Sia - Chandelier

Sia Furler is my favourite singer, songwriter, pure musical marvel. I can't deny my unlimited adoration for the work she does but as always I try to remain as unbiased in my posts as I can muster. Her new song Chandelier premiered at 4am UK time. I listened to it at 9.05am UK time. It's now 11.30pm and I'm on play number... something. 

This is a special song and it's certainly a special moment in Sia's career. She has always made it clear that she doesn't want to be in the 'spotlight'. Some say her songwriting and vocal credits on mammoth hits Titanium and Wild Ones, as well as working with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Rihanna and Beyoncé, contradict this. You can write and produce magical music without craving fame.

Chandelier is an r&b tinged outing, with a ridiculous chorus and by "ridiculous" I mean incredible. Her vocals soar up there, right bloody up there and what you initially interpret as a song about getting smashed and literally swinging from a chandelier turns into a song about taking chances and being shit scared about the whole thing, “I’m holding on for dear life, won’t look down won’t open my eyes”. This new song is an indicator of one hell of a pop album coming our way, I can feel it.

5/5

Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once

It's two years since we heard a peep out of miniature pop starlet Kylie Minogue. 2012 saw the release of The Abbey Road Sessions, an album of live, reworked moments from Kylie's back catalogue; it was a success. Now with a conveniently timed stint on The Voice UK as a mentor/judge/killer of dreams, she's released her 12th studio album, 26 years since she released her debut Kylie in 1988. This one is called Kiss Me Once and the question on your lips before you pucker up should be "is it any good?"

Lead single Into The Blue also serves as the album opener. It's a summery pop track with an exhilarating chorus and strong pre chorus build up. You can tell as soon as it begins you're in for a treat and it's certainly one of the album's strongest tracks. The pop sound is continued with Million Miles and I Was Gonna Cancel. The former is a typical Kylie dance pop track with a throbbing synth arrangement and predictable but enjoyable chorus. It's another strong track, but doesn't have the depth of the album's lead single. The latter is an ode to her 80s days, I Should Be So Lucky feels a lot closer in time when the Pharrell Williams production kicks in. It's the kind of song you want to dislike but is destined to become a fan favourite for its quirkiness. Again, it's as shallow as an empty paddling pool but it's ridiculously catchy and after repeated plays an album highlight.

It wouldn't be a Kylie album without some sex thrown in for good measure. Disco flavoured Sexy Love is infectious and likeable where electronic r&b sore thumb Sexcersize struggles to avoid the skip button. The Sia Furler penned track would be a perfect fit on Kylie's X album; here it just feels out of place. Being as obvious as she can about having some sex on the album she closes off the "sex" tracks with Les Sex, a twinkly electro dance track with elements of euro rave. "Take two of these and meet me in the shadows" she sings to her lover, comparing sex to a drug. Either that or she's actually giving him two viagra? It's a fun track but again, completely void of any emotional power and screams "filler!"

Kylie Minogue - Into The Blue

It's been a while since Kylie Minogue's last epic single, All The Lovers. There have been others since but none of them made waves. Thankfully, the first single from her upcoming album Kiss Me Once is a veritable tsunami of a pop record, oozing charm and dripping melody like ice cream on a 30 degree summer day. It's a perfect jam to take you through the turn of the seasons and although it's hardly the most innovative move Minogue has ever made, it's proof that when she does pure pop she does it with heart.

4.5/5

Julio Bashmore (Ft Jessie Ware) - Peppermint Review

Julio Bashmore enlists the aid of UK vocal marvel Jessie Ware on new house track Peppermint. It's the second outing between the two, the last being 2013's stunning Imagine It Was Us which fused disco and house sounds. This new single doesn't have quite the same impact on first listen but definitely grows on you. It's an ode to classic house and Ware's vocals are, as always, lovely.

3/5