Mall Grab – Liverpool Street In The Rain
Cold synths, breakbeats and a Mike Tyson sample.
Australian producer and DJ Mall Grab has released a new EP. How The Dogs Chill, Vol. 1 arrives via his new imprint Looking For Trouble.
The label’s first release, How The Dogs Chill, Vol. 1 , comes from Mall Grab himself. The four-track release moves from chilly house on ‘Liverpool Street In The Rain’ to pulsating techno on ‘Looking For Trouble’, with EP closer ‘Get Impetuous’ combining breakbeats with an infamous Mike Tyson sample.
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Tourist – Apollo
Today, UK-based Grammy winning producer and composer Tourist (William Phillips) returns with his new single “Apollo.” The single artwork was shot by acclaimed British photographer Nigel Shafran who has directed a video for the song as well, which will be revealed shortly. “Apollo” follows Tourist’s Wash EP released last October, as well as recent Wolf Alice, Christine & The Queens and Rostam remixes.
On “Apollo,” Tourist remarked:
“I’m interested in exploring human themes through sound. Family, mental health, loss, love.
I sit at home by myself most days, writing music. It’s quite an insular life, and it can be claustrophobic, but I suppose much of my new music is an attempt to produce work that is outwardly facing. I want my music to connect and to tell a human story through samples, sounds and melody. I have always found these components of music much more interesting than words / lyrics.
Sonically, much of what has inspired me has been impressionism. I’m not interested in making cold, austere music. I want it to be imbued with romanticism, escapism and equal parts melancholy and optimism.
“Apollo” is a piece of music that hopefully inspires reflection and reverie. I love the idea that music can “take” you to places, and that’s what this is to me when I listen back to it.”
Accompanying the new single is the launch of Tourist Essentials – a curated collection of Tourist’s music dating to 2012. William makes yearning, bittersweet dance tracks, his wide scope and artistry is showcased on the Essentials compilation. He’s considered an “artist’s artist”, with fans such as Flume and Porter Robinson supporting his releases. After the self-titled debut EP (2012), Tonight EP (2013) andPatterns EP (2014) featuring guest appearances by Lianne La Havas and Will Heard, as well as high-profile remixes for Chvrches & Haim under his belt, Tourist went on to win the GRAMMY for co-writing the Sam Smith hit “Stay With Me”, and he released his debut album U (2016) to critical acclaim and support from outlets like NPR, Vice, Billboard and Rolling Stone Australia.
The single, “Run” landed #1 spot on BBC Radio 1 dance charts and Hype Machine. This was soon followed by a string of sold out shows as a live favorite across the United States, Europe and Australia, including major festival appearances at Glastonbury, Coachella (twice) and Bestival.
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Marie Davidson – Work It
Marie Davidson has shared “Work It,” the latest single from her upcoming album, Working Class Woman, out October 5 on Ninja Tune.
“Work It” probes at Davidson’s workaholic nature and follows in the same darkly humorous tone of recent single “So Right,” released alongside a John Talabot remix.
Working Class Woman is the Montreal-based producer’s fourth and “most self-reflective record,” the label explains, describing it as “a document of her state of mind, of operating within the spheres of dance music and club culture.” Drawing on her experiences, as well as an array of writers, thinkers, and filmmakers who’ve influenced her, Davidson explores her reaction to them and “pokes fun.” “It comes from my brain, through my own experiences: the suffering and the humour, the fun and the darkness to be Marie Davidson.” As she puts it, “It’s an egotistical album—and I’m okay with that.”
The sound, we’re told, is “more direct than any of her previous outings.” She still mines the same influences, from italo-disco to proto-industrial and electro, but “leadens them with a gut-punching weight, making for a record that’s more visceral than any she’s released before.” This industrial heaviness is balanced by Davidson’s spoken text.
The record builds upon the dancefloor-minded trajectory charted by her last solo album, Adieux Au Dancefloor [Cititrax / Minimal Wave], and is informed by a career which has spanned an ambient-influenced album as Les Momies De Palerme for Montreal’s Constellation label, her synth-disco styled duo DKMD with David Kristian, and Essaie Pas alongside husband and collaborator Pierre Guerineau.
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Little Simz – Offence
Following the release of her debut album, 2015’s A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, the North London rapper Little Simz was both prolific and experimental, cranking out both taut concept albums and scrappy mixtapes. Though, this year, she’s been quiet, and so her new single “Offence” feels like a return to form.
From its opening moments, “Offence” lurches forward with aggressive momentum: a drum break punches through the whole track, bound so tight it sounds like it’s shaking with adrenaline. The bassline is chunky and anxious and other production elements—a flutter of creaking flutes, a frantic swarm of strings—flare up like the chatter of an uneasy cityscape. The boom and snarl of Little Simz’s voice make it obvious she’s at the top of the food chain, and so she prowls around, the beat thumping her chest. She raps with a remarkable directness: “You do not scare me, no you are not a threat,” she explodes. It sounds like a battle cry, almost giddy with strength. As a return single, “Offence” is a roaring statement of intent, and Little Simz sounds bigger and stronger than ever on it.
Read the rest of this article at Pitchfork
JAY STONE – Good Seat (feat. Queens D. Light & Dahi Divine)
Unless you live in the Bay Area, chances are you probably haven’t been bumping Jay Stone. He’s a 29-year-old MC from Oakland who’s got a knack for painting vivid portraits of everyday life in the heads of listeners. Flying mostly under the radar, Stone has picked up a bit of buzz in the Bay for his thoughtful lyricism and measured delivery, which work in tandem to produce a sound you shouldn’t be sleeping on. His music isn’t rap — it’s something more nuanced that you can judge for yourself as his vocals ride atop lo-fi instrumentals.
Stone’s songs can best be likened to the jumble of thoughts that run through your head before you go to sleep. These range from nostalgic yearnings to random bits of philosophy to straight-up horror stories. Browsing his Bandcamp is a musical roller coaster that’s just right for fans of all ages. You’ll find childhood anecdotes, tales of sex and smoking, and advice on how to navigate the muddy waters of adulthood (among other obstacles). I was fortunate enough to get to talk to Jay about his roots, his inspirations, and his upcoming record.
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