It’s rather hard to believe that we’re already into December, with the momentous year of 2014 almost behind us. This year’s been exceptionally good music-wise, and this month’s produced lots of great tunes as well. Here’s a few of my favourites I’ve added to my iTunes this month:
CHVRCHES – “Dead Air”
A band that’s come to be one of my favourites in the short space of a year, yet again they’ve released a fantastic new track – this time featuring in the new Hunger Games film Mockingjay – Part 1. It manages to blend CHVRCHES’ distinctive style of electronica, with their two-tier choruses’ as well, with the themes of the film in a way that really makes it shine. Whether or not they’re working on a new album or not, if the band can keep releasing these knock-it-out-of-the-park tracks every month or so I’d be beyond happy.
Knife Party – “D.I.M.H.”
A highlight from what is a different but brilliant album from Knife Party, “D.I.M.H.” takes a sort of 90s house approach to the more heavy stylings of KP with delightful results. It’s never too poppy or too full-on, but it toes a line quite nicely between the two and makes it very listenable.
Scandal – “The Warrior”
Classic 80s rock with a female twist at its finest. It’s a song with all the perfect ingredients for the singalong: a slower driving melody, endless chorus refrains, lyrics that are memorable but don’t mean much. All together it’s a song you can play again and again without feeling it’s getting old.
2NE1 – “I am the Best”
K-Pop will probably always be defined here by the successes of Psy two years ago, but this song kinda shows that it has a bit more appeal to it than just pop. Yeah it’s a girl band, but it takes the Neon Jungle route with an EDM infused tune that is exceptionally catchy and has been stuck in my head constantly.
Martyn Bennett – “Blackbird”
A particularly poignant part of Danny MacAskill’s incredible cycling video “The Ridge”, this song is by the late Martyn Bennett – a pioneer of celtictronica. The way in which an old folk song is gently interwoven with a moving, uplifting melody full of emotion and gusto really made the video and stands up really well on its’ own too.