Die Antwoord - "I Fink U Freeky" - Courtesy of Downtown Records
Die Antwoord, to the uninformed eye or ear, may come across as some German group akin to Scooter. However, the trio comes from Cape Town, and this cultural association influences much of their music in a style called Zef (an Afrikaans word translating somewhat loosely into "working class whites"), which utilizes out-of-date sounds in a modern way. Hence why "I Fink U Freeky" surges forward like the new Mortal Kombat song for 2012 (with elements of the techno classic "Jump" by the Movement.) You may recall Die Antwoord from their uber-kitschy track "Rich Bitch" which was both terrible and brilliant. "I Fink U Freeky" is a step up, and 100% more cohesive a track, but you may want to try to ignore the video which seems to make Yolandi Visser, the female singer, into the anti-Dev. Or maybe her neglected twin sister. We wonder if the destruction of the Beats heads phones is a dig on their former record label Interscope? Anyway, for the Scooter, Lords of Acid, and Nicki Minaj fans out there, enjoy!
Video - Youtube
Grouplove - "Tongue Tied (Gigamesh Remix)" - Courtesy of Canvasback
Damn, floored in under 1 minute. Is that a record or something? This funky, bad-ass groovy remix Gigamesh provides of one of the latest Apple music finds (think of the commercial where the singer goes "Take me to your best friend's house" - that's "Tongue Tied") is so jaw-droppingly funnalicious that's it's hard to remember that remixes come any faster than this. It's pure pop bliss, riding every possible aural wave to every possible endorphine-releasing synapse in your brain. If you aren't jamming out, snapping your fingers, clapping, bopping your head, our outright cheering this collaboration on by the end, then we'll give you your money back. By the way, it was free, so don't actually ask us for money.
Audio - Youtube
Ladyhawke - "Black White & Blue" - Courtesy of Republic
Could it be? Is it she? The woman who's name was lifted from an 80's movie and who's sound boldly dared you to call her retro, even though she clearly envied the 80's and wished she still lived there has released a new track. "Black White & Blue" is brand new music and is a giant evolutionary leap forward for the singer, who's music takes a simultaneous step forward and back, the track coming across as modern and fresh while totally digging on the 60's/70's Woodstock/flower power/British mod vibe. It's really a clever and ambitiously adorable collection of influences giving hope that Ladyhawke's new material will usher her even more into the spotlight in 2012.
Video - Youtube
Chris Brown - "Turn Up The Music" - Courtesy of RCA
As the lead single from Chris Brown's 5th studio album, titled "Fortune", "Turn Up The Music" hits hard. This is one of those tracks we just need an extended mix for. Like Rihanna, this track features nods to both mainstream electronica and more underground DJ-oriented production, this time from Fuego and The Underdogs. Granted the track sounds like Calvin Harris and David Guetta got together and perhaps did unspeakable things on the equipment, the result is some incredibly hard beats over some delicious synths. Oh, and Chris Brown is singing, too.
Audio - Youtube
DJ Sammy - "Look For Love" - Courtesy of Robbins
Ok so this is more of a focus on an awesome video than the track. Granted, kudos to DJ Sammy to continuing to make music, while nothing seems to quite live up to the vibe and feel of his high streak with "Heaven" and "Boys of Summer", "Look For Love" is a fun track with a decent beat. But what truly shines is, as I've mentioned, the video. It tells the story of Charlie, a young man who meets Amy while both wear headphones. As they continue to see each other over the days, they grow more connected to one another, communicating via sitcky notes rather than talking. When Charlie asks Amy what she's listening to, she tells him it's a secret. Of course he's listening to DJ Sammy. Watch the video and see if you are as moved as what Amy's secret song is as we were.
