The Agony and Ecstasy: Fryars, Circle Trap and an Ariel Pink collaboration
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: DIANA - "PERPETUAL SURRENDER"
This mesmerising, origami-inspired oil-painting montage was masterfully created by Jesse Yule for Toronto group DIANA. The manipulation of mirrored portraits of lead singer Carmen Elle reflect the haunting refrain – told in the sugariest of vocal tones – balanced by yearning saxophone lines which dance amongst cooler washes of synths. DIANA will release their debut record through Jagjaguwar on August 19th.
TRACK OF THE WEEK: FRYARS - "COOL LIKE ME"
Great things were quietly expected from solo artist Fryars, but this huge track still came as a very welcome surprise. Mixed by Rodaidh McDonald (Savages, the xx), it's a dazzling electro-pop construct making us very excited for Fryars' second record from the preternaturally talented song-writer, Ben Garrett, due in early 2014.
COLLABORATION OF THE WEEK: ARIEL PINK X JORGE ELBRECHT - "HANG ON TO LIFE"
“You screwed the pooch” is a delightful idiom and one that this song will lead you to croon to yourself walking down the street. "Hang On to Life" is an utterly captivating creation available now via a Mexican Summer 7".
REMIX OF THE WEEK : RAINBOW ARABIA - “MATH QUIZ” (KID 606 remix)
Venezuelan producer Kid 606 screws, embellishes and inflates the LA trio’s shimmering electro cut from their latest record FM Sushi out on Berlin’s incomparable Kompakt label. All this adds an innately satisfying solidity and a gnawing incitement to bounce hard.
DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK: NOBODY - "BEACHES" FEAT. BATHS & NOCANDO
Nobody of cult LA and Tokyo club-night Low End Theory has deftly crafted this cut which features Baths' hazy, sparkling vocals under the doomy call to “head to the beaches” from Nocando.
THE TRACK THAT WE WEREN’T REALLY FEELING LAST WEEK & HAVE NOW CHANGED OUR MINDS & LOVE: YALLS - "POURING OUT"
The most satisfying opening to a track I’ve heard in months. That judder, the first whirling synth line, and the boomy “OH”, before the vocals saunter in. Just too much. It gets even better too. I have no idea what I was thinking last week.
DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK: CIRCLE TRAPS
Circle Traps’ fierce techno beats freeze the mid-afternoon, post-sunshine haze from your mind. Portico Quartet’s Jack and Duncan are accompanied by a friend, Will Ward, to form this London group who have a new EP out on Five Easy Pieces very soon.