ListenUp
Sultry music by Bilal, a Susan Sarandon-starring music video for Justice, Burial’s return and more
Burial: Young Death
The notoriously public-shy electronic music producer Burial may have never performed a live set, but he knows how to appease loyal fans. His latest two-track record comes as a Christmas present for those who’ve been waiting since 2013’s EP Rival Dealer. The moody A-side, “Young Death,” revolves around a ghostly singer wailing, “I will always be there for you.”
Bilal feat. Big K.R.I.T.: Pleasure Toy
While Bilal’s gorgeous In Another Life was released last year, the visuals for the record have continued to appear throughout 2016, with “Pleasure Toy” being the latest. The Hans Elder-directed video is full of cosmic, Afrocentric style and is a perfect complement to the retrofuturist, 808-heavy track. Featuring Big K.R.I.T., the song might be channeling some ’70s vibes, but it’s undeniably Bilal—super-sultry, sexy and smooth. Bilal is currently touring the US.
Temples: Certainty (Franz Ferdinand Remix)
British band Temples’ track “Certainty” (their first release since a 2014 debut record) began its life as a synth-tinged, psychedelic tune, but has just been given a rework by Franz Ferdinand. The reimagining is more electronic—that’s obvious within moments—but it still manages to maintain the track’s original wooziness with a looping, fuzzy sound that seems to slow everything down. The haziness makes way for a thumping bass line that means this track is entirely danceable too.
Justice: Fire
From French duo Justice’s third LP Woman (released this month) comes the video “Fire.” Taking tips directly from the album name, the Pascal Teixeira-directed video stars one of America’s favorite women, Susan Sarandon, in a retro-vibed clip that channels “Thelma + Louise” which includes plenty of driving and windswept hair. The sparkly song itself, meanwhile, features vocals by French singer Romuald (aka Romuald Figuier), Zoot Woman’s Johnny Blake and mystery vocalist M. Yaman, who—according to the liner notes—is most probably Justice themselves.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
