With the end of another week marking (hopefully) another step closer to normality, it has also seen the return of Redlight, yet again, dabbling in a new sonic direction, synth laden beats from O'Flynn, astrology-informed musings from Fickle Friends, and more. To hear what the team here at The Mic have to say about the biggest and best tracks this week, read on below!
Leaf - Redlight
Ever-present, ever-versatile: Redlight has been propping up the UK club scene for a decade, and certainly isn't afraid to keep it fresh. Despite dabbling in drum and bass, minimal techno, house, and achieving his largest commercial success with garage inspired Get Out My Head, the Bristol based producer has changed the pace yet again with a string of ethereal and melodic, break beat-driven singles. As announced on his Instagram, Leaf is fresh off his upcoming fourth album. While Redlight is a master of vocal lead dance music, it's refreshing to see a scene veteran change the style. Album number four is certainly one to look out for, whenever it may arrive. Tristan Phipps
Cosmic Coming of Age - Fickle Friends
Inspired by the change-filled transitional period of Saturn return, which is commonly deemed a quarter-life crisis, Cosmic Coming of Age is a reflective track with a playful indie-pop spin. This concept has been an underlying theme of many of Fickle Friends’ Weird Years releases so far, but on Cosmic Coming of Age it is referenced directly, and it is more blatant and obvious than before. In horoscope astrology this is seen as the time of reaching full adulthood, and Fickle Friends speak of this period of turbulence and uncertainty with reflective positivity rather than with negativity. Through describing it as a “coming of age”, it seems that lead vocalist Natti Shiner has come out of the other side of Saturn return. She seems to have more clarity and certainty within herself now, and she is able to reflect on her growth positively. The band merge this unique and interesting lyrical topic with their typical upbeat indie sound of their previous releases, to further cement themselves as one of the most exciting bands in the indie-pop genre. Gemma Cockrell
skeletons - Easy Life
Leicester-based indie pop and hiphop band Easy Life have returned with a song with possibly the best bounce they've created to date. Opening with a slick, intense drum roll, and falling quickly into a bouncy bass riff and beat, skeletons is one of their most slickly produced songs to date. With lyrics questioning getting close to someone and the inevitability of obsession, such as "I'm finding it hard to pass the time without you", the track hits the nail on the head of the madness associated with the early stages of a potential relationship. Lead Murray Matravers juggles the desire to dedicate yourself to someone, but being afraid they'll soon reject you. The track seems eerie at times, reflecting that confusion and frustration of not knowing how you really feel, but interspersed with cheeky internal rhymes and a genuinely danceable instrumental backing. The highlight of skeletons is either the perfectly placed instrumental solo towards the end, or the line "our future's all kombucha"; which is still a difficult one to deconstruct. skeletons is hugely enjoyable and incredibly well put together, and the band are showing huge potential for their album, Life's a Beach, which is out on June 4th. Rebecca Hyde
Lord It's A Feeling - London Grammar
Taken from their long waited third album, Californian Soil, Lord It's A Feeling is a sensationally rousing track dripping with charisma. Sweeping, elegant vocals, from front-woman and UoN alumnus Hannah Reid, will come as no surprise to long-time listeners of the three piece, yet this track delves into themes of anger and fiery disappointment. With the aid of experienced ambient electronics producer George Fitzgerald, Reid succeeds in manifesting a dark, powerful tone to perfectly complement her fiery confrontations ('I saw the way you laughed behind her back when you f***ed somebody else'). Tristan Phipps
You Stupid B*tch - girl in red
Prior to the roll-out of her upcoming debut album if i could make it go quiet, girl in red (Marie Ulven) was primarily associated with soft bedroom-pop romantic ballads. As it turns out, she has much more to offer. You Stupid B*tch is a bold indie banger, complete with repetitive and catchy ‘woahs’ in the verses and a memorable sing-a-long chorus. The song was inspired by unreciprocated love, a situation which Ulven compared with the famous The Perks of Being a Wallflower quote “we accept the love we think we deserve”. It is a direct and straightforward single about a situation which many people have been in and will relate to – when you are in love with someone, but that person only views you as a friend. The track is infused with a sassy and feisty attitude, as Ulven repeatedly sings “You stupid b*tch / Can’t you see / The perfect one for you is me.” It shows a new side of Ulven’s personality, demonstrating that she will be using her forthcoming debut album as an opportunity to develop and present new strengths and talents. Gemma Cockrell
Talia - O'Flynn
Despite being one of Britain's most promising producers, O'Flynn has been keeping it quiet since the release of debut album Aletheia and hit single Mesablanca in 2019. But as Britons far and wide ready themselves to emerge from the depths of lockdown, O'Flynn too has emerged with the fantastic Talia. A gentle yet upbeat dance track, with quirky synth lines aplenty, it is no surprise that O'Flynn has gathered acclaim from scene giants, from Four Tet to Ben UFO. the youngster was set to play Nottingham's 'Detonate' prior to the festival's postponement: should he be re-billed, his set will not be one to miss. Tristan Phipps
Featured mage courtesy of Easy Life via Facebook. In-article image courtesy of Fickle Friends via Facebook
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