Active Child – “Subtle” (Ft. Mikky Ekko) 

Pat Grossi’s project, Active Child, returns with bravado on the new single “Subtle,” from his forthcoming EP Rapor. Don’t let the title fool you, there is nothing subtle about this synth-pop banger. Grossi delivers his most confident vocal performances to date, while the music puts mileage on new-wave synth patches and dance floor ready beats. This is all complimented by Mikky Ekko’s Michael Jackson-esque melodies. Its a track that would have infiltrated the airwaves in the 80s, now its simply infiltrating our headspace. For more on Active Child Go HERE.

 

Touche Amore – “Non Fiction” 

Screamo revivalists Touche Amore continue to show growth on their third album Is Survived By. While most Touche songs are quick bursts of aggression, on album highlight, “Non Fiction,” the band’s sound takes an anthemic post-rock turn. The melancholic guitar work builds while frontman Jeremy Bolm muses on the inevitable passage of time. Lines such as “With time comes a layer of rust and our bones will turn to dust” reminds us to hold on to the present with all we got.

 

Movement – “Us”

The Sydney-based group Movement makes sparse, intimate, R&B that would make The xx proud. Their new single “Us” is a dark and seductive piece of spine chilling beauty.

The song is built around hypnotic beats, reverberated steel drums, and pulsating atmospherics that rise in the background. The vocals are delivered like a whisper but sink into you like a knife, leaving you to wonder if you are being hit on or being threatened.

 

London Grammar – “Interlude”   

London Grammar gives us another beautiful bummer track from their debut album If You Wait. “Interlude,” is a somber piano ballad that recalls songstresses such as Cat Power and Florence Welch. The sparse instrumentation allows Hannah Reid’s lovely ethereal vocals to flourish. Lyrically Reid expresses a longing for a loved one who plagues her dreams. “There you’ll be inside my head,” she sings over a piano line that is as haunting as the memory of a lost love.

 

Swim Deep – “King City” 

Swim Deep’s latest single “King City” is a jam meant for summer night drives and high fives. Musically the song blends post-punk undertones and electro-pop synth hooks that embody the spirit of youth. Lead vocalist Austin Williams’ calm and cool delivery works in juxtaposition with the infectious backing vocals. The song’s main refrain, “With the sun on my back its a nice day/I would never choose any other way” may be cheesy but its the truth.