ListenUp
Nigeria’s Temi Dollface, Larry Gus’ Madlib tribute, Hecuba’s MoCA-approved video and more in our week of music
Lil Silva: No Doubt (feat. Rosie Lowe)
Rising South London singer Rosie Lowe joins British producer Lil Silva on “No Doubt“—a bass-thumping track showcasing their respective talents, while hinting at the goodness to come from each of their forthcoming EPs. The match is a natural fit stylistically: Lil Silva is known for his work with Sampha, SBTRKT and AlunaGeorge, and Lowe’s debut EP is produced by Kwes and The Invisible’s Dave Okumu. Sultry, but packing plenty of body-moving beats, “No Doubt” is as fun to listen to through a set of solid headphones as it is to hear on the dance floor.
Hecuba: Modern
LA-based duo Hecuba have released a music video for their single “Modern” that echoes a contemporary performance art piece. Isabelle Albuquerque sings a haunting duet with a synth line over a sparse arrangement of instruments while she and Jon Beasley record each other using only the iPhone 5 with no special effects, as an “exercise in reductive filmmaking.” The duo look especially vulnerable as they both shave their heads on camera, further augmenting the intimate nature of the video and the feeling that you are intruding on a private conversation.
Temi Dollface: Pata Pata
Long known for its prolific film industry, Nigera is also home to a budding pop and hip-hop community. Temi Dollface, who splits her time between Lagos and London, is shaking things up in the Naija scene with her vintage-sampling beats and strong female vocals. Our friends at Okayafrica provided some useful commentary on her detail-laden video for her single “Pata Pata.” Talks of a relationship gone boring backed by a video in the style of kitschy ’50s advertisements, the song successfully balances sardonic humor with social commentary. Groundbreaking in the contemporary Nigerian music scene, Temi Dollface is an exciting new artist to watch.
Larry Gus: The Blue Flowers (Between Blue and Blue) – 54 Madlib Beats
DFA Records-signed producer Larry Gus grew up in a small town in northern Greece listening mostly to mainstream rock. His world changed though when he first heard the work of loop master and hip-hop producer extraordinaire, Madlib. Now Gus gives us his mixtape love letter to the LA-based producer. Combing through Madlib’s vast catalog, Gus chose 54 of his favorite cuts, focusing on instrumentals. The mix is highly enjoyable itself, but Gus’ piece about the impact Madlib has had his life offers an insight into the passion musicians can feel for one another’s work.
Autre Ne Veut: On & On
Making body-moving tracks infused with sexually charged ’80s R&B style hooks, NYC’s Arthur Ashin—better known as Autre Ne Veut, which means “I think of none other” in French—has been steaming up our speakers since his album Anxiety dropped last February. We were pleased to see the one-man-band release a new track this past week. Full of Ashin’s characteristic crooning and heavy synths, “On & On” is another head-nodding, soulful jam that immediately secured a spot on our summer party playlist.
