Kiesza Delivers Emotive Cover of Haddaway’s “What Is Love”
Current UK #1 single champion (and deservingly so) Kiesza is keeping the momentum going by dropping a cover of Haddaway‘s ’90s club classic “What Is Love”. Yes it’s a bit of an obvious choice, but also not what you probably expected (it’s done in an emotive piano ballad style). The Canadian singer gets to show off her vocal chops here, and the beautiful strings towards the end really class it up. Check out her pensive cover below, and watch the self-directed video via NME.
STREAM: Kiesza – What Is Love (Haddaway Cover)
And just for extra content engagement I’m gonna squeeze in two cool remixes of “Hideaway” by Gorgon City and Zac Samuel.
You can buy “Hideway” on iTunes US now, so get to it!
More on Kiesza.
ON ROTATION: Cloud Nothings – I’m Not Part of Me
The hype surround Cloud Nothings‘ second album “Here and Nowhere Else” was so big I had to check it out myself. While the album as a whole wasn’t entirely to my taste, I can’t deny this irresistible punk-pop gem “I’m Not Part of Me”. Let’s not beat around the bush, this belongs in a ’90s teen flick soundtrack. Proper jump on your bed, sing into your hairbrush, dance like nobody’s watching stuff. The music video even features teenage girls having a weird slumber party. They’re in on it.
It helps that the frontman Dylan Baldi openly talks about his appreciation for Taylor Swift’s songcraft. Check out the Ohio-based indie rock’s single below, and good luck getting it out of your head.
MP3: Cloud Nothings – I’m Not Part of Me
ON ROTATION: The Horrors – So Now You Know
On paper, The Horrors are the kind of band I wouldn’t be bothered with, and yet I keep liking bits and bobs of their output. Plus Cat’s Eyes, Faris Badwan’s side-project with Rachel Zeffira, was far from terrible. With their fourth album “Luminous” arriving soon, it’s safe to say they have become reliable mainstays for panoramic post-punk shoegaze goodness. Their latest single “So Now You Know” is what I’d call one of their accidental pop songs, and I can confirm it sounds fantastic on a sunny day. Turn on the volume!
STREAM: The Horrors – So Now You Know
Watch the desert-based music video for the track here. New album drops May 5 on XL Recordings.
FOUNDSOUNDS: Eola – And I Love Her (Beatles Cover)
From the Soundcloud vaults of Arbutus Records (Grimes’ label) comes this lovely little gem, a lo-fi acapella cover of The Beatles classic “And I Love Her” by Eola aka Brooklyn-based musician Edwin Mathis White. Surfaced in October 2012, it’s just a simple take drenched in reverb and tape loops, but it’s the naked simplicity that emits a sort of moonshine hypnotism. He even made the effort to riff on the “Meet The Beatles!” cover!
STREAM: Eola – And I Love Her (Beatles Cover)
Coldplay’s “Midnight” Remixed by Disco Legend Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder is the latest to join disco greats like Nile Rodgers and Cerrone to resurface after the renewed interest thanks to Daft Punk & Pharrell. The Italian legend lent his magic touch to Coldplay‘s recent single “Midnight” and turned it into a 9-minute intergalactic trip, complete with French-singing robot vocoders, violin strings and delicious synth sequencers. Leave it to the master to bring on good times.
STREAM: Coldplay – Midnight (Giorgio Moroder Remix)
You can check out the original, co-produced by Paul Epworth and Jon Hopkins, via its unintentionally hilarious video here.
Coldplay’s 6th album “Ghost Stories” drops on May 16.
J▲M: Wilfred Giroux – Stronger
So AlunaGeorge recommended this certain tune a while ago on Twitter, and since I trust their taste in music I followed through. And yup, total jam. “Stronger” is a hot garage throwback whose not-so-secret weapon is an instantly recognizable sample (spoiler alert: it’s Corinne Bailey-Rae‘s once-inescapable “Put Your Records On”). It’s very 2014, in the veins of Disclosure and the current wave of catchphrase-based UK house music.
Wilfred Giroux is the alias of Joshua Mooney, a 22-year-old London-based producer with a fast growing Internet following. Apparently Corinne has personally approved the sample so there should be no clearance issues. Next, with radio support, this will be huge.
