Singles In Your Area: w/c Jul 14
New music from Blackpink, Shame, Geese, Deftones and Wolf Alice, plus locals Tami Neilson, Coast Arcade, High Watah and Rhian Sheehan
A few songs I checked out this week while wondering how much further below 33 Below thinks they might be able to get to …
New This Week!
33 BELOW - "Attack (ft Scrufizzer)"
Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles: #04
I can only assume the title “Attack” refers to some kind of setting on their equipment (my old bass amp had an ‘attack’ dial) because the new track from 33 Below doesn’t sound like an attack at all; in fact, its a pretty good electronic track that had me bouncing around in my office chair.
I was going to write a joke here about Blackpink reuniting being the closest we’ll get to an ‘Avengers assemble!’ moment in 2025 - but then I listened to a track and watched the video. The video is odd - mini versions of the group inside peoples mouths - but the song is funky as hell. I really liked this one.
I dare you to try and quantify Cheem - an alt-rock band with emo-pop, hip-hop and nu-metal leanings and a second singer in an upper register that collectively sounds like the progressive version of Taking Back Sunday circa 2006. I’m definitely keen to hear more from Cheem.
Tamaki Makaurau based rockers Coast Arcade have been dropping tracks on their Bandcamp since mid-2022 but somehow this is my first experience with them - a really cool retro-rock sound that sits somewhere between the pop-punk of 2010s and the post-grunge of the late 90s.
DANNY L HARLE - "Starlight (ft PinkPantheress)"
I can’t say I liked this song - I’m not a fan of electronic at the best of times and this one is a bit all over the place for me - but I do think we need to start considering if PinkPantheress has a claim as artist of the year.
DEFTONES - "My Mind Is A Mountain"
Friday morning, I checked my phone to find that three different friends had messaged me to tell me that this new song was out there; Chris Schulz’ message simply said ‘Happy Deftones day’ and I knew immediately to get online. I can only view this as a fan so just pretend I’ve written two pages of gushing and excitement right here. New album Private Music lands on August 22.
Fresh of releasing his brilliant solo debut Heavy Metal last December, Cameron Winter has gone back to his day job as the frontman for indie outfit Geese. Think emotive indie rock in the vein of acts like Black Country, New Road or Squid.
HIGH WATAH - "If This Is Love (ft House Of Shem, Te Omeka Perkins)"
Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles: #05
I mean, there is so much talent contributing to this track, it just had to be a good’n. Chill reggae pop vibes will take you back to the summertime. Love it.
Announcing a best-of compilation (Joy In Repetition, out September 5), electro-funksters Hot Chip - who’ve been around since the turn of the millennium - couldn’t help but drop a brand new track and video. Its a throwback to their more disco-influenced work. Personally I’m an “Over & Over” fan.
JID & EMINEM - "Animals"
Hot 40 Singles: #17
Rapper JID released his newest album last week to a lot of acclaim - this track is fun, JID delivering fast verses being spat out at high speed a la the third verse of “Rap God”, so it makes sense Eminem jumps on the track to trade lines. Maybe not the best song ever but its a helluva demonstration of sheer talent.
KETTAMA, Shady Nasty & Fred Again.. - "Air Maxes"
Hot 40 Singles: #13
Irish DJ Kettama drops this collab with Shady Nasty and Fred Again.. and has immediately hit the charts; there is also a better version labelled “Kettama Mix” which is more upbeat and makes use of the ‘Amen Break’.
The first taste of new album Fifth Season (out August 22) is funky, if a bit slow, and harks back to the days of “Politician” for the group.
KRISY ERIN - "Fall In Love (ft SESH)"
Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles: #02
Krisy Erin pushes the boundaries as far as music video content goes - at least from NZ; its tame by Sexyy Red standards. Its also better than Sexyy Red, I reckon. The vocal performance here is brilliant, and the production sounds great, and it has this old school sound that always pleases.
PINO PALLADINO & BLAKE MILLS - "Taka"
It’s not every day you get served a new video clip from a pair of bass players collaborating on an instrumental. Fun fact: Pino Palladino is the father of alt-pop star Fabiana Palladino, and has worked a session player since the early 80s.
RACING MOUNT PLEASANT - "Your New Place"
Best as I can tell, Michigan based alternative collective Racing Mount Pleasant recorded this live in someones living room. As a result it loses some of the dynamic that normally makes RMP music special and impactful, especially around the horn section and low end.
RHIAN SHEEHAN & ARLI LIBERMAN - "Myths"
Two of this country’s most talented producers joining forces to create an album of moving, cinematic ambience that ebbs and flows, impacting in places you don’t expect? Yes, please, give it to me.
Post-punk group Shame have a new album landing in September, and this single finds them in the zone, creating something a bit more controlled and refined than their normal fare. A statement of intent maybe?
TAMI NEILSON - "Neon Cowgirl (ft Neil Finn)"
Tami has been kicking arse all over the United States, and now she lands with a video for a duet with Neil Finn - an artist that she probably considered a huge get for the track, but with whom she shares rarefied air as one of our best. It helps that its a good song and they sound good, too.
The third single from new album The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, out August 29 (and with production help from Josh Homme), is the third best of the three singles so far, but it is still pretty good. It does sound very Hives, but I think the vocal is too loud and the drums too far back in the mix.
Speaking of bands with new albums, the new Wolf Alice is out August 29, and this track is about as different from the first single “Bloom Baby Bloom” as you can get - though nearer to what you might expect from Wolf Alice. Who knows what the album might be; I’m excited to hear it. Gorgeous strings here too.
Also new this week:
Brent Faiyaz - "tony soprano."
Hot 40 Singles: #15New Life Music - "Brand New"
Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles: #10Soulwax
- "All Systems Are Lying"
- "Run Free"The 046 & JKING - "That's My"
Hot 40 Singles: #09Waxahatchee & Kevin Morby - "You Found Me"
Zach Bryan - "River Washed Hair"
Hot 40 Singles: #08
Oh, one more thing:
Three fantastic artists performing in three different types of locations: Deafheaven, whose album Lonely People With Power is fast becoming one of my favourites of the year, perform in the KEXP radio studios; Queens Of The Stone Age, fresh off releasing a live recording filmed in the catacombs under Paris, lent a clip from the show to Jimmy Kimmel Live; and Wet Leg, fresh off releasing their new album Moisturizer, hit the NPR office for a Tiny Desk Concert. Enjoy!
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Thanks for reading everyone!
Chris xo
A little Purity Ring guest spot I found on my travels
https://youtu.be/d0s0XHVUGF0?si=1FNItTM3Of34bChs