Singles for summer
| July 20, 2011 | Posted by Ellie McCarthy under culture, reviews |
Rizzle Kicks with Fearne Cotton
I’ve been trying to listen to a lot of radio this summer – and by summer, I mean the last 3 to 4 months – to pick up some new awesome tunes that encompass the gorgeous feeling of this lovely summer weather we’re having (most of the time), and are just feel good songs. I’ve picked 4 singles, which have come out fairly recently, and, in my opinion, tick all the boxes for a wicked summer track. Here they are:
Down Down Down by Charlie Simpson
When I first heard that this song was by ex-Busted star Charlie Simpson I expected something rock-pop and quite trashy, and so I got a nice surprise when I realised that he was capable of producing some pretty good music. This tune is just quite chilled and laid-back, basically perfect for just lazing in the sun. Though it has a hint of Jack Johnson about it, Simpson’s sound has an exciting and slightly dark edge, whilst keeping it all simple and calming, and the music progresses through different layers to a really nice, free and liberating ending. His overlaying of harmonies in the final section is quite enchanting, leading to an optimistic final chord. All in all, this is an effortlessly lovely tune for chilling out.
The City by Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf is an amazingly talented musician and songwriter who can produce absolutely mind-blowing stuff, but this new single is quite a bit calmer and more relaxed than much of his previous work. This single could easily fall into the category of love anthem because that’s exactly what it is – a love song that just makes you want to dance and smile. Encompassing jazz, indie and pop, this tune takes all of the best of Patrick Wolf and presents a simply happy and comfortable sound, with a strong beat, creating a firm background for Wolf’s blissful vocals and lyrics (for his soon to be husband) over the top. It’s fun, exciting and gorgeous; this song is for enjoying life with friends and loves alike.
Up Up Up by Givers
I heard about this Louisiana band from an Observer article that made them sound so fun that I just had to check them out. The result was that I fell slightly in love with their single Up Up Up, which is the perfect title for a song that unquestionably raises your spirits. This young quintet produce a really fresh sound, which might partly come from their choosing of new instruments to learn for their new music. The kind of reggae beat and eclectic range of instruments (from guitar to xylophone to keyboard to tambourine) help to create a fun and bouncy style, and their male and female vocals sound like they’re so happy singing their joyful lyrics that you can’t help smiling. If you like Vampire Weekend you will definitely love Givers and their overwhelmingly euphoric single.
Down With The Trumpets by Rizzle Kicks
I have completely and utterly fallen in love with this duo since I first heard this song just a couple of days ago. The first word that came into my head to describe their sound was simply ‘cool’ because they are totally fresh, light and slightly jazzy, which makes for an awesome tune. This relatively new, and surprisingly young, duo have managed to produce a perfect blend of original lyrics and rap with smooth melodic vocals over a head-bouncing beat. The overall effect is a truly impressive new single that one cannot help but dance to. With none of the sometimes despairing baggage that many big rappers bring to their music, this duo have an entirely fresh approach to this genre and are, in my opinion, one to watch for the future; they’ve already been on Fearne Cotton’s Radio 1 show. In the mean time, they are definitely one to listen to. A lot.
So there you have it; 4 tunes for the rest of the Summer that will keep you in a heavenly mood until the leaves start turning brown, and I guarantee that.
