Singles Of The Week: 14 August 2020

Another week drifts by and the music continues to move us. This week's stand out single is easily the most distinctive - but it had some strong competition...

SINGLE OF THE WEEK: BENEE - Snail Rating: 5/5

20 year old New Zealander is 2 EPs into what is destined to be an epic recording career. The big breakout chart success hasn't landed yet, that could all change now with Snail. This is epic retro bop.



Natalie Schlabs - That Early Love Rating: 4.5/5

Falling in love is easy. Maintaining that love is the challenge. However, the new single from Natalie Schlabs explores the wonderful warmth of that early honeymoon stage. Unsurprisingly this is a rich and happy musical moment.

Dua Lipa ft. Madonna and Missy Elliott - Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix) Rating: 5/5

Just look at the line-up on this single, does anything further need to be said?!? Boasting Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars vibes, this is a full-on ANTHEM!

Erasure - Nerves of Steel Rating: 4/5

Erasure have teamed up with a whole host of LGQTQI+ icons, including somewhat controversially shamed Drag Race star Sherry Vine, for the music video to latest single Nerves of Steel. The music video is stunning, but the song is even more so. Powerful.

ANJELICA - Maybe It's The Drugs Rating: 2/5

Maybe It's The Drugs is something of a trip. Very louche but with a hooky edge, this is an understated exploration of living in the buzzing city that is New York. With so much going on, ANJELICA does drugs to not feel crazy sometimes. The drugs certainly slow the pace for her and allow her to reflect...

KID DAD - What You Call A Dream Rating: 5/5

Easily one of the best bands of recent years, KID DAD finally release their debut album in a couple of weeks. Their latest single What You Call A Dream is a dream riot bop. Get ready to jump along.

Nick Kingswell - Homesick Rating: 3/5

Australia's Nick Kingswell left his life in Australia to start afresh in the UK to push his music career to the next level. He stands a solid chance with his fresh folk sound. Homesick has a driven drum beat and his soulfully smooth vocal is very emotive. This will certainly garner a little interest as the layers grow as the song reaches the peak of its journey.

Christy - Homegrown Rating: 3.5/5

At twenty-four, Christy O’Donnell has already lived out several unlikely dreams. He’s busked the streets of Glasgow making £400 a day. He’s been in a boy band, acted in a Disney TV series, and even climbed Arthur’s Seat with Rufus Wainwright… Now he is releasing his debut EP and he has a vocal that rivals fellow Scot Lewis Capaldi. Big things are in his future.

Luke Wild - Everything's So Hard Rating: 3.5/5

Everything's So Hard was written pre-pandemic, but the lyrical content could so easily be related the experience many of us have had during the last six months. Blissfully dreamy.

Beth Hirsch - All I Need (Eliot’s Cosmic Remix) Rating: 3/5

Beth Hirsch contributed vocals to one of the dreamiest hits ever made. AIR's All I Need remains a breath of fresh air to this day. This reworked version, taken from Beth's upcoming solo record, showcases the stunning vocals that helped the single soar into hearts around the world, but lacks the dreamy finishing touches.

Anjimile - Baby No More Rating: 4/5

Anjimile showcases a husky side to his usually smooth vocal, and it proves a winning finishing touch to the rather lush Baby No More. The subtle beats and soul rich vocals grow into a forward thinking electro moment. Brilliant.

The Clockworks - Can I Speak To A Manager? Rating: 5/5

The latest singling to Alan McGee's Creation 23 label, The Clockworks have just released the stunning 90s Britpop driven Can I Speak To A Manager? Also boasting echoes of The Arctic Monkeys' sophomore album, this is a band with a bold, brilliant sound.

GASHI - Lies Rating: 4.5/5

New York based Libyan born rapper GASHI is four albums into a very impressive recording career. But he has just released the strongest song he has ever recorded. Lies may be about to change his career trajectory and overall sound hugely. 

Marie Naffah - The Cage Rating: 4/5

If you listen to the radio currently, it would appear that the clap is in. While it is annoyingly executed in the new Emeli Sandé single, Marie Naffah gets it just right in the lush soulful gem.

Tori Kelly - Unbothered Rating: 3/5

There is no denying that Tori Kelly is one of the strongest vocalists out there right now. Yet she is still to deliver her strongest song. This feels a little too Ariana to stand out in the crowd. Vocals are on point though.

Jorja Smith - By Any Means Rating: 3.5/5

Walsall's Jorja Smith has already been hailed as one of the talents of our time. As she perfectly reflects on the black experience in Britain (and around the world), she touches hearts without the stoicism attached by many to the Brits.

FLETCHER - If I Hated You Rating: 5/5

Covid has created all sorts of strange creative situations. For FLETCHER the time was spent quarantined with her ex. The rest is her new EP. Lead single, If I Hated You, explores their dynamic in a hypnotic sound explosion.

