This Week’s New Music Round Up: The Chainsmokers, Halsey, The xx & More

ALBUMS

The xx - I See You

As soon as I See You opens with those brass notes, you know you’re in for something different. It’s been five years since The xx released their second record, Coexist, and a lot has, clearly, changed. Romy Croft, vocalist and guitarist, got engaged and even spent time at pop writing camps in LA. Meanwhile, Jamie xx, the band’s producer and programmer, released his dazzling Mercury-nominated dance record In Colour in 2015. It’s clearly had an effect on the group. Their latest, I See You, is warm, affectionate and sample-heavy (just one of many In Colour influences carrying forward). It’s worth your time. Press play.

Wiley – Godfather

Wiley’s 11th proper studio album is a beast. There’s the screeching strings and gnashing bass of ‘Pattern Up Properly’. There’s the air-horn happy, rapid-fire pace of ‘Name Brand’. Without a doubt, this is an album to, as Will Ferrell’s Blades of Glory character Chazz Michael Michaels (a modern prophet) wisely said: “get the people going”. But that doesn’t mean that Godfather is devoid of surprises - 'U Were Always, Pt.2' is a liquid chocolate smooth mid album treat. Featuring Skepta, JME and more, if this really 11th record really is Wiley’s last ("you can't shout for 20 years. You'll go mad in the head," he said in a recent interview), he’s bowing out the right way: on the top of his game.

Nadia Rose – Highly Flammable

Two years ago, Nadia Rose was working 12-hour shifts in a betting shop as she studied for her degree, scribbling down lyrics on old betting slips as they popped into her head. Now our Brand New For 2017 nominee has unleashed her debut LP. It’s been quite the rise. Make sure you check Highly Flammable out.

SINGLES

The Chainsmokers – ‘Paris’

The Chainsmokers aren’t going to let being nominated for ‘Worst Band’ hold them back. They’ll let their latest track, ‘Paris’, do the talking.

Halsey – ‘Not Afraid Anymore’

Fifty Shades Darker, 2017’s bonktastic new film, is recruiting the biggest names in pop to help out. The soundtrack already features a certain Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik (heard of them?) collaboration, and it’s just revealed its latest entry, this time from Halsey.

Sampha - ‘(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano’

Drake. Kanye West. Frank Ocean. Solange. Sampha has worked with everyone.

Now that he’s helped music’s heavyweights out, Sampha is probably bloody fed up. “F*ck those guys,” Sampha definitely didn’t say. “I’m going to make my own debut solo album,” he might have said as he started working on Process, his debut album.  

Anyway, the latest taster from that, following ‘Blood On Me’, is here. It’s beautiful.

Diplo & Autoerotique – ‘Waist Time’

Diplo is everywhere right now. Apart from getting his own mockumentary on Viceland (the TV channel’s first original series) all about a fictional version of…himself… the US DJ and producer has also dropped this filthy new track with Autoerotique.

Syd – ‘All About Me’

Another member of Grammy-nominated group The Internet goes solo. (Don’t worry, the band are still together.) Following on from Steve Lacy, a killer bass player with an excellent taste in jumpers, The Internet’s lead singer, Syd, has dropped her first solo track. Her debut album, Fin, will drop later this year.

Loyle Carner – ‘Damselfly’

Releasing one final track before his debut, Yesterday’s Gone, drops on January 20, ‘Damselfly’ features long-term friend and collaborator Tom Misch. The highlight? Loyle being all meta and referencing his own track, 'Ain't Nothing Changed', in the lyrics.

Tiësto & Bright Sparks – ‘On My Way’

Fallen over on your way to school/work? Cursing this weather? Need something, anything, to perk you up? Then please allow Tiësto & Bright Sparks to transport you forward to summer 2017. 

If you like the sound of this, keep your eye on Bright Sparks this year. They've got a new EP hitting soon.

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