Prepare to be bowled over by the futuristic retro sound of AlunaGeorge's debut album, 'Body Music'
ALUNAGEORGE/ BODY MUSIC
While the US is still obsessing over twerking and the homogenous electronic dance music craze, the music scene on the other side of the Atlantic is bustling with innovative ideas that often result in a unique blend of influences. Much in the same way that British brotherly duo Disclosure have shown the world their refreshing take on house music, AlunaGeorge (Aluna Francis and George Reid) have taken their love of '90s R&B and thrown it in the pool of synths, samples and electronic flourishes. The results are both sonically stunning and inspiring. Tracks such as You Know You Like It, Your Drums Your Love and Attracting Flies give us hope for the future of music.
AlunaGeorge's debut album, Body Music, features a handful of cunningly produced gems that boldly straddle good old R&B and electronic pop. Interestingly, the twosome's method of working is deceptively simple: Francis provides her versatile vocals to match Reid's adept production.
Together, they craft the kind of retro-futuristic sound that's been making a huge buzz in the UK over the past two years. Furthermore, being nominated the BBC's Sound of 2013 only intensified the hype, enabling AlunaGeorge to become the most blogged about act, whose debut felt long overdue.
With their shared love of super producers such as Timbaland and the Neptunes, the London-based duo aim to give mainstream R&B a new, fearless twist. Besides the aforementioned cuts, Body Music is teeming with songs that both soothe and sparkle. Bad Idea and Just a Touch are full of rumbustious studio tricks that go beyond chopped-up, pitch-shifted vocal samples. Lost and Found touches upon wobbly two-step, one of the UK's greatest musical inventions, and pulls it off brilliantly. The boys from Disclosure had better watch out.
While Outlines may be an odd choice to open the album with, there's no denying that it's a solid down-tempo offering that makes for a nice change from the more frenetic options. "It doesn't always make me feel sad/But it never really makes me feel glad/Because all the good times we had could never be back," Francis laments the loss of a loved one, "But is this paper all I've got/All I've got to keep you with me? Keep you from fading away." More semi-ballads such as Diver, Friends to Lovers and the title track all share a similarly pleasing sound.
Overall, Body Music proves there are endless possibilities to R&B, and, in the right hands, it will expand, develop and flirt successfully with other genres. Kudos to Francis and Reid, the dynamic duo who take it upon themselves to spice up the charts with their combined geniuses. Body Music is hands down pop music at its most inventive and intelligent.
THE PLAYLIST
Slot Machine/ Roong
Bangkok-based alt rock four-piece Slot Machine are back and have released their latest single, Roong (Rainbow) ahead of their upcoming fifth studio album. With Australian producer Daniel Denholm (Silverchair, 30 Seconds To Mars) at the helm, the song benefits from a tight arrangement and frontman Foet's philosophical songwriting. The guitar riffs during the intro may be reminiscent Guns N' Roses' Sweet Child O' Mine, but the powerful chorus ("Before life gets weary, before its time runs out/When you stop searching for what you want, the suffering will fade away") is distinctively Slot Machine.
Miley Cyrus/ Wrecking Ball
Thanks to her controversial MTV VMA performance, everyone is eagerly waiting to see what antics Miley Cyrus is planning to bring to the table with her upcoming album, Bangerz. Here, the former Disney Channel star follows up her hedonistic lead single Can't Stop with Wrecking Ball, a power ballad that shows off her pipes and her emotional side. Starting with a spare keyboard arrangement, the track finds Cyrus belting out: "I came in like a wrecking ball, I never hit so hard in love/All I wanted was to break your walls, all you ever did was break me."
Klangkarussell (featuring Will Heard)/ Sonnentanz (Sun Don't Shine)
First appearing in an instrumental form, the dance track by Austrian duo Tobias Rieser and Adrian Held now gets a makeover courtesy of London-based vocalist Will Heard. Sonnentanz (Sun Don't Shine) operates on an hypnotic house beat with the added bonus of Heard's soulful vocals. "I walk to the valleys of the wilderness in time/Only to find out that you have love in places I can't describe/Yeah, I need you, it's the sunrise," he sings, simultaneously reminding us of his fellow British crooner Sam Smith.
M (featuring Diplo)/ XXX 88
Up-and-coming Danish singer M aka Karen Marie Orsted has impressed us previously with singles like Waste of Timeand Glass. On her latest cut, XXX 88, the Copenhagen-based songstress joins forces with superstar DJ and producer Diplo to deliver the hard-hitting brand of pop she's establishing herself to be known for. Diplo's touch can be overly self-indulgent (take, for example, his work with side project Major Lazer), but here it's surprisingly subtle. He lets her sound work its miracle and her vocals shine, which is a smart thing to do. M's forthcoming four-track debut EP is set for release next month.
Matt Cardle (featuring Melanie C)/ Loving You
Following a four-year solo hiatus and Spice Girls reunion tour, Melanie C is backwith the winner of series seven of X Factor, Matt Cardle, on the first single from his upcoming third album. Loving Youfuses acoustic blues and country-pop, and it sits quite well with both artists. "Who do you think about when I'm not with you?/Does somebody hold you when you let me go? You can't hide, you can't lie 'cause baby I'm loving you," Mel C and Cardle come in together during the chorus. The song itself sounds a bit dated, but as a Spice Girls' fan, we appreciate the return of Sporty Spice.
