Listening to... 'WHAT DID I DO' - Kele ft. Lucy Taylor

In anticipation of Kele's 2nd EP 'The Hunter', which is released on Monday on Wichita Recordings, I'll mostly be donning my halloween get-up to this little number tonight - his first single to come from his pending EP.

If you've read my blog before you may or may not know that i'm a huge fan of Kele, so a new EP is all but damn good news as far as i'm concerned. And whilst there have been some controversial reviews of it's debut single by commentators and fans alike, for me the ex-Bloc Party frontman can still do no wrong.

Admittedly it's not exactly new but if you're yet too hear it, The latest single What Did I Do, which was officially released on 12 September, sees Lucy Taylor take the lead vocals for this single, with Kele bringing his sincerely smooth and compelling vocals soley to the chorus.
 

Directionally, the track bears undertones distinctly reminiscent of his critically acclaimed debut EP 'The Boxer', with vocals set over an electronic heartbeat and a fuzzy bass line, marked by a mellow injection of dubstep. 

While there are similarities, the track is perhaps not as technically quirky or progressive as his previous solo offerings. But as a result it’s positively more accessible and, at the end of the day, if it still gives me goosebumps it's a job well done.

'The Hunter', released on Monday, is a seven-track EP that also sees Kele collaborate with artists including Sub Focus, Fred Falke and RAC.

Listening to... 'RAISE YOUR WEAPON' - Deadmau5 (feat. Greta Svabo Bech)

Deadmau5 does mau5step.

I've always 'liked' Deadmau5, but that's about as far as the love goes. A good listen, a fail-safe, an artist I would go to see-maybe-never mind if not, that was about it. Until now.

It's not often you get what can only be described as the gawking, incredulous, stop-in-your-tracks 'omg...what is this song I need to know it and now!' moment. You know the one I mean.

'Raise your Weapon' is taken from Deadmau5' new album, '4x4=12', which is due for release on 6 December.

This single represents a new approach from the Canadian man behind the mask; forget the autotuned, powerhouse-electro beats of Ghosts N Stuff for now.

'Raise Your Weapon' is nothing short of musical mau5 progress; soft piano chords to draw us in towards Bech's emotive, hypnotizing vocals, which sear alongside balladic house beats before giving way to the grittier side of dubstep. 

Yet while it's structure sounds musically complex, the real beauty of the song is it's ability to remain utterly simplistic.

The bass is dropped but it's not textbook; admittedly it's heavy but it's not as overcooked as it so easily could've been. Deep, laid back 'mau5tep', with a scattering of mimimal-house aesthetics if you listen carefully, and somehow the vocals still cut it. It remains thoughtful. It remains raw. 

Ripping my heart was so easy, so easy. 

Launch your assault now, take it easy.

Raise your weapon, raise your weapon, one word and it's over. 

Ripping through like a missile, ripping through my heart

Rob me of this love

Raise your weapon, raise your weapon and it's over

How does it feel now to watch it burn, burn, burn?

If dubstep offends you, maybe sit this one out. Otherwise, sit back. Press play. Have a gawk.