The Weeknd- The Birds (Part 1)

In two weeks in March, something amazing happened. The Weeknd went from being non-existent in the eyes of almost all people everywhere to being the most heralded and hyped R&B act online in 2011. It was sensational, from a cultural as well as musical perspective.

Now that The Weeknd, the moniker of Abel Tesfaye has had time to sink deep into the minds of perhaps hundreds of thousands of people, this is, perhaps, when he should be sitting on his laurels and watching the praise flood in. Sign to a label. Make some crap music videos. But most definitely he won't give us what we actually want, what is hardest to deliver: more music.

That is though Tesfaye's style though. ‘Rolling Stone’ was leaked last month, and as of yesterday we have ‘The Birds (Part 1)’. If impatient music junkies have already gorged on ‘House of Balloons’ and are picking its remains from their teeth (peers over glasses at the reader), then this new song should fill the gap more than adequately. Tesfaye’s trademark stifled emotion and a catchy hook are an awesomely cool, seductive combo. There should be more soon when The Weeknd releases another EP (…zip file) in the summer. Watch out!

The Weeknd- The Birds (Part 1)

Caged Animals- Girls On Medication

Do you ever listen to a song for the very first time and think “Yeah, I’ve got it”? A click of connection you make- with the feel of the song, the currents, its rhythms and texture, and you can immediately let it sink into your mind? Like you absorb its message as though not even through your ears but through…well, nothing? Well that is what happened to me with this. That pretty (slash scary) looking lady on the side there may not just make your next two minutes and forty seconds, but your week.

At once fuzzy and upbeat but also sleepy and cathartic, I had to do some research at first because I had no idea who this one man band Vincent Cacchione was. Libraries were consulted, foreign dignitaries, and some people I am not at liberty to name. But, Caged Animals, it turns out, is Cacchione and a bucket load of ideas, driving him forward, sideways or nowhere in whichever direction his computer experiments take him. Now that Lucky Number have signed him, it might be a mighty impressive coup for both man and label. ‘Girls On Medication’ reverberates with all the apathetic charm of The Strokes circa 2001, the lush warmth of a Best Coast-esque melody, some Lemonheads it is true, and even slurry Britpop vocals that create one of the most refreshingly cool songs I’ve heard all year.

‘Girls On Medication’ is out 4^th July on white 7-inch vinyl via Lucky Number (limited to 500 copies).

Caged Animals- Girls On Medication