Round-up This Week In New Music (25th October 2014)

Producers starred in several forms this week, as mentioned above. Sometimes it takes a stark instrumental track to turn heads and that’s enough. New Cross newcomer Bunki represents a dark strand from an always boiling-up collective of musicians based in South London. The emergence of NX Records compilations cements the fact, with annual tracklists overflowing on talent from Goldsmiths University (once home to Damon Albarn, James Blake, Katy B). Bunki operates like he studies at the Institution of Hell. Songs creep up like shadows playing catch up. His latest, the disarming ‘Ravel’, stays in the conscience long after the distant steel pans bid farewell.

Jack Garratt operates at a more public, vocals-first level. The shoe in for 2015 chatter doesn’t put his production in the spotlight - it’s more about soulful vocals, emotions running wild. But the tricks are there, as showcased on his crazed take on Sylvan Esso’s breakthrough single.

Shinies, meanwhile, are a scuzzy band who threatened to fade out before they’d been given a final say. After a year’s plus silence, thankfully they emerged with news of a debut album, produced by Hookworms’ MJ. The lead cut follows a simple but affecting route, driving tense and tight guitar parts into testing corners.

Jack Colleran wants the world to know that he still exists. Instead of giving into cabin fever and recording in the wilderness, he’s regularly been telling fans that a debut MMOTHS album is fast aporoaching. Sometimes these updates distract from the magic of a debut, but Colleran’s recently been showcasing his strongest material to date. Previously, when the Irish producer gained initial hype and even joined The xx on tour, his craft was intriguing but not quite fully-formed. Recently that’s changed, with ghostly ideas spreading further, creeping into new territory with confidence, not fear. These songs are longer, more capable of progressing into daring feats. If this is where things are heading, Colleran can take as long as he wants to perfect this full-length.

It’s interesting how Australian musician Montgomery chooses to match her ‘Pinata’ single up with distinct, bleak images of real life. There’s sun-kissed faces, furrowed brows, images of life in its all its slightly anxious drudgery. No words are spoken, but an impression of unease is offered. Stories are ready to be told, but the beauty is how everything is left unsaid. Montgomery operates in a similar way. ‘Pinata”s sound ticks every blog-worthy box under 2014’s to do list, but instead of merging into a crowd it stands out as anything but fodder. That’s because she plays a direct game. She explains things in simple terms that jolt the system. Too many songwriters in recent months claim to have history and truths with zero substance to back it up. Montgomery is something different.

Tags: MMOTHS, Listen, Features, Neu