And now I realize it’s perfectly acceptable to sample “Put Your Records On” because it’s been EIGHT years, and I just want to gaze into the blood moon and feel all kinds of feels.
STREAM: Wilfred Giroux – Stronger (Extended Mix)
Buy the single right now on iTunes. It’s also available as a seriously cool T-shirt bundle (designed by Young & Sick) via Polkadot Recordings.
More on Wilfred Giroux.
LISTEN: Róisín Murphy – Ancora Tu
Only Róisín Murphy can get away with making her first official solo material in 8 years a 6-track EP of Italian covers. “Mi Senti” (“I Feel” in English) is a collection of electronic renditions of 5 classic Italian tracks from the ’60s and ’70s by the likes of Mina, Patty Pravo, Lucio Battisti and Gino Paoli (nope, me neither), plus one original penned by the former Moloko star. The project is a joint effort with her partner and Milanese producer Sebastiano Properzi. You can now stream “Ancora Tu”, a laidback, moody post-Italo-disco number that might be indicative of the overall sound of the EP. I like the stylized ’80s vibe, but shall reserve my judgement ’til I hear the whole thing in context.
STREAM: Róisín Murphy – Ancora Tu
The EP drops May 28, digitally and physically on special gatefold double white vinyl, strictly limited to 1000 copies with the first 500 hand signed by Róisín herself. It will cost you £40 a pop. Let’s justify it as an investment.
Pre-order the limited-edition vinyl at VinylFactory.
Like Róisín on Facebook.
LISTEN: Lana Del Rey – West Coast
After a week of relentless teasing, this morning Lana Del Rey finally premiered “West Coast”, the lead single off her highly-anticipated sophomore album “Ultraviolence”. The multi-layered, slow-burning midtempo ballad is something of a departure for her. It’s not like she has gone trap or anything, but it’s still a fairly new territory for her, sound-wise. To be honest, I was hoping for something on the poppier side (à la “National Anthem”), still, as I let it marinate a bit more, here are a few keynotes:
- It’s produced by The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach. So credible.
- A video has been shot with director Vincent Haycock (Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine). Expect it to be a serious narrative affair
- I wonder if they deliberately sampled The Beatles’ “And I Love Her” opening bar? Listen to 1:04 and compare.
- Hello, “Pure Shores” synth pads!
- Basically it’s something you can swing from side to side to in the pale moonlight.
- Perpetua tweeted that it sounds like “she merged Portishead and Mazzy Star”, which I can actually hear.
Have a listen below:
STREAM: Lana Del Rey – West Coast
What do you make of the ‘queen of Saigon”s new direction?
ON ROTATION: Nina Persson – Animal Heart
Nina Persson‘s debut solo album “Animal Heart” has been a Pop Labyrinth favorite since its release in February. Now that the sun is out, it feels like the right time to revisit the soaring title track. “Animal Heart” sees The Cardigans/A Camp frontwoman at her ’80s synth-pop new wave mode, and rest assured, it’s a fantastic song injected with wildlife metaphors, heartfelt melodies, and of course, her unmistakable voice. The one-shot music video filmed at her Harlem neighborhood features back-up dancers, confetti, and costume changes, all in one quick walk to grab some milk! It looks like great fun without appearing too rehearsed. And her belting at the last chorus – she’s still got me after all these years.
WATCH: Nina Persson – Animal Heart
Nina Persson is playing a show at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn this Wednesday, 4/16, for which you can buy tickets here.
ON ROTATION: Oscar – Sometimes
One year has passed since I raved about Oscar’s “Never Told You”, and the London-based bedroom pop artist is back with another perfect pop song. “Sometimes” is instant love at first play, generous with riff-laden hooks and the scruffy charm of the lo-fi indie pop ethos. Wearing its Blur-isms on its sleeves, the track harks back to the golden days of early-’90s Britpop. Oscar Scheller certainly has a way with catchy melodies, and he doesn’t hold them back. On a sunny spring day, I ask for nothing more. Irresistible.
STREAM: Oscar – Sometimes
Oscar is now signed to Smalltown Supersound’s new sub-label Brown Rice, and his debut EP “146b” drops next month.
Pop Labyrinth 