Ludovico Einaudi - Due Tramonti Rating: 4/5

Ask anyone to name a contemporary composer and the likelihood is that Ludovico Einuadi will be one of the most prominent answers. Due Tramonti, the new single from his forthcoming collection of unreleased and rare tracks, shows why he is so acclaimed. Simple beauty.

Felicia Lu - One Step Closer Rating: 4.5/5

Salzburg raised and Vienna based singer-songwriter Felicia Lu is half a decade into a record career. Having slowly trickled releases throughout her career, she arrives at her strongest to date. Sing along loudly.

NEEDTOBREATHE - Hang On Rating: 3.5/5

NEEDTOBREATHE have set the bar extremely high with the singles teasing their upcoming album. Hang On is strong, just a little too Kings of Leon meets The Killers to impress as mightily as the other singles from what is clearly going to be a must-have album.

Valerie Lighthart ft. Solana - Love & Money Rating: 4/5

Are you ready to be singing 'all we want is love and money' on repeat for the next few days? Well if so, check this quirky little pop ditty out...

Jimkata - Wait For You Rating: 5/5

Jimkata are back after a 2.5 year hiatus. And they mean business. This is an instant anthem. Accompanied by a brilliant animated video, this deserves to be massive.

Senhit - Every Way That I Can Rating: 4/5

Senhit reminds us of the brilliance of Sertab Erener's Eurovision winning song Every Way That I Can, while delivering an absolutely stunning visual treat and social criticism. Wonderful.

Legaxy ft. Tory Lanez - Rotation Rating: 3.5/5

Who doesn't love the nostalgia of old school vibes? Legaxy and Tory Lanez certainly deliver them on the rather impressive Rotation. It is a track you will certainly have on heavy rotation.

Front Country - Amerikan Dream Rating: 4/5

Front Country's new single Amerikan Dream is much more than a well-delivered song. It holds within it an analysis of the American Dream, a concept that needs to change to be fully representative of the diverse nation. A thought provoking listen.

Tim Dup - Une autre histoire d'amour Rating: 4/5

Tim Dup is a rising talent. With one album under his belt, his latest single takes an old school sound and reinvents it with a subtle modern twist. This has all the timeless feels.

Amir Dadon - אַבָּא Rating: 3/5

Amir Dadon delivers a poignant moment in the moving אַבָּא. With a strong voice and a tender musical backing, this is a very emotional listening experience.

Katrina - I Want To Love Again Rating: 4/5

Katrina Leskanich has one of those voices that is immediately recognisable. With her solo album due at the end of the month, the Katrina and the Waves vocalist channels Bon Jovi and marries it with her own distinctive sound to craft a chant-along.

Aron Hannes – You Rating: 4/5

Iceland's Aron Hannes oozes old school soul in his rich vocal. The very radio friendly number You is nostalgic soul pop that takes the best of the classics and reworks them for a new audience. A lovely, lovely listen.

VAL - Нaвечна Rating: 5/5

Belarusian duo VAL are determined to use 2020 as the year that demonstrates they can take any genre and own it. Нaвечна sees them strip back their sound and let their faultless vocals do the talking. Wow.

Kiezsa - Can't Be Saved Rating: 5/5

2020 is the year of Kiezsa. With each single a new sound arrives, while not losing the cohesive Kiezsa sound. This is a true nineties pop bop and we are living for it.

Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky Rating: 5/5

Miley Cyrus has released some real hit and miss singles over the last 12 months. Midnight Sky is a real hit. Her raspy vocal is set against a determined but subdued dance beat. This is your new groove.

Ninja POW! X Glasperlenspiel - Wenn das Liebe ist Rating: 4/5

Fresh from their Kelly Clarkson Collab, Glasperlenspiel team up with Ninja POW! For the pop dance number. This little earworm is destined to grow into a huge anthem.

Sleeper - Vegas 2020 Rating: 4/5

Back in 1995, Sleeper were riding high as one of Britpop's darling bands. The single Vegas was the final one to be lifted from their album, Smart. It was stunning upon initial release, and re-worked for 2020, it is equally lush. Louise Wener's vocal is still brilliant.

ZiBBZ and Drew Cole - Will Flowers Grow? Rating: 5/5

"Will flowers grow when the world is broken?" Swiss sibling duo team up with Seattle's Drew Cole for this stunningly stripped back exploration of a world going wrong. Touching in a troubled world.

Molly Hammar, Julie Bergan and AWA - Get To Know Me First Rating: 5/5

WOW! Could this be the start of the world's new big girl band? We certainly hope it is the first of many collaborations between the three artists. Their voices work together faultlessly and they take on a loaded subject and deliver it with seemingly effortless simplicity.