Six forces of nature, unique in their own style and genre, each carrying a presence that will be felt for years to come. It’s nothing but big hitters and monumental beginnings on What’s Good This Week.
PACE – Hunt Me Down
Originally a duo back in 2015, now performing as a four-piece since 2017, London group PACE is emerging in the new dawn of their artistic career, with the triumphant first take of ‘Hunt Me Down’. It’s in ‘Hunt Me Down’s first words, where vocalist Adam Pavlocin begins this display of high art-pop, carefully constructing every word to sound as if the rest would fall apart if one were to fail. Pavlocin transcends between baritone and tenor notes, reaching falsettos that lift ‘Hunt Me Down’ to an ethereal state, while pianist Adrian Cermak adds another level of artistry, gracefully playing his harmonium as though this London group were actually from the time of the European renaissance.
Hello Victim – Feel Slow
A mirage of folk-tinged indie rock, that hides a gothic, deep-pop sound, Hello Victim sound completely irresistible on ‘Feel Slow’. If you remember Deaf Club, and/or are a fan of The Jezabels, then Hello Victim will be a much-welcomed member into the world of impactful and insatiable indie pop/rock. ‘Feel Slow’ is a lusciously layered track, filled with rolling guitar riffs that breath into one another effortlessly, with vocalist Megan Emanuel delivering a delightful display of restraint and poise with her singing, guiding ‘Feel Slow’ to the title of future classics.
Louis Prince – Lounging
The Moniker of Nashville, Tennessee artist Jake McMullen, Louis Prince crafts cosmic bedroom pop, inspired by 50s and 60s Jazz and French New Wave cinema. ‘Lounging’ is a creeping delight of a pop song, springing upon you in a flash with its blasts of sudden jazz and hypnotic waves of synth, making the world suddenly turn technicolour. Somewhat garish at first with its sharp cutting notes, ‘Lounging quickly turns into a stunning and otherworldly event once you allow yourself to sink into its velvet smoothy saxophone riffs and creative indie pop/jazz sound.
Dan Sadin – Sucker
L.A. based Dan Sadin gets down and free on his latest single ‘Sucker’. An ode to being carefree, while in the midst of reaching for something deeper, Dan Sadin dances his way through downtown L.A. blasting out full pelt indie rock with a video that resembles Walk The Moon’s ‘Anna Sun’. The running line of “is that Dan Sadin?” amplifies Sadin’s quest to find more than photo-seeking followers, with the extreme of said fans following him and copying his dancing while attempting to escape. It’s a happy marriage of darker themes and upbeat melodies dancing together in serene splendour.
Paper Twin – Happy Half Lives
A decade in the making and New York/Massachusetts band Paper Twin are on single number two of their debut LP “Family Portraits”, sharing the lucid waves of ‘Happy Half Lives’. Following previous single ‘Candy Cigarettes’, Paper Twin run on 70-80% playback on ‘Happy Half Lives’, allowing the full spectrum of house and electronica sub-genres to be displayed loudly and vividly, amplifying a sense of anxiety with a reassuring calmness that rather than offsetting this feeling, turns it into something malleable and beautiful.
FORCES – Stay On Me
**EPILEPSY WARNING FOR THE MUSIC VIDEO**
The clue is in the name on this one, as this Canadian act Is truly a FORCE(S) to be reckoned with. ‘Stay On Me’ is an insatiable blast of funk-fuelled, synth-rock; crunchy with its overloaded guitar riffs, softened by the impact of cybernetic, disco synth hooks. FORCES combines together the cool of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with the eccentricity of Giungala and the carefree flare of Chromeo, to craft an instantly dirty, indietronica classic.
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