Another week, another lot of new singles that I just can’t get enough of. New albums from Goat Girl and Arlo Parks are personally a highlight – to the point I nearly considered featuring them both in full on the playlist. Maybe some favourite album tracks will find their way on there in the near future, alas for now it is all about the new singles. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Arlo Parks – ‘Hope‘
Me raving about Arlo Parks is up there as most predictable, but can you blame me with that voice? As soon as I picked up on her it was hard to let go and I have been waiting for debut LP Collapsed in Sunbeams for what seems like a lifetime. Parks’ conversational poetry remains a staple in new single ‘Hope’ with a frank, yet warming tone. Even when diving into melancholy, soothing vocals along with a soft lo-fi jazz tone lend a sense of calm, and particularly in this track we get a sense of being in it all together. A peaceful number from an album that is very likely in the running for Album of the Year.
Goat Girl – ‘Badibaba’
Oh I do love me a bit of Goat Girl, so yet another predictable favourite here. New single ‘Badibaba’ comes armed with an infectious rhythm, both in bass line and repetitive chants of “Ba-di-ba-di-ba-ba”. The track eventually twists into distorted turmoil, perfectly reflecting its theme of environmental catastrophe and self destruction. It is this progression that brings earlier lyrics “carry on like we’re protected, as if we’re unaffected” to life, as if it is all a ticking time bomb resulting in disaster. There may be some pessimism here, but ‘Badibaba’ is a positively great new offering from Goat Girl, that sparks nothing but excitement for latest album On All Fours.
Rosehip Teahouse – ‘No Gloom’
Here we have something completely new to me, although it didn’t take long to love Rosehip Teahouse. ‘No Gloom’ is the new single from their Fine EP, which was released late last year. Sweet captivating vocals are dreamy and heart warming, even when singing about the pain of love. That’s not to say we don’t feel that pang of “it hurts” sung over and over – but paired with the music video you can’t help but feel a little fuzzy on the inside after listening to this track. It is romantic, raw and simply divine.
Wasuremono – ‘I Feel Fine (Hallelujah)‘
It is said that if anyone so much as utters the words “dream pop”, I may wake from even the deepest slumber. So of course, my ears were standing to attention when I heard about Wasuremono. New single ‘I Feel Fine (Hallelujah)’ does at times remind me of convincing myself that everything is fine, perhaps in a state of delusion, but hopefully more as a form of manifestation. While the laidback lyrics do echo this feeling, this is a track that ultimately celebrates life and death. Rather than denial, this track focuses on acceptance. It is catchy and uplifting, relishing in being alive and feeling everything that life throws at us, the good and the bad. I adore this track and can’t wait to hear some more from Wasuremono, with the first part of double album Let’s Talk coming out this April.
All of these tracks plus many others can be found on my Spotify in the Listen 2021 playlist, which I will be updating frequently. Let me know your favourite new track!
SAMANTHA MAE 