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John Preston picks his seven favourite tracks from the past week.
Soccer Mommy, ‘Unholy Affliction’
There has always been a truly experimental element to Soccer Mommy’s work, and Unholy Affliction is probably the purest expression of her creative instinct to date. Gothic, and slurred across a degenerate trip-hop beat, Soccer Mommy proves she has become one of the most fascinating singer songwriters of her generation.
070 Shake, ‘Skin and Bones’
070 Shake’s ‘startling’ debut album, Modus Vivendin, was one of Vada’s 2020 albums of the year, and now she’s returning with a second record. Its first single ‘Skin and Bones’ is an epic, unexpectedly romantic sad-banger. Hard to pigeon-hole, 070 Shake just continues to surprise and impress.
Dubstar, ‘Tears’
The first ballad proper from Dubstar’s upcoming album Two is understated musically, perhaps, but lyrically is as melodramatic as expected. Sarah Blackwood has always known when to reign it in and devastate with just one killer line and when to go all out and leave little room for composure. ‘Tears’ is the latter.
Esty, ‘Home’
Latin American artist Esty has upped her game and her recently released Etsyland EP is packed with inventive and funky grooves that effortlessly stand out amongst so many other new artists. With sharp humour and in-built sense of camp, Etsy is the kind of popstar that we’ve been crying out for – so go check her out.
Hatchie, ‘The Rhythm’
Hatchie’s sophomore album Giving the World Away has had a nine-month rollout, and despite several excellent preview singles, she still has managed to save the best ‘til last. ‘The Rhythm’ presents a wall of sound, punctured by sinister synths. It’s a song which sounds like it could have been a missed opportunity for Kylie circa 1997.
Ruth Radelet, ‘Crimes’
Ruth Radelet is so synonymous with The Chromatics and her vocals are so immediately recognisable, that it’s impossible to hear her solo single ‘Crimes’ and not think of the band’s dreamy, electro melancholia. The fact that this sounds like a potential track from the now near-mythical Dear Tommy cancelled album is of course high praise.
Pusha T, ‘Let the Smokers Shine the Coupes’
Pusha T’s new album ‘It’s Almost Dry’ also includes the intriguing declaration ‘Pharrell Vs Ye’ in its title. Pusha T has considerable musical history with Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes, from the days of Clipse, and it’s the Williams’ helmed tracks which really shine here. Just don’t tell Kanye.
