Tracks Of The Week, 13.01.17

There’s an obvious skill in making mundane things sound beautiful; a skill few possess quite as much as The Proper Ornaments.

In the latest track taken from their second album Foxhole, Ultimate Painting and Veronica Falls’ James Hoare, and Toy’s Max Oscarnold (with bandmates Daniel Nellis and Bobby Syme in tow) show off said skill – ‘Bridge By A Tunnel’ while perhaps ordinary in theme, is far from it sonically.

Rather, ‘Bridge By A Tunnel’ is exceptionally lovely; a peaceful drift from the distorted guitars. Though the recordings on the album are the result of mechanical glitches at the studio – ultimately leading to re-recording in James’ bedroom – there’s an extreme sense of comfort on the track. Though it may have been annoying at the time, it seems fate has worked its magic on ‘Bridge By A Tunnel’.

Foxhole is out 20 January. See The Proper Ornaments live:

22/01 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club (Games Room)
23/01 Glasgow, UK – Mono
24/01 Birmingham, UK – The Hare & Hounds
25/01 Brighton, UK – The Joker
26/01 London, UK – Moth Club
28/01 Lille, FR – Le BiPlan
29/01 Lyon, FR – Sonic
30/01 Luzern, CH – Gewerbehalle
31/01 Lausanne, CH – Le Romandie
01/02 Winterthur, CH – Albani Music Club
02/02 Heidelberg, DE – Karlstorbahnhof
03/02 Berlin, DE – Marie Antoinette
04/02 Copenhagen – Loppen
05/02 Hamburg, DE – MS Stubnitz
07/02 Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
08/02 Utrecht, NL – ACU
09/02 Rotterdam, NL – V11
10/02 Paris, FR – La Mecanique Ondulatoire

An infectious blend of pop, hip-hop, beatboxing, electro and indie pop, ‘One Drop’ has placed Be Charlotte (fronted by teenager Charlotte Brimner) at the top of the songwriter game.

Truly unique, ‘One Drop’ – rather than simply blending genres – seems to place Charlotte in a genre of her own. While her cutting-edge talent is glaringly obvious, what’s perhaps most impressive about ‘One Drop’ is just how fun it is. Built on the idea that once something is done it can’t be changed, and that the way we deal with situations is more important than problems themselves, the track seems to mirror the aura surrounding Charlotte herself; considered and clever, but ultimately, and most importantly, fun.

‘One Drop’  is due for release on 20th January 2017 via AWAL / Kobalt Label Service and is available to stream on Spotify now.

Be Charlotte will also be playing the special Carnival56 Event Launch Party at Fat Sams in Dundee on 3rd March 2017

Kicking off 2017 in the only way he knows how – intriguing, impressive and very compelling – LA’s Mondo Cozmo’s ‘Higher’ is the lift we all need this January.

Written following actress Paz de la Huerta’s performance for a video set for another track, ‘Higher’s sort of like Gossip meets ‘90s brit-pop. The track is manic, with the vocals reaching a climax, accompanied by frenetic background noise as de la Huerta throws herself around. But it’s upbeat too, the perfect follow up to ‘Shine’ and a brilliant start to 2017.

Released under the name A Lily, Yndi Halda frontman James Vella has shared his new solo single, ‘Shadow And Me Makes Three’.

Though unsettling in its tone – “It’s about the strange personal disassociation you can feel when unsure of your own truths and being” – and paired with an equally unsettling supernatural video, ‘Shadow And Me Makes Three’ is, in fact, incredibly warming. Reminiscent of both Sufjan Stevens, and Damon Albarn’s solo release, the track’s additional vocals from Patricia Burrows and Eva Rustige make for something truly comforting. Aside from those vocals, Vella does everything on the track – ‘Shadow And Me Makes Three’ is a true ode to his talent.

Melissa Svensen
@MelYeaahh

Melissa Svensen

Melissa Svensen

Melissa, 22. Editor. Student, music journalist, probably talking about Blur or Bowie