Once more, we return with a rather eclectic mix of tracks for you to sink your teeth into. Enjoy the selections for week 9 of The Angle!
1. Grimes – ‘Genesis’
Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, is a Canadian artist who dabbles across various genres yet sounds like none of them. What could be best described as dreamy pop, ‘Genesis’ is full of some exquisitely engineered casual synths to surround her hauntingly high-pitched voice. Although a somewhat bizarre cacophony of sound, Boucher’s innocence and attention to detail ensure the track is fantastically composed and elegant. Signed to the label 4AD, her debut album Visions is released in the UK on March 12th.
2. Animal Kingdom – ‘Strange Attractor’
For the iTunes Best New Alternative Artist of 2009, it was a harsh realisation of what hype can do to a band after the release of their first album Signs and Wonders. However, Animal Kingdom, a three-piece originally from South London, have been careful not to repeat the same mistakes. Although ‘Strange Attractor’ follows the same tones of their previous album with atmospheric vibes, lead singer Richard Sauberlich’s notable inflexion, and a mournful, aching monologue, they return with a catchy choruse and a driving, deeper guitar track to offer a soulful and shimmering sound.
3. Breton – ‘Interference’
The first proper single form London-based Indie band Breton. The band describe themselves as a “multimedia” project and have been making Foals-esque music for a few years now. After being featured on the NME Radar Page and earning a spot as Record of the Week on XFM’s X-Posure, this is set to be a huge tune. Check the industrial basslines complete with sounds of ‘ooooooos’.
4. M.I.A. – ‘Bad Girls’
‘Bad Girls’ is the new single by British singer-songwriter M.I.A., who after releasing the song on a mixtape towards the end of last year (Vicki Leekx), is now working on her new album due in the summer. The song resonates M.I.A.’s personal style of combining electronica and big beats with world music, which has worked perfectly on her previous records and nothing has changed. Hopefully, with her appearance at the Superbowl this year with Madonna and Nicki Minaj, this could be her year to break through into the charts. Her Vicki Leekx mixtape can be downloaded at vickileekx.com.
Contributions from David Martin, Andy Neilson and George Doel.
