Heavy Rotation: Father John Misty, Psychic Ills, William Tyler & More

Ariana Grande and Pantha du Prince are out with their new albums. Which one are you listening to?

Moonlight, Leave Me Lonely ft. Macy Gray (Ariana Grande) - ​The lush, atmospheric album intro Moonlight is a keeper and so is Grande's collab with Macy Gray Leave Me Lonely. Side to Side sees the singer attempting a Rihanna with a Man Down-like reggae'ish tune, while Be Alright, decidedly better than the pulsating banger Into You, sounds redolent of the house music we have been hearing from Disclosure. Listening to the whole album though, I felt as if it was too slick to a fault, and sort of uneven, the second half failing to match up the first's energy and mood. Don't get me wrong, they are fine songs, but taken together as a whole, they all begin to sound too similar. What's unmissable however is Ariana Grande's top-notch vocals, which particularly shines through in Moonlight and Leave Me Lonely.

Safe Inside ft. Passion Pit, I Feel Numb ft. Alex Frankel (Classixx) - With bouncy, sprightly (and synthy) beats and ridiculously catchy hooks, DJ duo Michael David and Tyler Blake pretty much nail the deep house, disco thing.

Real Love Baby (Father John Misty) - While my wait for the new Fleet Foxes album continues, the band's former drummer Josh Tillman has been very much active on the music scene, his last year's folky I Love You, Honeybear releasing to critical acclaim. But it's also interesting to see how his music has grown to be vastly different from the days he was with the band. Fleet Foxes' frontman Robin Pecknold seems to agree. "We ended up going down different paths too soon before our touring (for Helplessness Blues) and recording commitments were finished." But coming back, I like this new song. It's sweet and sublime, with a harmony that makes me miss Fleet Foxes even more.

In an Open Space (Pantha du Prince) - German producer Hendrik Weber follows up on last week's stunning Frau im Mond, Sterne laufen with a composition that's equal parts mesmerising and mysterious.

Baby (Psychic Ills) - A twangy, psychedelic harmony from New York psych-rock duo Psychic Ills, whose upcoming album Inner Journey Out is set for release in a fortnight.

Firecracker (Todd Terje & The Olsens) (Martin Denny cover) - Groovy is the word!

Holding Roses (Twin Peaks) - An almost Real Estate-like infectious guitary song from Chicago-based garage rock band Twin Peaks.

Sunken Garden (William Tyler) - Beautiful folk instrumental that's so gentle and soft it sounds like nectar to the ears. I can't wait for William Tyler's Modern Country to drop on 06/03!

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