list.co.uk/music SINGLES
Records – Singles | MUSIC
Before we dive headlong into this summer's new singles and downloads, let us address the Elliphant in the room. She's a Swedish singer / rapper also known as Ellinor Olovsdotter, and her new single 'Love Me Badder' (●●●●● TEN Music, out now) is part Robyn-esque machine ballad, part Shabba Ranks- evoking 'Mr Loverman' tussle, with a clear nod to MIA thrown in for good measure. It makes for an excellent urban pop dirge.
Years and Years' latest is a rather more gleaming pop affair. 'Shine'
(●●●●● Polydor, out Sun 5 Jul) is less jarring and self-consciously banging than their all-conquering previous single 'King', and sees the London electro trio bring down the tempo and ramp up the longing (and Vangelis / Climie Fisher echoes) to fine effect. Man of Moon's debut 7” 'The Road' (●●●●● Melodic, out Edinburgh duo
now) is a heady psychedelic jam that lives up to the myriad whispers of greatness surrounding the enigmatic pair, and the new offering from Glasgow's disco post- punk renegades WHITE is similarly promising: 'Future Pleasures' (●●●●● RCA, out now) is a glittering, glam-strutting, Postcard-toting non-stop thrill. Or, if you prefer your Scottish pop replete with vaudevillian post-punk kicks,
then look no further than 'Johnny Delusional' (●●●●● Domino, out Mon 8 Jun),
which comes courtesy of Franz Ferdinand and Sparks (FFS) and is every bit as arch, dramatic and rock-operatic as such a dream alliance might suggest. Jenny Hval's new single is more suited to the bedroom hour. 'That Battle
is Over' (●●●●● Sacred Bones, out now) sees the Norwegian artist take on socialism, consumerism and war, via the medium of exquisite alt-pop. Similarly swoon-inducing is the new short-player from Natalie Prass, whose skipping, flute-toting 'Bird of Prey' (●●●●● Spacebomb, out Fri 31 Jul) is an upbeat highlight from her lovely recent self-titled album.
This month's Single of the Issue garland will have to stretch that bit further, so as to accommodate the combined brilliance of the Twilight Sad (pictured, second right) and Bdy_Prts (right). The Twilight Sad's haunted- pop masterpiece 'It Never Was the Same' (●●●●● Fat Cat, out Mon 15 Jun) comes replete with a cover of 'There's a Girl in the Corner' by the Cure's gothic-pop kingpin himself, Robert Smith. Meanwhile, Bdy_Prts' 'Cold Shoulder' (●●●●● self-released, out Mon 15 Jun) is a kick-ass indie R&B classic from Glasgow's Jill O'Sullivan and Jenny Reeve. Think synths and violins; think spandex and unicorns; think Sons and Daughters duelling with Destiny's Child. They're better than that. (Nicola Meighan)
EXPOSURE
ZYNA HEL
The name may not ring a bell, but it might soon. By the way, it’s pronounced like Xena, her teen idol, the princess warrior, and that’s Hel, as in the Norse goddess of the Underworld. Occult-loving, dark electronic pop artist Zyna Hel aka Elisabeth Oswell, has an upcoming single produced by Blanck Mass and shows at Stereo and Wickerman. We interrupted her unpacking (she’s just moved to Glasgow to live with partner, Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite) to talk new music, the current government and female heroes.
On her music
I like the occult and disco. Friends call me a disco witch, which seems to fit. My music sounds spooky, a bit ethereal, with futuristic, cosmic sounds. I’ve got hardly anything online; I didn’t want to share too much too soon. I’m a massive perfectionist. I’ve been working on tons of stuff [with John Fryer of This Mortal Coil; Andrew Liles of Nurse With Wound, and Ben Powers of Fuck Buttons, amongst others] but I really want my first album to be as good as I can get it. On the No Wave scene
I’m pretty fascinated by these people all sharing this impulse to create. Kids that just did what the fuck they wanted, even if they couldn’t even play an instrument. And in Britain, good music was still being made under the Thatcher regime. That’s exciting to me. On the recent election
I’m so disappointed that this government is in power. They show no signs of supporting the arts. I cried all weekend after that result. On her favourite female musicians
I love artists with a strong sense of identity. Patti Smith, who I hope to see in Glasgow soon, and Glasgow’s Sharp Tooth are amazing too; I played with them and Tuff Love at a TYCI night not long ago.
On co-habiting Less than a week of us living together and Stuart was wearing my 101 Dal- matians pajama bottoms. They’re blue: he really suits them. (Claire Sawers) ■ Zyna Hel supports Outblinker at Stereo, Sat 13 Jun, and plays the Solus Tent at Wickerman Festival, Sat 25 Jul. For a longer version of this interview, go to list.co.uk
4 Jun–3 Sep 2015 THE LIST 87