A rundown of all our favourite tracks to come out over the past seven days, New Music Radar covers another eclectic range of artists this week; spanning indie-rock, pop, hip-hop and more. We’ve seen returns from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Foals and C Duncan while we’ve also seen exciting collaborations and brand new homegrown artists making their presence known. Check it out below.
Foals ‘Sunday’
Foals premiered the latest excerpt from their upcoming album at the start of the week with Zane Lowe and it’s another stroke of genius from the Oxford quartet. An entirely different beast from the tracks that have come before it, ‘Sunday’ opens with some spacey, ambient soundscapes and swaying melodies as frontman Yannis Philappakis offers a yearning vocal, one that gently broods over youthful optimism and burning cities. Halfway through though the song steps up a gear and transforms into a pulsating, euphoric number that sparks with squelchy synths and frantic vocals. A return to their renowned fluid and freeform approach, it’s another indication that Foals are feeling more inspired than ever. Set to arrive next week on 8th March, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 can’t come soon enough.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever ‘In The Capital’
After releasing one of the albums of the year in 2018 with the joyous ‘Hope Downs’, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have wasted no time in bringing out new material; this week unveiling brand new single ‘In The Capital’. Arriving just in time for this week’s unexpected dose of good weather, the track is a blast of sunshine; a gently driving number that has the same fluid, dreamlike sheen that is distinguishable on past hits like ‘French Press’ and ‘Talking Straight’. Effectively extending their momentum into 2019, the Melbourne natives have announced a show at Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s on 15th July.
C Duncan ‘Health’
Set to follow up his Mercury-nominated debut and the critically acclaimed ‘The Midnight Sun’ with new album ‘Health’ at the end of the month, Scottish composer and multi-instrumentalist C Duncan has unveiled its stunning title track. Documenting the end of a previous relationship, ‘Health’ carries itself with the same soothing, aural beauty as ‘The Midnight Sun’; his gentle vocal delivered over syncopated piano melodies and layers of sumptuous harmonies. However, perhaps reflective of his troubled mind, there’s an unease that permeates the track; one that seems to find resolution in its closing moments. It’s a meticulously crafted, well-executed production that indicates that C Duncan is creating some of his most personal and inspired work to date.
Big Thief ‘UFOF’
This week Big Thief shared details of their third album along with its title track ‘UFOF’. Centred on a rather beguiling narrative about friendship, spaceships and aliens, it’s a suitably mysterious and slightly eerie return from the outfit but one that subtly draws you in with its spiralling guitars and quiet, insular vocals.
Swim School ‘Sway’
New to Edinburgh’s indie scene, swim school announced their arrival this week with their hugely infectious debut single ‘Sway’. Formed from a shared love of modern indie bands like Pale Waves, Wolf Alice and The Amazons, it’s a strong introduction from the quartet which bursts with vibrant guitar lines, glossy synths and grooving basslines. And while shades of their influences are evident throughout, the band’s smooth, slick execution is impressive given their recent formation. Led by the restrained yet alluring vocal tones of Alice Johnson, what they have delivered is an instantly addictive slice of indie-pop that’s made for dreamy sunny afternoons and is sure to turn heads.
Gurr ‘She Says’
Back with a new EP on 5th April that has been produced by New York-based Matthew Molner, who worked on Sunflower Bean’s debut LP Human Ceremony, Berlin garage-pop duo Gurr have unveiled its breezy title track ‘She Says’. Sharing the same summery, retro vibe that was so distinguishable on Human Ceremony, ‘She Says’ shows a different side to Gurr who have become known for their spiky, lo-fi punk tunes. Setting aside more room to experiment with production, the track has a familiar haziness to it but there’s a warm aura to it that instils a calmness and effortless cool.
Loyle Carner & Jorja Smith ‘Loose Ends’
Loyle Carner teams up with recent BRIT award winner Jorja Smith on new single ‘Loose Ends’. Following the release of recent singles ‘You Don’t Know’ and ‘Ottolenghi’, his rich vein of form continues with this beautifully crafted single; one which effortlessly bridges the newfound duo’s talents in wonderfully elegant and soulful fashion. Smith’s heavenly vocals complement Carner’s laid-back yet emotive rap stylings as he explores his newfound fame, the death of his father and the dark side of losing a normal life.
