#SRCZ Essential 2014 // Best Singles of 2014
10 / Shiina Ringo – ‘Netsuai
Hakkakuchu’
Extracted from the
compilation album Ukina, this song was produced by Yasutaka Nakata, (most well
known for his work with a certain Kyary Pamyu Pamyu) and it was entirely
possible such a combination of seemingly mismatched performers wouldn’t work.
But, it did. And it resulted in one of the artist’s most impressive videos and
addictive singles for a while.
9 /
We’ve had our eyes on
Freedom Fry since we were turned onto their music with the Friends &
Enemies EP in 2013. This stylish song and equally creepy yet riveting video set
the perfect tone for enjoying this duo’s music.
8 / Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – ‘Kira
Kira Killer’
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is
quietly rather good. It’s easy to dismiss J-Pop with a casual swipe but get
past the commercial detritus it so often produces far too well and swiftly and
there’s some magic. With its mix of pure pop melody, cutting edge production technology
and bubblegum pop videos that are incredibly detailed this just works. And when
it works, you know it.
7 / David Bowie – ‘Sue (Or In
A Season Of Crime)’
Extracted from the rather
fantastic triple album retrospective Nothing Has Changed, Sue (Or In A Season
Of Crime) is a typical Bowie curve ball away from the obvious and with its
modern jazz trappings it works very well indeed. Not to be out done, it’s
companion track on single ‘Tis A Pity She’s A Whore is even more of an
experimental piece. More Bowie can only be good…
6 / Science of the Lamps –
‘Superhero Me’
We’ve been hearing this
song in the live setting much longer than in the studio setting but on both
fronts it’s an ear worm of über proportions. With a suitably silly video that
vanquishes the villains with superhero skills and plenty of musicality we’re
pretty sure that the Do Ba Ba Do Ba refrain of the intro is the way forward…
5 / Natalie McCool – ‘Wind
Blows Harder’
Wind Blows Harder saw the return of Natalie McCool with an edgy,
almost feral sound. The video sees a Hunger Games style confrontation in a
mysterious wood between two tribes and the underlying furious beats of the song
make all the more impact with the well choreographed visuals. Make sure to check out the remixes from this
song as well!
4 / Mark Lanegan Band – ‘Floor
of the Ocean’
We’ve quietly loved the
music of Mark Lanegan for a while now. Whether he is collaborating, solo or, as
on this release, with the titular Band there is much to get your teeth into.
Floor of the Ocean is an album highlight and single and with this song we could
feel the quality immediately. One listen just doesn’t suffice!
3 / Neneh Cherry –
‘Everything’
Neneh Cherry is form favourite
artist chez #SRCZ. Extracted from her excellent Blank Project album, part of
our Albums of the Year, Everything closes the album with an extended jam that
really merits its seven minute length. The tight, sparse production from Rocket
Number Nine works perfectly with Cherry’s incisively timeless lyrics and the
video is a work of minimalist art in itself. Everything really IS everything.
2 / Argonaut – ‘TV’
If there’s one thing we
like chez #SRCZ its music. We like it even more when music encourages new
beginnings and positive distractions. TV is one such song, and with a low
budget but pointedly cool video we are encouraged to put aside the TV and enjoy
the fines things in life like good books, talking to people or making music.
1 / Ex Cops –‘Black Soap’
The first single from Ex
Cops excellent album is the addictive listen that is Black Soap. With an impossibly
cool street scene video accompanying the song, we got right into this song from
the first listen.
