The Song Of The Week is Doom Days by Bastille.
No disrespect to the Good Grief hitmakers but it feels a bit strange to make Bastille Song Of The Week when Taylor Swift's got a single out. Still, here we are. Doom Days, a claustrophobic love song seen through the prism of Brexhaustion, environmental apocalypse and social media addiction, 'clocks in' (music biz term) at just 2:20 but builds and builds through several distinct stages before hitting its wobbly electronic climax. It does all this while also managing to reference every single book you studied for your English Literature a‑level.
Additional notes:
- The Fear part of Marina's LOVE + FEAR is out today; pick of the bunch is Too Afraid.
- Fresh Black Butter signing LORYN has big things coming and Sirens is a top notch introduction to a v talented new artist.
- Zara Larsson has the week's best single artwork. Should we read anything into how quickly this song has followed Don't Worry Bout Me?
- Xenomania girlband unperfect have unveiled an EP called Yeah, Why Not, with Rope and Looking For A Hug doubling down on the low-slung breeziness of Gots To Give The Girl.
- Best one yet from Chelcee Grimes, well done everyone.
- What is Dorian Electra playing at? WHO KNOWS!! But their Flamboyant video is Really Quite Something.
- Also Really Quite Something: Eurovision winners Keiino have released a studio version of Lady Gaga & Pal's Shallow.
- The RSPB — ie, the bird people — have today released a single which is no more, and no less, than the sound of birdsong. They've promoted this with an email that makes a joke about swifts topping the iTunes chart, so deserve a mention in this roundup. But not a place on the playlist. (Let's just wait for the inevitable R3HAB remix in three weeks.)
- Don Walk finds Stefflon Don on the passenger side of Rymez's ride.
- The Taylor Swift single sounds like being trapped in a branch of Smiggle.