Joe Holyoake’s driving the pop buggy this week, and he’s got SUMMINK TO SAY
2017 has been the first time I’ve noticed the music that I used to listen to as a teenager is now being revisited in nostalgic VICE think pieces, 10-year anniversary album tours, and early-afternoon novelty festival slots. It’s not going to be long until there are noughties-themed nightclubs, with people going in fancy dress in Helly Hanson jackets, mock-layered t-shirts and Sony Ericsson phones in hand. Slightly depressing, all in all.
So to prove that I’m still CURRENT, this week’s music page is all about looking ahead with ANTICIPATION, choosing the latest singles from artists who’ve got new albums out at some point this year.
Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times
This is the One Direction solo single we’ve all been waiting for. Forget Zayn’s rainy Weeknd incarnation, discard Niall’s cheeky hometown ditty, and don’t feel so bad that you’ve already forgotten Louis’s one. Obviously, Liam has been pre-occupied with the after-effects of his own solo release too, but, as was plain from the very start, Harry Styles has knocked ‘em all out into the car park and delivered a big slab of 1970’s bluster, all overwrought choruses and doe-eyed sentiment. It’s just a sign of the times, Zayn. Plus, there’s more to come on May 12th.
Perfume Genius – Slip Away
From Elton to George to Rufus, gays have always loved a maudlin torch-song idol. Perfume Genius, real name Mike Hadreas, already has three albums of densely produced and revelatory ballads that are often as witty as they are intimate. Launch single for the new album ‘No Shape’ is ‘Slip Away’, which is the steeliest we’ve heard him, with the deep, rumbling synth eventually climbing into a bombastic build-up.
Sylvan Esso – Die Young
Electropop darlings Sylvan Esso are also back with a new album, What Now, this Friday. Their latest single ‘Die Young’ is slightly less dance floor ready than the previous bangers ‘Radio’ and glitchy ‘Kick Jump Twist’, but is no less worth your time for it. Amelia Heath’s slightly off-kilter voice is still centre-stage and it’s all kinds of synthy goodness. A great piece of Millennial pop. Yeah, that’s right. I said it. MILL-POP.
Mura Masa & Charli XCX – 1 Night
Guernsey-born Mura Masa has been kicking around since 2015, flittering in and out of eyeline with singles like ‘Firefly’ and ‘What If I Go?’. He’s back with a new single, alongside Charli XCX, ahead of the release of his long-awaited debut album, ‘To Fall Out Of Love To’, which is due out sometime this year, we hope. The new one carries on with his subdued trop-poppy approach, not so much inspired by wide-skyed Ibiza sunshine as the sticky heat of the sun pouring through the window of the 55 as it trundles through Clapton.
