News This Week In New Music (16th March 2013)

By the time the taco-stained smiles are wiped off every lucky sod who went to SXSW’s faces, word will probably start spreading on who exactly defined the week’s events. Chances are it’ll be some vaguely unheard of US act who’ve just caused a major label to reach for their chequebook. Or it’ll be a Neu favourite, like SOHN or Gems, making that step up from internet beloved to real-life stardom. While many a band has travelled to Austin this week to soak up the rays and the complimentary Levis jeans, we’ve been sinking our teeth into some muted new music releases. Despite its relative quiet, these past seven days have wielded some zingers:

TRACK OF THE WEEK
Anushka - I Have Love 4 You


Beyond the stone-cold fact that David Guetta-starring, fist-bumping, womp-womping worldwide hits are never going to leave the poor charts alone, few things in music are entirely predictable. But when Brighton duo Anushka shared their ‘I Have Love 4 U’ track two days back, something clicked. Every element tied down to form this song felt right. The soulful vocals and sleight house pulse, the sheer immediacy of the chorus. It presented itself as the sound of the summer, there for the taking. Needn’t matter if this doesn’t end up storming the charts - it ought to - but this will undoubtedly soundtrack every rain-sodden, poorly-timed BBQ we’ll be attending in the forthcoming year.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
DENA - Thin Rope


The title ‘Thin Rope’ probably refers to something metaphorical and profound, but we’re relieved that DENA and her director took the concept of this video completely literally. ‘Thin Rope’, you say? Why, let’s just bring a skipping rope on set and get everyone to do some fancy flicks and jumps with it. Such simplicity works like a charm. DENA’s music, for all its internet-age context, is fully realised fun. ‘Thin Rope’ is her finest work to date.

DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK
VISUALS


Brooklyn’s Andrew Fox and Marshall Ryan are a couple of guys who, on early impressions, have schooled themselves in writing quickfire pop with big bold roots. Their debut single ‘Levitation’ b/w ‘Goodbye’ is an imaginative sod, its two parts locking arms to form some kind of half-prog-freakout, half Hot Chip dance-off collision. It’s a bold vision, but it all transpires through something catchy and nigh-on impossible to ignore. Watch the ‘Levitation’ video up above.