On The Stereo #10

Seafret: Jack Sedman and Harry Draper are back with their first new material since 2016

Superb songs from Seafret, Childish Gambino, John Grant, Christine And The Queens, Ariana Grande, Xixa, Tom Baxter and Club Drive

SEAFRET
CAN’T LOOK AWAY
Kobalt
Jack Sedman and Harry Draper are back with their first new material since 2016 and it’s clear that their writing has matured during that time. Their folky foundations have been fortified with a full-bodied production and Sedman delivers his most confident vocal performance yet on this rousing effort.
DH

CHILDISH GAMBINO
FEELS LIKE SUMMER
mcDJ Recording
Listening to this special EP at the peak of a heatwave is incredibly fitting, there is elements of nostalgia in the melody and base, throwing me back to old school summer classics. I’m in love with the 2 tracks, that are, as usual oozing with cool that only Childish Gambino can create.
FD

JOHN GRANT
LOVE IS MAGIC
Bella Union
Grant ruminates on the absurdity of love over a backdrop of squelchy 80s-inflected electropop. He’s the right man for the job too, able to decorate his kitchen sink drama with enough glitter to keep it from becoming depressing – just remember to stock up the fridge with milk.
DH

CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS
DOESN’T MATTER
Because Music
Not going to lie, I’m a huge fan of Christine And The Queens, so any new tracks I devour like the delicious pop nuggets they are. With the new album due at the end of the summer Doesn’t Matter is a perfect taster of what’s to come, with more infectious pop classics.
FD

XIXA
TOMBSTONE RASHOMON
Glitterhouse Records
If you love Westerns, you’ll know that the moment before any gunfight is a tense affair. Hands linger on holsters, moustaches twitch, eyes meet across a saloon or out on the street where passers-by have become statues. That atmosphere is captured here; dramatic, dangerous and impossible to resist.
DH

ARIANA GRANDE
GOD IS A WOMAN
Republic Records
Ariana Grande is now firmly part of pop royalty, always managing to walk the fine line of infectious pop hits that have the cool factor and substance. God Is A Woman is a seductive mellow beauty of a track, teasing us for the release of Sweetener later this summer. I’m excited!
FD

TOM BAXTER
BALLAD OF DAVEY GRAHAM
The Orchard
Davey Graham has some famous fans, with Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright known followers of his brand of blues-folk. Ballad Of Davey Graham is taken from Baxter’s upcoming album, The Other Side Of Blue, and It’ll please not only you but Baxter’s famous fans too.
DG

CLUB DRIVE
WDYD
NUA Entertainment
A nice slice of indie pop, Club Drive isn’t exactly groundbreaking music but it’s three minutes of fun. The guitars are funky and melody upbeat so I guess you can’t ask for much more in a pop song, at points it has echoes of a male Haim so I’m intrigued for more.
FD

Words: Fern Dunn, Duncan Haskell, Damien Girling

Listen to these songs and other On The Stereo selections on the Songwriting Magazine SoundCloud, YouTube and Spotify ‘New Music Reviewed’ playlists.

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