EGYPTIAN HIP HOP

I was going to go see these guys at Glastonbury, they were playing after Crystal Fighters at the West Oxylers stage in the Dance Field but for some reason or another I missed it.

This was on the Sunday when the sun was positively beating down on the festival, so to hear the funky Duran Duran meets Robert Smith at Club Tropicana rhythms of Egyptian Hip Hop song 'Moon Crooner' would've been perfect; the mud would've turned to sand before our very eyes, I'm sure:


The colours and weird haircuts of the video suggest that the 80s revivalist sentiment running through the music runs deeper. It sounds a little like Black Kids (remember them? "You are the girl...") with that funky bassline, which adds to the picnic-in-the-park synth popping in. There are also slices of Late Of The Pier in there, too, with that almost DIY, new-pop sound. The real phenomenon, though, is how singer Alex Hewett gets away sounding so much like Robert Smith. Surely there's some legality in sounding exactly like something else?

But then again, we can see it as one big homage. Their influences are "new wave/prog/pop circa 1979-1984", explaining the sound entirely. It's a fun sound, one I'm not sure for how long it'll stay interesting, but one that is piquing a lot of people's curiosity at the moment. Here's an interview with BBC Introducing... from early 2010 as EHH were about to embark on their first UK tour - all members at just 17 years old.

What's next from the Manc pop foursome? Who knows.

• Here's their Myspace for more music (I recommend 'Wild Human Child')
• And their regularly updated Facebook Page to get you interested

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2 BEARS BEAR HUG EP REVIEW

I've just heard the house duo sensation 2 Bears on Radio 1 chatting to Pete Tong. I was going to see them at Glastonbury, but got inevitably sidetracked by I don't know what.

Made up of Raf Rundell (aka Greco-Roman Soundsystem) and Joe Goddard (one part of Hot Chip), they're set to be pretty big this year. Their shared enthusiasm for house music, discovered whilst sharing DJ booths on various club nights, led to plans for collaboration - and eventually it happened. Thus 2 Bears was born. Have a listen to their wonderful union in the form of their new EP (released 20th June).



From the very beginning of the moody, tribal house vibrations of 'Take A Look Around', softened with pop vocals, gradually becoming full of energy thanks to a disco lifted hi-hat, to the beat-heavy bass minimalism erupting in 'Banger', beautiful in its repetition as much as in its progression, with new sounds being added in every part - a new bassline, erratic snare, or the strange electro euphoria of its breakdown; the Bear Hug EP is something special.

Sped-up twisted Hot Chip-esque sounds at the beginning of the eponymous 'Bear Hug' give way to a strangely nonchalant-aggressive spoken word vocal, expressing and espousing the virtues of having a bear hug: "We've brought you all a gift for maximum dancefloor uplift, it's called a bear hug" Halfway through Joe Goddard's distinctive voice comes in to provide a wonderfully gentle few bars of singing before the "bear hug" refrain comes back in. Catchy, unusual, a tad frightening, but what a thing it would've been to hear this song at one of their sets at The Hub in Shangri-La last week. Oh well.

The epic dance flavours of 'In My Brain Is Like A Computer' explode throughout the 5 minutes this song plays and it's my personal favourite. I love everything about it, from the incessant clapping and cowbelling at the beginning, to then the dulled euphoria tones of the aggressive piano chords (could be a giant keyboard, in reference to the song's title) and the "oohh... aahhh" vocal sample, bringing a softness to such a hard sound. Just before the halfway mark the song drops entirely, bringing everything together with some monstrously relentless wobbly bass. The last 2 minutes of the song, following another flay-you-alive kind of breakdown, are frantically calling you up to dance. Near-perfection in terms of unique house music.

Like what you hear? Check 2 Bears on SoundCloud

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CARIBOU AT GLASTONBURY

Playing at 10pm today, Caribou (aka Manitoba, aka Daniel Victor Snaith) will be setting the mood for the night ahead with his electronic indie dance sounds. Leaving his native London, Ontario (Canada) for another London (UK) for university and then staying put, his music combines the energy and raw sound of a live band complete with guitars and percussion, with moody electronic sounds. I like Caribou, but without having explored his discography I only know a few songs - the below, 'Odessa', is my favourite thus far, and you probably would've heard it before.


The funky bassline eschews the usual cheeriness found in funk for a much bigger, darker, emptier sound, and is the backbone of the entire song, providing a powerful foundation for the soft vocals that are cut with a start stop high-pitched noise throughout. A really great song, and something that's going to sound great as night has just set in at the Park Stage, where it's just too easy to lose yourself.

Listen to more Caribou on Myspace and check the official site.

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TROPICS AT GLASTONBURY

The superchilled stylings of Tropics are gracing the Pussy Parlure at Glastonbury today at just after midday. Within its decadent 1920s interior, the Pussy Parlure has been a feature at Britain's biggest festival now for about 5 years, and is famed for hosting acts that are definitely far left of mainstream: perfect stomping ground for Tropics.

Chris Ward is the brains behind Tropics. Just 22, he takes influences from pretty much every type of music to create ultra ambient tracks that just melt your brain and slide down from the skies to settle on your brain like liquid sunshine. Mixing 70's funk drums with ghostly vocals and smooth, watery synth, this new track 'Mouves' (out 18th July) is a perfect example of the vibe that drives Tropics to create such beautiful music. Enjoy.



It sounds a like some parts of Fourtet, and is just as good. I'll be trying to see this today. If the sun's out, it'll be the supreme soundtrack to the festival.

Check Tropics on SoundCloud for more, including 25 minute mixes that have almost put me in a trance as I write this.

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BEYONCÉ - RUN THE WORLD (GIRLS)

Totally...




Checking music blogs yesterday. Wow. This was top post of every single one. Rightly so. She's huge. If you didn't know (how could you not?), this is Beyoncé's new single, 'Run The World (Girls)'.

But is this song huge? It's a completely different question. No doubt the video is fucking cool - pseudo-Bollywood choreography, some crazy costume changes, Beyoncé with some hyenas in front of what looks like a roadsign to Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia, of course), and a load of effects - but is the song cool? It's pretty much a split opinion, as you can see here.

Quite a few thumbs down. As for me, I love the dirty dubstep sound of about the first 50 seconds; after that I feel it descends into something that is a little jarring. Don't get me wrong, she's wicked, but I just feel the Major Lazer sample was Major Lazy. If used in conjunction with that introductory beat, this could've been an awesome song. When I first listened I thought I was in for an absolute treat, and I was for a bit. I kind of just sat through the rest. Not terrible, but really not amazing either.

Certainly an interesting go at using a sick song as a sample, but that interest peaks after a while and gradually flatlines. Definitely thumbs up for that bassy dancehall-esque kick that comes in and out. Either way, I'll be looking forward to the show she puts on at Glastonbury - I'd definitely like to have a look.

Was worried about posting this. All those girls look pretty angry.

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