Listen Up
Dream-pop hypnotism, a soulful holiday tune and more new music this week
Bill Baird: Mosquito
With “Mosquito,” Bill Baird lays his latest rhythmic track atop mesmerizing, repetitious visuals in a music video of his own production and direction. The song is pulled from Owl, Baird’s most recent release with the Los Angeles art collective Arthur King Presents. The reflective nature of the song—underscored by the symbolism in the video—goes deeper than the insect and into more psychological territory.
Woman’s Hour: Don’t Speak
Both a return and a break-up announcement, “Don’t Speak” marks two milestones for UK band Woman’s Hour. Drawn from their forthcoming second (and final) album Ephyra, the track’s beauty lies in delicate melodies and dream-pop hypnotism. With choreography and performances by Anders Hayward and Ellis Saul in the music video, it’s a stunning reintroduction to a band that will leave listeners with much to love.
Masego: Favorite Tings
The multi-talented Masego has released a surprising single commissioned by Amazon. “Favorite Tings” is a sped-up, soulful rendition of The Sound of Music‘s “My Favorite Things.” The holiday-adjacent tune gets a saxophone solo, a bit of a drumbeat and Masego’s masterful voice. For the 25-year-old, the vintage stylings feel natural—something he further invokes in the music video. Dressed in red velvet, and surrounded by green velvet curtains, he performs for a dimly lit bar with a warmth that this time of year calls for.
Charlotte Gainsbourg: Bombs Away
From Take 2, Charlotte Gainsbourg’s sundry five-track EP, “Bombs Away” rides on dance floor-ready synth waves. Gainsbourg’s vocals—and the narrative lyrics—set a tone of curious immediacy. The track, which was produced by SebastiAn, joins a cover of Kanye West’s “Runaway,” a live version of Gainsbourg’s hit “Deadly Valentine,” and two other new songs on the EP—one that demonstrate the depth of the singer’s vision and (bilingual) capabilities.
Listen Up is published every Sunday and rounds up the new music we found throughout the week. Hear the year so far on our Spotify channel.
