Christopher Rodriguez/Staff writer
This past week, Gorillaz took us on a joyride to a world where a nightclub can also be a romantic destination and Kendrick Lamar put the hip-hop world on notice. Here is all of that and more new releases to add to your playlists:
Gorillaz (ft. D.R.A.M) – “Andromeda”
The strongest of four new tracks dropped last week is an intriguing blend of electro-pop and house with a mean clap. D.R.A.M’s quivering vocal sustains the build but as soon as the crackling whip of a clap kicks in, the energy is propelled by pulsating bass and glittering synth.
Damon Albarn draws from the school of New Order with the plaintive delivery of the pop lyric: “Take it in your heart now, lover.” The end result is a summer-ready confection with wide-ranging appeal. “Humanz,” the upcoming album from Gorillaz, is set for release April 28.
Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart, Part 4”
There are many sides to the persona of Kendrick Lamar and on this prelude to his upcoming album, several of those collide in volatile fashion.
The glimmer of the introspective storyteller comes through with images of travelling “around the atlas in a spaceship” or of “lampin’ in Jamaica/the clouds turnin/my thoughts turnin.” But by the second verse, he fires all cylinders taking aim at unnamed hip-hop foes and the president with spitfire determination, rapping “So that means you ain’t bigger than rapping/So that means no more playing the back scenes.”
The track offers an exhilarating listen, with a shifting beat to match Lamar’s frenetic flow, careening through soul samples and West Coast gangsta rap in equal measure. He then tops it off by declaring “One,two, three, four, five/ I am the greatest rapper a-live!” Always a bold declaration in hip-hop — remember when Wayne gave himself the title nearly a decade ago?
But why does Kendrick sound so defensive here? Coming off of a brief period marked by questionable pop features, he seems stung by doubters more than ever and determined to claim (or reclaim) his spot as the greatest of his generation. I suppose we’ll find out what’s been cooking April 7.
Slowdive – “Sugar for the Pill”
The second new single from the reunited 90s shoegaze veterans finds them tapping into plenty of other influences both classic and contemporary.
The ringing guitar intro sounds highly reminiscent of early The xx, a London-based indie-pop band, only reaffirming the notion that they have really paid attention to modern trends. Then a faint synth carries us into the chorus and vocalist Neil Hampstead sounds as if he’s putting on the 80s frontman act, pushing his vocals ever more slightly to the forefront.
The end result sounds like if Duran Duran recorded a dream pop album…as strange as that may seem. Not quite as engaging as their previous single “Star Roving”, this one manages to unfold with repeat listens.
Mr. Jukes (ft. BJ The Chicago Kid) – “Angels/My Love”
Mr. Jukes is the side project of Bombay Bicycle Club’s John Steadman, who released this jazz and neo-soul-inflected single with R&B singer BJ The Chicago Kid and a backing choir. Divided into two sections, the track opens with a brass section (a sample from Argentinian composer Jorge Lopez Ruiz) and a focused backbeat.
Aided by sax, the track flows into the second section where BJ The Chicago Kid cuts loose repeating “Baby, I want your love!” The work as a whole is an affirmation of joy, using the samples as an effective means of bridging past and present influences.
Fresh Bake is a weekly column that reviews new music releases in various genres. Christopher Rodriguez also hosts a weekly radio show on The Roar, where he plays latest releases.
Image retrieved from Flickr.
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