News This Week In New Music (1st March 2014)

New music’s never a shy, stingy thing, but this week’s been very generous. On top of giant breakthroughs from artists capable of topping the charts given time, there’s been under the radar gems from Blaue Blume, plus a contender for this year’s lo-fi ‘Get Lucky’ from Los Porcos. Oxford group Glass Animals gave one of the most appropriately themed videos in yonks for their ‘Gooey’ track, and that’s about 1/3rd of the things Neu got excited about this week.

Here’s the best of what happened this week in new music:

TRACK OF THE WEEK
Tove Lo - Not On Drugs


Tove Lo is an artist beloved for her contraditions. She’s not that fussed about being famous, but it’s in her blood to write gigantic pop songs (she’s penned for Icona Pop before this current solo run). She sings about struggles, being too drunk, getting giddily in love, but she states all of this on top of glossy, glitz-heavy expressions virtually free of flaws. Still, the best thing about this Stockholm newcomer is her ability to throw in endless amounts of passion, attitude and insanity into what’s cleverly being shadowed as a chart-ready single. ‘Not On Drugs’ is a giant in waiting, a song devoted to imperfections that ironically ends up being pretty much perfect.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Woman’s Hour - Her Ghost


If ever another sign (no pun intended) was required to prove Woman’s Hour’s credentials, this was it. The London four-piece are good at this video business. Previous song ‘Darkest Place’ cosied up with discomfort, fear in a stunning, literally gripping portrayal. ‘Her Ghost’ instead chooses to remove any distance by recuiting a sign language interpreter for its video. It’s a nice touch for a song that’s breathlessly intimate, there to be explored.

DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK
Cathedrals


‘Harlem’ is an effortlessly playful pop number that couldn’t be anymore ‘2014’ if it hitched up with a cronut in its mouth and a copy of ‘Selfieing.. For Dummies’ in its back pocket. The San Francisco duo behind this song - Cathedrals - specialise in snappy, system-jolting tracks. ‘Harlem’ is an extra spring in the step, a bright-eyed wondrous take on the world that can only be replicated by drinking four consecutive cups of coffee. Peering into Sleigh Bells territory before taking a pit stop at Purity Ring central, there’s still enough about this song - especially its breakdown coda at the end - to give Cathedrals credentials of their own. First Chvrches, now Cathedrals. We’re sensing a theme here.