Here we go, second NMM edition! Quite the collection of new tracks to get to this week, I expect it to be the last busy week of the year although we do have Troye Sivan x Kacey Musgraves x Mark Ronson and Gwen Stefani tracks supposedly out in a couple days so stay tuned for next week’s edition! Starting with my absolute faves, adding the Absolute Faves section up top where I go over those tracks that stand out from the bunch to me — and hopefully to you as well :)
Absolute Faves
Blinding Lights (Remix) — The Weeknd (with ROSALÍA)
I mean, props to The Weeknd for remixing such a beloved track with the incredible ROSALÍA. Inevitably, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea because of how much the original is basically embedded into our brains at this point. ROSALÍA made the jump and is actually singing in English for quite a bit — I can’t bring to mind any previous time she’s done it. I appreciate the refreshment of the song — especially when their voices come together: pure bliss I tell you. ROSALÍA gets slightly overshadowed by the production-heavy track to be fair but she more than makes up for it with formidable vocals and an exceptional bridge — her major compositional contribution here. Blind me by your lights Abel and Rosí!
First Time — Josef Salvat
Didn’t want to come to a heart-wrenching moment so soon but it’s oh-so-well-deserved. Josef pulls from within with such force — his tremolo sounds unbreakable. I believe it’s a cut off his upcoming LP due in 2021 — and what better way to introduce us to his new music than this? The song picks up some electronic components halfway through and then turns into a full-blown sad (as in devastating) dance pop number. I couldn’t imagine a more tasteful way to transition from balladry to bop.
Great Tracks
Kyrgyzstan — Your Old Droog
Shifting gears, new Your Old Droog cut: wordy east coast hip hop rap track along a muted loop. It’s the last one he released ahead of his new album — out now. Hard not to bop your head back and forth to.
Adore You (Endless Remix) — Jessie Ware, Bibi Zhou, Sihan
Thank you Jessie Ware for reminding the world you made one of the best records of the year. A remix that doesn’t try to stick to the original for too long and just does its own damn thing. An atmospheric electronic take that benefits from new vocals from Bibi Zhou — in Chinese! And the way Jessie’s stellar vocals are incorporated in all this is quite masterful too!
Peng Black Girls Remix — ENNY, Jorja Smith, Amia Brave
Want a track that’s both a statement and smooth as hell? Look no mo’e. Jorja Smith makes her way onto ENNY’s Peng Black Girls and the result is nothing short of amazing. Let’s also not forget Amia Brave on the pre-chorus. Each artist brings something fresh to the table — from ENNY’s adroit flow and Amia’s soft chant to Jorja’s velvet vocals.
911 (WEISS Remix) — Lady Gaga
A Lady Gaga Remix? OK bear with me! It’s probably one of my favorites EDM/house remix of the year — eh usually not too big on them (looking at you Rina Sawayama Bad Friend Remix). This one is so groovy we forget the mental health undertone (overtone?) of the track. My biggest enemy is meeee
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas — Birdy
Impossible not to include a classic Christmas song in here. I’ll be the first to admit Christmas is not my favorite time of year — it’s cold, we’re in lockdown here in France, it gets dark at 4 pm, and I have no Christmas tradition to speak of coming from a Muslim household. But I’ll voluntarily get down with Birdy’s cover, it’s sweet, warm and silky — I’d make a hot cup of cocoa if I was into that.
Talk — Aminé (feat. Saba)
Amine just released the deluxe version of Limbo — a record that impressed me back in July (August?). Talk is one of the better additional cuts, tapping into what he does best. Amine knows how to delegate cheekiness to the instrumentals and maintain a cool demeanor atop chirps and quirks. Saba is in and out of here just like I’ve been in and out of my fridge this year — with elegance, poise and every 2 seconds.
Dunya — GoldLink (feat. LukeyWorld)
GoldLink keeps the mean grubby rap numbers coming.
Swimming Upstream — Josef Salvat
I know I already gave you one from Josef. But I couldn’t hold this one all to myself. Listening to this one has me thinking: who’s gonna make the Josef Salvat x Woodkid collaboration happen? Or more appropriate: when? The world deserves it — actually, no, the world doesn’t deserve it, only a select few. I’d like to apply to be part of the select few I just don’t know where to sign up.
Need more? Also check out:
Don’t Wait — EXES (feat. Dashboard Confessional): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_mCdLIHk5c
Ta Que Tiembla [Empress Of Remix] — Buscabulla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJAwjMW6o-w
Oh Santa! — Mariah Carey (feat. Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2bx3FzgJ6o
Lento — Mr Eazi, J Balvin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfsj1YtiTNc
Lost (Frank Ocean cover) — bülow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sj1Szu0RkA
Dance Like Nobody’s Watching — Yuna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdrVbobhOgQ
Have a wonderfully Christmasy or not week ahead! Thank you for reading this
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Best Releases December 2020 Playlist: listen here (Spotify)
Best Releases November 2020 Playlist: listen here (Spotify)
Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! Hope you enjoyed it
Twitter: @REDTAKES1
