Marlene – Indian Summer EP

Kaiotic has been gagging on Marlene‘s debut Bon Voyage for way too long now, and finally there is something substantial to gratify that tickle in the back of our throats.  Recorded in LA, Marlene’s debut EP, Indian Summer, is a delightful collection of Pop songs and powerful vocals.  Featuring previously shared tracks Bon Voyage and Stay Awake, the real selling points here are Indian Summer- a great title track pop ditty, the kind that makes you feel all alive and stuff, and I Do This For You, a minimalist R&B/Pop track with some Timbaland-esque production and intense belting.

Lulu James – Beautiful People

Lulu James, future soul’s new leading lady, follows up the success of Sweetest Thing with a new single.  Along with her production partner Domzilla, these two brits are poised to outshine their female Future Soul counterparts- Mapei, Seinabo Sey, and Naomi Pilgrim (fans of whom would love Lulu), as they work on their debut album.   The new single, Beautiful People, is a delectably produced future philly pop soul morsel.  Slightly more old school than Sweetest Thing, the song opens with a few funky 60s style chords that will pulsate throughout the track, propelling forward Lulu’s hyper stylized singing.  Her rich vocals reek of attitude and soul before deepening to wells of emotion so deep their bottoms elude us.  The swirling and gritting bass is the perfect contrast to her emphatic voice, drafting one of the best new soul tracks out there.

Flyte – We Are The Rain

Flyte  is a London based quartet playing with funk and Pop Rock, a la Talking Heads (or a more modern iteration would be Miniature Tigers).  They released their debut EP last September to acclaim and followed with sold out shows, garnering the kinds of accolades that major bands inspired at their beginnings.  Flyte had sparked in The Guardian’s Paul Lester the sense of wonder that is born when something fantastic is discovered, and promises longevity.  The quality of Flyte’s music comes from nuanced and historically informed songwriting, playful and satisfying guitar lines, and a lead singer for the ages.  They’ve returned with a new song and video, We Are The Rain, whose video is a playful 80s green screen game.  It looks both unprofessional and raw, as well as completely stylized and well thought out.  It matches the songs spright and billowing guitars and synths with stop motioned shots and floating nerds, and it matches the enveloping harmonies with digital era tack that is so hilariously bad it’s great.

Check out the track on Soundcloud below.

Oceaán – EP

 

Oceaán (Oliver Cean) may be working out of Manchester, and among a hub of innovative electronic soul production, but he still brings his Belgian oddities to the table.  England’s fostering environment makes just the right space for the most interesting new electronic soul & R&B outfits to emerge, and Oceaán is redefining Pop in a way that hasn’t been done since Jai Paul sort of released a debut full length.  Following the releases of Need U and To Lose, the EP doesn’t disappoint.  Instead it proves versatility, dynamism, intrigue, sexuality, and style.  All while maintaining a unique sound and voice, soaring into public recognition.

Get your digital copy or vinyl copy at Rough Trade on March 31st.

Haerts – Call My Name

Haerts has taken a slight left in their musical stylings with their new track Call My Name.    Their EP Hemiplegia was everyone’s favorite emotional outpour of 2013, and contained some of the strongest hooks in recent pop releases, but it’s surprising and encouraging to see this new track as an omen of their ability to evolve and yet maintain a signature style.  Melding their emotive pop songwriting with dreamier production, the Brooklyn based quartet embarks on 2014 determined to win your ears over again.  Nini Fabi’s vocals strike a chord within a pop lover’s id, harpooning our instinctual responses into a condensed and immersive wash of romance.  As she gently and patiently sings “When the past is gone and the future untold, knowing all love dies and wondering so”, she captures a delicate and grey feeling- the ebb and flow of being close to, and yet so distant from, another person.  Call My Name is feeling intimacy and space simultaneously.  It’s wanting freedom and yet wanting to hear our name called by our lover.  It’s knowing that we may sometimes need to step away from the connections that once flourished. It’s a stunningly delivered and fatally emotional reality that Nini relates to her audience, and a promise of more beautiful pop music to come, the kind that could (and should) reach the ears, and hearts, of a much larger audience.

 

Maxine Ashley – Perpetual Nights

Maxine Ashley, also known for being the ubiquitous Pharrell’s protégé, is exhibiting some pretty distinct hereditary traits on stand-out single and new video Perpetual Nights. Maxine released her EP Mood Swings back in October and it quietly buzzed away, lacking the pizazz to capture people’s attention during that season of pop diva releases.  But it seems like now the market is primed- old school funk and R&B are practically commonplace in top 40 tracks, and sensual nuance has been made accessible by guys like Pharrell and Justin Timberlake.  The video release has forced a more intentional listen to the EP and I keep finding more and more reasons to love this girl.  Here is the video for Perpetual Nights, enjoy her fashionable restraint and soulful reverence to past greats.  Check out her full EP here, and my favorite tracks below.

 

Introducing: Wet

Wet was one of the favorites at CMJ this year in the dream-pop category.  Hailing from Brooklyn (and landing somewhere between The Blow and Phantogram) they have released their first EP Dreams.  It’s no coincidence that forms Wet Dreams.  Literally, Wet Poppy Dreams is what I’m getting from this EP and it’s like being a pre-teen all over again.  Wet employs playfulness and simplistic composition, but doesn’t stop there.  Layering is infused with a detached nostalgia, pop infused with melancholy.  Definitely one of 2013 band’s to watch.