Genre: Electropop, Brostep, Synthpop
Country: UK // Label: Cherrytree
At this point, it seems like Nero can't really decide if they want to be an EDM group, or an electronic-pop one, which was the main problem with their latest album, in my opinion. But this song? Is the perfect mix between the two. It sounds like an (even more) aggressive version of CHVRCHES
Genre: Synthpop, Art Pop, Progressive Pop
Country: UK // Label: Memphis Industries
This sounds like a mix of Everything Everything, Talking Heads and Carly Rae Jepsen. Really odd time signatures mixed with catchy pop hooks and funky guitars. Also the video is kinda cute.
Genre: Math Rock, Post-Hardcore, J-Pop
Country: Japan // Label: Bakuretsu
If you wanted to know what would happen if Haim and Battles were all from Japan, and decided to make a band together, look no further. This song is amazing, it has lots of things going on, so it's a bit dense, but in a good way! It's also better than anything Battles released this year. Also, they're releasing another album next year, so I'm excited.
Genre: Dance-Pop, Electropop, Deep House
Country: USA // Label: Interscope
Probably one of the best Madonna singles since COADF. Which, OK, that's actually not really saying much, to be quite honest, but this song is classy, catchy and mature - it certainly deserved better. The song SOPHIE produced was fun too.
Genre: Deep House, UK Funky, Contemporary R&B
Country: UK // Label: PMR
OK, so can we all agree that 'Caracal' was really, really dissapointing? Well, yeah. This song, however, is an obvious highlight - Lion Babe's vocals are great, and the beat is completely insane. It's so fun and danceable! WHY WASN'T EVERYTHING LIKE THIS?
Genre: Synthpop, Electropop, Dance-Pop
Country: UK // Label: On Repeat
Another underrated Electropop song. I've heard this in the radio in my country a few times, though. The production is really detailed, and it's all really catchy too. The video is pretty cool too.
Genre: Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, Pop Soul
Country: USA // Label: BMG
Forgive me for this guys, but I wasn't really excited for Janet's comeback. Not even after listening to this single. Which is weird, because I did like this, and "BURNITUP" too. I don't know, but I'll listen to the album anyways. I'm sure it'll be better than Madonna's. Next year, though.
A really nice, psychedelic, dreamy song written, produced and sung by a Mexican lady, Jessica Smurphy. It's really nice to see Latin American people getting attention from many publications, and making music as weird as this.
Genre: Dance-Pop, Electropop, Glitch Pop
Country: Sweden // Label: Epic
Tove wrote this song about how pop music, specially when it's made by woman, gets lots of negative reaction by white dudes who make indie rock and are really pretentious, not giving them credit when it's due. And it's probably one of the most kick-ass pop songs you'll hear, the production is really really detailed and it won't leave your head.
Genre: Art Pop, Synthpop, Ambient Pop
Country: UK // Label: Polydor
This is really one of the best songs these guys ever made. The instrumentation is so minimal, it kinda sounds like a pop-ified version of an early OPN track - and it focuses on Olly's (surprisingly amazing) vocals.
Genre: Krautrock, Space Rock, Progressive Electronic
Country: Chile // Label: Sacred Bones
A really long (12-minutes-long, exactly), repetitive, psychedelic track. It doesn't get boring, though, kinda sounds like Can, and the video for this, is really trippy as well.
Genre: Industrial Techno, Power Noise, Minimal Techno
Country: UK // Label: Spectrum Spools
I kinda disliked Container previous EP because I felt that it was noise-y, repetitive and didn't make sense. His latest album is much better, though, it's more varied, but this track is probably the most loud, cacophonous one he's ever made. And I like it! A lot, actually!
This was originally part of the 'Sheep' mixtape he released in January, but this version, found on his second album 'Mutant', is quite a bit longer, and while here it's cool, it feels better as a part of the album because it doesn't end abruptly.
Genre: Industrial Hip Hop, Abstract Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop
Country: USA // Label: Harvest
"MY FAVOURITE COLOR IS OH MY GOD BITCH" same.
Genre: Electropop, Synthpop, Electro-Disco
Country: UK // Label: Polydor
Every once in a while, Foxes makes a song so great that makes me pay attention to her even if I don't really feel like it. This one is a dark-disco anthem that, with its very obvious Robyn influence, will make you dance, whether it's with your friends, with a lover, or, you know, on your own,
I did find Caracal disappointing at first and only listened to it once or twice when it was released. However, I've recently come back to it, thinking it would be trash and it was suprisingly enjoyable. Hourglass is obviously one of the highlights but Jaded and Magnets are even better
From the set I also really liked Janet, Arca, that Y&Y track and definitely need to check that 12-minute song out.
The more and more I think about it, the more I believe that not listening to Disclosure in 2015 was a big miss on my part. I know better with Arca. I KNOW that was a big miss for me.
"Body Talk" was not one of those misses. I seriously cannot believe that song didn't cross over to America. I mean, I probably could, but I refuse to believe that there was no market for "Body Talk". Honestly, I don't think any song's lack of success in the US made me angrier this year.