Songs For The Week #2

In this edition of Songs For The Week, we have tracks from a melodic indie band, some dark dance, and some proper good hip-hop. There’s something for everyone here. See what we have to say about the tracks, and have a listen.

Antlers – Drift Dive

The Antlers return with a new maritime themed EP – Undersea – and ‘Drift Dive’ is the first song they’ve allowed us to get our ears around (you can now also hear ‘Crest’). Undersea is a concept EP about water and, after the stormy emotions of Hospice and Burst Apart, the first thing you notice about ‘Drift Dive’ is how it’s soaked in a sort of watery calm. It seems a perfect direction for the band to go in as its submerged feel envelops you entirely. Silberman’s falsetto is still there at the fore as the lilting Hawaiian pedal steel and soft-as-the-breeze percussion float gently in the background. It’s a continuation of their sound, just more delicate and contented. Most of all it’s the sound of a band who are growing into something special. Nautical but nice.

Actress – Metamorphosis

For those who like their dancefloor hits filled with oddly dark noises and an atmosphere of ominous foreboding, Actress are perfect. RIP – blending together techno, ambient and minimalist – is one of the albums of the year so far and now Darren Cunningham is already back with this new track, ‘Metamorphosis’. It’s all come about as Actress’ Werk Discs label and Ninja Tune have teamed up and, luckily for us, to celebrate they’re offering a free download of this track. It not so much carries on where RIP left off as takes those elements and gives them more weight – it’s heavier, and dancier. It’s techno, though not as we normally know it. Computers squelch and beats hypnotise to create something ideal for a dark dancefloor at the end of the world. Grab a free download of it here.

WHY? – Sod in the Seed

After almost three years away, alt-rappers WHY? are back. They’ve announced a new record deal with City Slang and a brand new EP, Sod In The Seed, and it’s a very welcome return. The title track is instantly recognisable in the very best ways, with Yoni Wolf providing witticisms and rhymes about a ‘first-world curse’ soundtracked by a bright, choppy mishmash of indie, folk and hip hop. The wordplay – focusing on his minor celebrity – is just as sharp as ever. “I make decent cash/ I’m a minor star/ And we can’t last if she don’t drive a hybrid car.” WHY?, you’ve been missed.

-Danny Wright