News This Week In New Music (15th June 2013)

Smooth, soul-inflected pop is taking over. Especially in the UK. Jessie Ware’s ‘Devotion’ is probably cited with a third of the acts we’re writing about, the source of all things exciting emerging right now. Its influence has, in all likelihood, probably been overstated. All the same, this week’s batch of songs and videos seems to have been drenched from head to toe in a nu-soul quality. First we’ve a complete newcomer who - surprise surprise - does have links to Jessie Ware. Then we’ve a band making good on their promise with one of the most divine videos of the year. And then. Well…Our favourite new discovery of the week have nothing to do with Jessie Ware and sound nothing like her, but let’s pretend this narrative still has some force behind it.

TRACK OF THE WEEK
Dornik - Something About You


New PMR signing and occasional backing band member for Jessie Ware (or so the story goes) Dornik is ridiculously talented. As in, if ‘Something About You’ cropped up on a Frank Ocean LP, people would go insane for it, naming it one of their favourites. Sure, it might be straight-down-the-line in terms of the whole lustful, emotional approach, but the production’s a completely dreamboat. Soothing, smooth soul, whatever you want to call it. There’s a fine line between it sounding gorgeous and completely boring. This steers itself towards the former to the furtherest degree.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Arthur Beatrice - Carter (Uncut)


This isn’t wholly Jessie Ware indebted. Again, our narrative falters slightly. But Arthur Beatrice’s soaring, triumphalist pop conjures up the same warmth and unrelenting beauty. None less so when it’s being backed by this Kate Moross video, who, you guessed it, filmed a couple of clips for the ol’ Ware. The links aren’t so tenuous after all. ‘Carter (Uncut)’ is AB at their best, Ella Girardot’s vocals holding stead against the surrounding, uplifting furore.

DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK
FALKS

Honestly, the best thing that happened this week was actually having those new Bandcamp players released. Music looks pretty as well as sounding pretty too. As pathetic as that might sound, FALKS’ debut EP is a genuine, affecting work that relies on its gorgeous aesthetic. An LA duo, these two take lulling, acoustic songs to a daring new direction.

it got cold by FALKS