It’s Monday again. Unfortunately for some, but its Tracks of the Week time again so it ain’t all bad news. Dive in!!
Prisma – Seven Greedy Girls
Why We Love It: Danish duo Prisma delivered their unstoppable new single ‘Seven Greedy Girls’ last week (March 23rd) via Luna Sky Recordings. Thundering into view on a skittering bed of drum machine beats, prodding baselines and duelling vocals that rush headlong into the release of an incendiary crescendo. It’s a visceral cry for help in the midst of an anxiety attack: laced with a cavalcade of synths and a howling wave of a chorus riven with frustration and fear, it’s addictive and unstoppable!
Sisters Frida and Sirid Møl Kristensen explained: “We wanted to describe a state of mind where your body is overwhelmed by anxiety – this is the ‘seven greedy girls’
who are scratching and screaming on the inside of your eyes. They live in your head but through the song, you break free from this negative feeling. In the chorus, we scream “come on/fuck off” which is very descriptive of this feeling of being cursed by something
really bad”.
Alongside the news of their ‘Inside Out’ EP arriving April 8th. The band will be heading over for The Great Escape (TBA) in May to herald their UK live debut. (Bill Cummings)
Grawl!x – Hopelessness
Why We Love It: despite it being called ‘Hopelessness‘, it sounds anything but. Incredibly upbeat and optimistic, an infectious guitar hook loops, with tinkling piano like raindrops introduces us like a friendly hug. It then tumbles into a huge anthemic smile of a track, dancing vocals and the biggest chorus you’ll hear this month. This should be used as a medicine for anyone feeling low, worthless and sad. Aural serotonin straight into the limbic system. This is pure, solid indie-pop gold which reminds me of Delays at their peak.
The band says “‘Hopelessness‘ was written during lockdown and we tried to write a big ol’ banger about the importance of hope and talking to someone when things get too much.”
‘Hopelessness’ leads into EP ‘Spring’, due for release in spring 2022. (Jim Auton)
Lizzie Reid – Bible
Why We Love It: Because it is as if Lizzie taps into your soul. She manages to speak to the core of your very being. She has an incredibly human voice, it has been places, it has seen things, there is a beautiful, brittle crack to it, that instils so much emotion to the song. You want her to sing you a lullaby at night. The a la mode style of double-tracking harmonies over the lead vocal gives it a haunting echo and the melody is just gorgeous.
Lizzie says “Bible is about being nervous about falling in love again. I was feeling something, and that scared me. I wanted to get things right this time, be important to someone, and not to bring my anxieties into the picture. Becoming involved with someone tends to bring up things within yourself. It holds a mirror up and forces me to look at myself through someone else’s eyes.” (Jim Auton)
Flossing – Men on the Menu
Why We Love It: Flossing, the New York project of Heather Elle, has released her new single ‘Men on the Menu’ via Brace Yourself Records. Collaborating with Elijah Sokolow (The Living Strange), the track was arranged, recorded, and produced at Elle’s home studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
‘Men on the Menu’ has a shimmering synth vibe with beats throughout and a breath-taking solo from Brooklyn saxophonist Kate Mohanty which adds an unexpected layer of sound.
Elle has also come out as queer, and states: “I’m finally detangling myself from the compulsive hetero regime that’s fooled me, failed me, and f*cked me.”
Lyrically Elle draws on her personal experience. She has encountered microaggressions, manipulations, and blatant misogyny and incorporates this into the track: “Acting like he’s a gift from God/Providing me with a once-in-a-lifetime job/Overlookin’, undercookin’, overreachin’, leachin’, over-preachin’.”
The ’Men on the Menu’ references the dehumanising effects of dating and delivery apps, mixing up the two scenarios which demonstrates just how bizarre our online world has become.
The video is created from clips from 1940’s rom-coms, and it is a clever method to emphasize just how the male gaze has created roles and expectations that lead to objectification and on occasion, violence. (Julia Mason)
Maddy -Dum Dum Dum
Why We Love It: Sune Wagner of The Raveonettes has been quiet since their ‘2016 Atomized’-album, now Sune is back as part of a new project.
Maddy is an alt-pop artist who realised she was in the middle of a personal and artistic crisis. ‘Dum Dum Dum’ is about leaving everything behind and starting afresh in LA. Her noirish vocals switch back from alluring and intimate to anthemic, revelling in escapism it stomps into an infectious chorus and a hooky bassline combined with Wagner’s unique noisescapes.
Like Maddy’s trip to LA, ‘Dum Dum Dum’ is a song about escaping reality when little insignificant things and thoughts feel excessively overmuch. A unique little earworm. (Bill Cummings)
Romero – Half Way Out the Door
Why We Love It: Melbourne’s Romero have released a new single ‘Halfway Out The Door’ ahead of debut album Turn It On! which is set for release on 8 April via Cool Death Records/Feel It Records.
It’s an exhilarating riot of guitar riffs and power-pop with a sprinkle of rock and a fabulous lead vocal bursting with passion and energy. Romero obviously know how to get the party started, and it’s the guitar riffs that dominate throughout. The album deals with endlessly restarting, mulling over the unsaid, resisting controlling forces in a deteriorating relationship, and the emotional strain of uncertainty.
After a successful start, Romero’s 7’’ ‘Honey / Neapolitan’ landed in 2020 and the double A-side sold out across multiple pressings. Follow-up single ‘Troublemaker’ got them further attention and I have no doubt that ‘Halfway Out The Door’ will continue to spread the word according to Romero. (Julia Mason)
FLO – Cardboard Box
Why We Love It: Remember when En Vogue were capturing the hearts of the record-buying public? How about TLC? Or the Sugababes? FLO, the fresh London based girl group release their debut single ‘Cardboard Box.’
For their debut single, 19-and-20-year-olds Renée, Stella and Jorja harmonise, “Imma put your shit in a cardboard box,” over an MNEK production that splices early 00s R&B, complete with Irreplaceable-esque guitar figures, and dancehall beats.“Cardboard Box”’ was one of the first songs FLO wrote together, turning up to the studio every morning with tales of sour exes and tirelessly rehearsed harmonies. This is soul-pop with a sway and garnished with spot-on harmonies and glowing production and layered with punchy beats and glistening guitar licks. Refreshing and slinky and highlighting their talents, it is very promising indeed. ( Bill Cummings)
Dead Pony – Bullet Farm
Why We Love It: Scottish trio Dead Pony have signed to Lab Records and released their first single on the label ‘Bullet Farm’. From the sirens at the very outset, you just know this is going to be a high octane blast of a track. Full of attitude and swagger it’s an explosion of punk-infused fun confidently led by vocalist Anna Sheilds. She expands on the inspiration behind the single:
“The idea for ‘Bullet Farm’ came during a night watching the new Mad Max film. I remember during one of the gripping chase scenes, I was washed over by inspiration for a riff and I ran downonrs to record it into my phone quickly. The chaotic and rebellious vibe of the song is mirroring the movie and it is fast-paced and hectic with just a small break to catch your breath.
‘Bullet Farm’ is about excitement, turbulent energy and defiance similar to what I felt whilst watching that movie. I really want whoever listens to this song to feel like they have fallen straight into the middle of a Mad Max chase scene and to be immersed in the adrenaline and rebelliousness of the song.”
All I can add is – Mission Accomplished. (Julia Mason)
