WITHOUT A COWBOY HAT: Beyoncé fails in her attempt at country this week. Photo: Chris Pizzello/AP
… as well as silly and delicious dance music from Ballinciaga and Arif Murakami: Here is the weekend sound.
Friday 16 February at 16:06
Ariana Grande & Mariah Carey – «Yes, And?»
Ariana Grande’s house-kissed comeback single ‘Yes, And?’ may have felt a bit underwhelming when it hit the world in mid-January, but it’s actually grown quite a bit stronger over the past month. When the 30-year-old now releases a new version with childhood hero Mariah Carey as guest singer, it’s not just a dream come true for the main character – it also gives an already irresistible song extra vocal meat on the bone. We can stand more Mariah in monitor in 2024.
Ballinciaga & Arif Murakami – «Dance»
The masked trio Ballinciaga has never been a stranger to paying tribute to the stupid and delicious hedonism in its artistic universe, but the result has rarely been as engaging as on the recent single “Dance”, where most of it hits the mark. This is possibly because the group has expanded to a quartet for the occasion. Arif Murakami’s entry is effective, but feels a bit lacking in the context. Nevertheless: This should be able to set many dance floors on fire in the time to come.
Marstein – “The Matrix”
When Undergrunn rapper Jo Almaas Marstein first titles his new single after an anagram of his stage name, one might have expected even more advanced language play than is the case on the equally enjoyable single “The Matrix”. However, this is a playful and pleasant stroll with a laid-back approach to the good life (“ignorance is bliss, fuck a book”) and a UK Garage-esque beat that tempts you to spend a few minutes inside.
Beyoncé – «Texas Hold ‘Em»
After devoting her 2022 album “Renaissance” to black dance music, from disco and house to techno and trap, Beyoncé Knowles takes a U-turn – literally – with the two new songs “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em”, where she throws herself into the country genre. Having spent his childhood at various rodeos in Houston, Texas, horse jazz is presumably as natural a genre for the 42-year-old as anything else. It just doesn’t sound like it. “Texas Hold ‘Em” isn’t quite as disastrous as Justin Timberlake’s detour into the woods on, uh, “Man of the Woods” (2018), but twang feels just as completely flat and glued on.
Also read: Record review: Frida Ånnevik – “VI”: All good things are six
Dua Lipa – «Training Season»
Where Beyoncé at least ventures out of her comfort zone, Dua Lipa finds herself on the opposite side of the scale in this week’s song pile. “Training Season” – reportedly written as a sigh of relief after a series of failed dates – is a piece of cool and purposeful disco that doesn’t want too much. The song is produced by Tame Impala manager Kevin Parker, without this being heard beyond a cheeky snare drum sound and subtly placed percussion. The melody is too one-dimensional to really shine through repeated listens, but a hit will probably be damned.
Fay Wildhagen – «Ohmygod»
Let’s Keep It In the Family, Fay Wildhagen’s third (and according to the bland press release, her “closest” and “most personal”) album, is out today. With 15 songs, it will probably take some time to get to know it properly, but the driving, straightforward and life-affirming pop-caramel “Ohmygod” makes the upcoming task appear cheerful.