Four Track Friday

Hi friends,

This week I bring you something from a new personal favorite project, 4 Track's first country song, something small from Australia, and whacky French tune.

Future Choir | Pray | HÆLOS

I can't get enough of Hælos (pronounced "halos"). After strolling through my favorite Spotify-curated playlist, "Chillout Classics," I stumbled upon "Dust" and my interest piqued.

The project began as the London trio of Lotti Benardout, Arthur Delaney, and Dom Goldsmith trying to make music that unifies their favorite sounds from late night, comedown-from-the-club vibes. They undoubtedly succeeded. However, they went much farther, bringing together the best bits of their influences in a way that outshines them all. Neil Z. Yeung described the group aptly when he wrote, "[Hælos channels] some of Moby's most uplifting tunes... as if the xx had a little more fire in their blood, Portishead lightened up a bit, or Massive Attack were a little friendlier."

As every host has noticed, it's incredibly difficult to pick a single track from almost any artist and this was no different. Each of their two albums are best experienced as complete efforts, with ups and downs that sum to more than their parts. And while the first album draws on 90's trip-hop to deliver something solidly downtempo, the second distinctly sinks into dark, experimental trip-hop. That's without even mentioning their recent EP that displays their coolest and most electronic sound design of anything to date. However, I think their newer work is best appreciated with an understanding of their earlier sound, so I picked my favorite from their 2016 KEXP performance.

Unsurprisingly, my favorite part about Hælos is their ability to deliver live, vibrant interpretations of their recorded music. Like the transformation that Tycho makes from electronica to livetronica that I so much enjoy, it's this that has me hooked. The energy and emotion they are able to deliver is difficult to overstate.

They've performed in Seattle twice and I can guarantee I'll be at the third.

Outlaw Country | Smalltown Boy | Orville Peck

For this one we have a rising country star known for delivering ballads about gay cowboys to the masses. "Country music listeners want more," Peck said in an interview with Billboard, "and they are looking for far more diversity than I think the record labels and the radio stations want to give them credit for."

While not the first to make gay country music, that honor going to Lavender Country in 1973, Peck is definitely at the modern forefront, though not purposefully. “I'm not consciously trying to create a new perspective for country music, I'm just trying to make a country music album,” he continued. “My perspective is the only one I have."

Peck recorded this cover for the 2020 Pride edition of the Spotify Singles series and I dig the vibe he brings to his rendition. It's the perfect amount of drawling croon that doesn't sacrifice musicality or lyrical complexity, rather quite the opposite.

Folk-Poptronic | Smart Girls | AYA YVES

Translated from Hebrew, this artist's name means "to fly swiftly" and she firmly believes that's what she's meant to do. A recent addition to Canberra's music scene, AYA YVES is the reboot of her previous moniker, Vendulka. This track's minimalism is its most striking feature, but it's still catchy enough to become an "earworm."

French Eccentric | Duo | Philippe Katerine, Angèle, Chilly Gonzalez

Joe suggested I check out Chilly Gonzalez a couple weeks ago and I quickly discovered this gem. A collaboration with some well-known French artists, this one is pure mish-mash. It's part of the album that won Philippe Katerine Victoires de la Musique's Best Male Artist and an absolute delight.

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