Kvelertak
Bråtebrann
If you want some hellishly good metal there are two places to check first: the Midlands and Norway. Sextet Kvelertak hail from the latter, but owe much of Bråtebrann’s heavy-riffing seven minutes to the leathery pomp and speed-addled punk of West Bromwich’s very own Judas Priest. Bråtebrann means “lumber fire” in Norwegian and we can’t think of anything more festive than gazing at a burning hunk of wood while a hoarse gentleman screeches in your ear.
The Weeknd
Heartless
If the Weeknd wants you to know anything, it’s that he’s a right shagger. The Weeknd has slept with loads and loads of women. More women than you can ever imagine. More women than you have ever even met. Many of them are models! It’s hard putting it about so much, though, and the Weeknd wants you to know that, too. “Runnin’ through the pussy” – very much his words and not mine – can be exhausting and you know what? He only does it because he’s heartbroken. Poor baby.
Una Healy
Set You Free
What fresh hell is this? Love Island hasn’t been on telly for ages now, so we’re all kinds of confused by the Saturdays’ Una Healy and her acoustic take on N-Trance’s 1995 chart-rave hit. Naturally, it would have been the perfect fit for a covert fumble at Casa Amor, but now, with all of Mallorca presumably unoccupied, this makes no sense at all. Come back in six months, Una.
Real Lies
You Were in Love
Back in 2014, Real Lies were pushing out post-Castlemorton bangers to mild acclaim, but now with art bae Jeremy Deller and Saatchi Gallery co-signs, acid house is once again flooding the mainstream. The wonky, dark electronics of You Were in Love is either the sound of what happens when the party’s over as narrated by a postmodern Pet Shop Boys or Goldsmiths: The Musical. Either way, we’re into it.
Nicolas Godin ft Cola Boyy
The Foundation
One half of French sophisticates Air, Godin is more chic than you will ever be. This solo track is sexier than an afternoon wandering around the streets of Paris sharing a pack of filterless Gitanes with Serge Gainsbourg. Air have long been known as creators of the perfect dinner-party playlists, but be wary of sticking The Foundation on next time you have your mates over for a cassoulet, lest they start humping halfway into the burrata course.