Video - Youtube
Madonna ft MIA and Nicki Minaj - "Give Me All Your Lovin" - Courtesy of Live Nation/Interscope
This is probably the most fun Madonna has had on a record in a long time. "Give Me All Your Lovin" is mindless, bubblegum pop with a fast beat that recalls everything from Toni Basil's "Mickey" and Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" to her own classics "Material Girl" and "Ray of Light." Throw in a bit of "Misirlou," Martin Solveig's beats and short raps by MIA and Nicki Minaj, and you've got a fun mashed-up dance pop song that sounds modern enough for today's club kids and relatable enough for their parents. Wow, has Madonna's music gone the way of Disney movies - trying to include something for everyone? The video is the obvious Superbowl tie-in with Madonna playing with football players around what looks like a set from the movie Dick Tracy (maybe that's the explanation for the retro blond curly hair). While some may say including the Jabbawockeez dance troupe, MIA and Nicki Minaj is a desperate attempt to seem relevant in 2012, I would disagree. Throughout her career, Madonna has always been one to borrow elements of culture and spin them her own way. Anyway, at every point in the song and the video, Madonna is clearly the star.
Video - Youtube
MIA - "Bad Girls" - Courtesy of Interscope
Recently Madonna described Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" as reductive. That seems like an optimal description for the much buzzed about "Bad Girls" by MIA. The track is a pretty standard 90s era hip hop track with middle eastern influences sprinkled throughout it. The lyrics aren't necessarily flat, just not interesting or saying anything that is thought provoking which you would expect from the edgy-statement making MIA. Maybe the thought of just being boastful about the swagger of "Bad Girls' is edgy enough or it's a response to the similar sounding Panjabi MC "Mundian To Bach Ke" (aka "Beware of the Boys")? The video might be controversial with dancers in the full body dress of religious garments being seductive but the rest of the video feels like something Missy Elliott would have done in the late 90s (costumes, dancings, extreme car stunts.) From another artist, "Bad Girls" could be a fun pop song but from MIA you expect something more interesting - rather than a mash of 90s/00s musical and visual styles. Speaking of reductive, didn't her flicking off the camera during the Superbowl performance with Madonna remind you of Janet Jackson in 2004?
Video - Youtube
A*M*E feat. Bartoven - "City Lights" - Courtesy of Future Music/Universal
"City Lights" hits hard in the best nostalgic way. It really seems as if the 90's are the decade of choice for musical inspiration as A*M*E's track seems lifted right out of there. Of course some modern elements are included but even the video openly flaunts the decade stylistically and color-wise. Heck, they could be cast members on A Different World, kickin' it with Whitley. There's a little bit of similarity here between A*M*E and Azealia Banks, both attractive young ladies embracing the electronic genre with panache and gusto and hitting it hard. While Banks takes the cake with her "212", A*M*E and her rapper Bartoven give it a good push with "City Lights", and with any justice, will be packing your dance floor.
Video - Youtube
Computer Magic - "The End of Time" - Courtesy of Roundtable Records
When people do what they love, the results are stellar. In the case of Computer Magic (real name Danielle Johnston), this yields effervescent and laid back synth pop. This time it takes the form of "The End of Time", a track that is simultaneously dark and upbeat, leaving your foot tapping to the rhythm and your gears turning in thought. As introspective as the track is, the video takes it to new heights as Computer Magic walks her cute little self around New York City in a NASA astronaut suit. The imagery, as she frolics around a playground and walks across the street in front of cabs, is both playful and nonsensical. Why is she doing this? you might ask. It's ok, we don't know either. Just enjoy the music and stop asking so many questions.
Video - Youtube
Grimes - "Genesis" - Courtesy of 4AD
Infusing dark synths with ethereal vocals and a sense of intensity gives "Genesis" quite an edge within the first minute. When the beat drops, "Genesis" goes from New Age to Enya meets Janelle Monae. The result is as bouncy as you'd think with layers of maturity and guts. Now that the artist is signed to 4AD records, expect her debut album Visions to drop in the US February 21st. Grimes has some other great tracks to check out for a little history, "Vanessa", "Crystal Ball", and "Oblivion". While Claire Boucher, the name behind Grimes, may be relatively new to the majority of our readers, we're hoping that we get the chance to talk about her some more. This one is a keeper.
Audio - Youtube