick of the Light gentle tune with swelling strings and crisp meaningful lyrics Alexis Ffrench – Bluebird this gorgeous romantic tune will make your heart sing Matt Berry – Are You Being Served smooth acid jazz version of the stylish theme tune
Anna Calvi
Hunter
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
On her third album British singer Anna Calvi lives up to the expectations there’s always been for her talents. Songs about gender, control, and power. These are serious songs that will stand the test of time, deep and meaningful and backed by flawless musicianship and production. On the title track she sings about dressing up in leather with flowers in her hair, painting a vivid picture, while delivering a sound that recalls Bowie and Roxy Music. Portishead’s Adrian Utley, and Martyn P Casey play on the album.
Tash Sultana
Flow State
★ ★ ★
Triple J favourite Tash Sultana is here with her debut album, a blues and roots symphony that is filled with her outstanding voice and guitar skills, combined with an interesting mix of dance beats. It works, mostly. The highlight is the epic Blackbird at the album’s conclusion, but to get there Saltana takes us on a journey through personal and heartfelt tales that mix acoustic elements and electronica. Another really interesting tune is Seven which could have been taken off the soundtrack to a sci-fi film.
Beccy Cole
Lioness
★ ★ ★ ★
There’s something counterintuitive about a rolliking country cover of the Pointer Sister’s I’m So Excited, Beccy Cole’s take on the 80’s classic is just a bit too laid back, but putting that aside, this new album is filled with beautiful tunes and clever lyrics about charity muggers, drinking, discreet hookups, and finding true love. It’s completely yee-haw country but we’d expect nothing less. Find some boots, beers and and good hat to look the part while listening.
Fresh Tracks John Grant – Love is Magic you’ve got to love a song that sings about depression and passive aggression Lido featuring Unge Ferrarri slow jam with Norwegian rap George Fitzgerald – Burns (Moby Mix) Moby takes the tune down a notch Carmada feat Georgi Kay – Lay it Down great mix of Georgi’s lyricism with solid electronic sounds Rufus Du Sol – No Place (Lindstrom and Prins Thomas Remix) the tune is transformed into an amazing instrumental dance floor workout Mick Jenkins – What Am I To Do great mix of raps and smooth grooves produced by Kaytranada Disclosure – Love Can Be So Hard time travel to the 80’s with this tune that samples Say I’m Your Number One by Princess
Graeme Watson
