Hi friends,
Big thanks to Rachel and DJ for hosting last week. I know I am still enjoying all five tracks (I hope you looked up the bonus track!) and I never would have found them on my own.
As it turns out, this week is also essentially guest hosted, as it has become "inverted." Three of the four are subscriber submissions; you guys make my job easy!
The moment it released last week, Rachel let me know that Billie Eilish had put out a new track. It was playing less than ten seconds later.
You certainly can't argue taste, but I'm not sure I understand disliking Billie Eilish at this point. Unless you like all your music to sound exactly the same and, therefore, can't stand Billie's unique vocal style or Finneas' rare, sometimes minimalist production, this music is so refreshing.
As suggested by the track's title, Billie has fallen in love with her future and realized that she might not need someone else around to make her happy.
I know supposedly I'm lonely now
Know I'm supposed to be unhappy
Without someone
But aren't I someone?
This one starts out with some jazzy, sultry vibes before moving into an almost lo-fi, bedroom pop grooviness that is an absolute delight. Whatever album these recently released singles will be a part of is going to be spectacular.
I found out about this track yesterday when Joe texted me an album saying, "The album Vertigo by 'BLOW' has some serious groove. It's very well mastered even if a little compressed." If I know anything, it's that when Joe sends me an album I listen to it.
Naturally, with this being from the very well defined genre known as electro-alt-pop-groove, the group is French. We all know that's where the best electro-anything comes from France and these four make the case even stronger. Honestly, it was incredibly challenging to select one track from the thirteen on the record. The album ebs and flows from electronic to alt-rock, meaning that it's really best experienced as a whole. However, I find myself addicted to the way they pluck the guitar on this one, especially in the solo at 2:06.
Loop it and I'd be happy for a long time.
In one of our semi-regular living room listening sessions, Alex put this one on and I was stunned. I hadn't heard jazz this exciting since discovering "Snarky Puppy."
Born in Beirut, this French-Lebanese jazz trumpeter and composer got his start at age seven, encouraged by his father, who played the same instrument. As a duo, the two toured Europe and the Middle East, playing some well known and difficult pieces. Maalouf continued his career by playing soundtracks before making his own records, which he began doing in 2007.
This track comes from his most recent album and is, without a doubt, its highlight. I think you'll find it organic, well recorded, and vibrant.
There's a high likelihood that you've heard from these artists before, but you simply must hear this track. When Tenzin showed me this from the Australian DJ, Hayden James, paired with the even better known Swedish duo, I was hooked.
It's a summer banger and that's all there is to it. It even does "that wavy thing" I'll never get enough of. Put it on and sit still; I dare you.
After establishing the wildly successful project, "Broods," Georgia and Caleb Nott each decided to venture into solo projects. Caleb called his "Fizzy Milk" and Georgia called hers "The Venus Project." However, hers wasn't just a solo project. As you can read more about at the link above, Georgia brought together fifteen women to produced a bold ten track album.
For the second time this week, it was a challenge to choose a single track from a record best enjoyed whole. "Won't Hurt" and "Need a Man" would have been equally good selections, but "Need/Want" shows off the experimental side of the album in its outro. I hope this glimpse convinces you to try out the rest of Vol. 1, which excites me for the suggestion that there will be a Vol. 2.
Of course, don’t forget to reply with what you liked, didn’t like, and what you’ve been listening to.
And, as always, this week’s tracks are added to the collectors for all weeks' tracks on Spotify and Apple Music.
Cheers,
Tanner