WITH Europe’s biggest new music festival The Great Escape underway this weekend in Brighton, the rest of the music world continues to tick along as exciting new releases continue to be unleashed into the public consciousness. Featuring some of the artists who will appear at the Brighton festival this weekend and more, check out this week’s New Music Radar below.
Emme Woods ‘kill yer darlin’
Re-emerging from a prolonged and hugely productive period in the studio, ‘Kill me darlin’ marks her first release since 2017’s ‘I’ve Been Running’. Dark and contemplative from the very outset, the track sees Woods ruminating over a failing relationship, yearning for love and compassion over a minimalist backdrop of brooding, pensive guitar lines. Potent with emotion and starkly honest, it is Emme Woods at her most exposed; her bluesy, soulful vocals as powerful as ever, wonderfully juxtaposed by the burst of brass and swooning harmonies which see the song out in emphatic style.
IDLES ‘Mercedes Marxist’
IDLES’ perennial second album Joy as an Act of Resistance may still be fresh in everyone’s memory following its release last August but the Bristol punks are already back to share something brand new. ‘Mercedes Marxist’ is a typically unrelenting offering from the band and clearly derives from the same creative space that brought us last year’s critically acclaimed LP. One of the first songs they wrote for Joy before it was initially scrapped, it’s a meteoric track that sees Joe Talbot bellowing over their trademark live-wire guitars and pummelling drums
Flying Lotus ‘More (ft. Anderson .Paak
With a gargantuan 27-track album on the way, the first since 2014’s You’re Dead!, Flying Lotus has unveiled a collaboration with fellow LA luminary Anderson .Paak. Perhaps one of the most anticipated guests on the upcoming album, the track features .Paak’s distinctive vocals over some typically crisp percussion and a swirl of synths. The mesmerising track expands into a kaleidoscopic whirl of psychedelic soul, the wondrous backdrop grounded by .Paak’s dexterous flow.
Girl in Red ‘dead girl in the pool’
Norwegian newcomer Girl in Red has shared a new single from her upcoming EP chapter 2. The singer’s lo-fi tales of modern boredom, teenage depression and making sense of her sexuality have landed her millions of streams in recent months and her set at The Great Escape this weekend is building up to be one o the most eagerly anticipated showcases of the weekend. There’s nothing overtly complex about ‘dead girl in the pool’ but its infectious, charming melodies certainly have darker undertones as she deals with the relatable anxiety that comes after a night out. A key track for those who have yet to become acquainted, Girl in Red is proving herself to be an incredibly acute writer with all the potential of becoming a cult hero.
Body Type ‘UMA’
Lifted from their second EP, EP2, which arrived last week, ‘UMA’ is a brilliantly grungy cut from the fast-rising Australian outfit. Described by the band as a “slightly skewed love song to Uma Thurman”, ‘UMA’ boasts a strong message of female empowerment; a rallying cry for women to connect, speak out and empower each other. It’s delivered through a powerful barrage of grungy guitars akin to Pixies, low-slung basslines and gang vocals which shriek and sneer their way through the track. It’s dark and strangely hypnotic as they use the quiet/loud dynamic to great effect.
Hazey Jane ‘Lay Low’
Bringing a modern twist to a sound that is steeped in old traditions, Hazey Jane have unveiled another mesmerising new track called ‘Lay Low’. Based in Hackney, London, the four-piece continue to build a strong reputation for their combination of traditional folk storytelling, rich melodies and swooning harmonies. Crafting songs that are prone to leaving you with a warm, fuzzy feeling of contentment, ‘Lay Low’ is another enchanting track to add to their increasingly impressive repertoire. Delivered with warmth and love and brimming with optimism, ‘Lay Low’ seizes your heart with its delicate harmonies, upbeat rhythms and acoustic strums.
