Vampire Weekend will release Modern Vampires of the City in May. Check out the exquisite lead track, "Step," and the vibrant bounce of "Diane Young." Right in the wheelhouse, right?
Rhye's debut album is shrouded in mystery. People love that sort of thing, including The D Man. As discussed by various reviews, the pair of Mike Milosh and Robin Hannibal have largely kept their identities and motivations under wraps. They have refused to say what Rhye refers to, and their full names don't appear in the liner notes to their spectacular record, Woman. What we do know is that Milosh's voice is a lovely, gender-defying instrument that magnifies the intimate romance of the duo's cosmopolitan, R&B-inflected songs. And if "Open" isn't the best easy listening/adult contemporary/love song I've heard in the past several years, well, it just is. Break it out, gentleman.
Consistent with their practice, Rhye initially released the videos for standout tracks "The Fall" and "Open" anonymously. The videos trace the story of two couples figuring out their place in love, and the intersection of their grass-is-greener sighs is compelling watching. Pay close attention or you may just miss it. Though the clips demonstrate love's complexities, the songs themselves, like the rest of the album, are powerful reinforcements for the allure of deep-rooted and lasting relationships.
The Glasgow band CHVRCHES delivers immediate keyboard-based pop music. With a slew of recently released singles, they expect to release an EP and an album sometime this year. It doesn't hurt that The D Man has a major musical crush on vocalist Lauren Mayberry. Not only does she have a law degree and a masters in journalism, but she infuses her lyrics with a gravity that surpasses the fact that she is quite pretty. Given her prominence, someone said the band is like M83 meeting Taylor Swift. Though this may be a decent shorthand to describe their first few singles, it probably undersells CHVRCHES unique capabilities.
Enjoy this live performance of "The Mother We Share."
