ListenUp
Farewell to Dolores O’Riordan, a beautiful collab between Laurie Anderson + Kronos Quartet and more
The Cranberries: Dreams
Lead singer of The Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan has passed away at just 46 years old. The band was formed in 1989 by brothers Mike and Noel Hogan, and O’Riordan joined after responding to an advertisement for a singer to write lyrics and melodies to some of the band’s demos. O’Riordan crafted a rough version of “Linger,” which became one of the group’s most famous songs. Their debut, however, is our pick: “Dreams” is more dreampop-tinged than many of their other tracks. From the 1992 album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, the song was redone for their recently released Something Else in a stripped-back, acoustic version which is just as pretty as the original, thanks to O’Riordan’s tender and bittersweet vocals.
Laurie Anderson + Kronos Quartet: The Water Rises / Our Street Is a Black River
The second release from Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet’s forthcoming collaborative album Landfall, “The Water Rises / Our Street Is a Black River” is a video featuring two back-to-back tracks. The album marks a first collaboration from the two highly experimental musical acts—and the results shared here, based on Anderson’s experience of Hurricane Sandy, are dramatic, unconventional and entirely powerful.
Abhi The Nomad: Marbled
In a true fusion of genres, Abhi The Nomad blends hip-hop, electronic, jazz and more on “Marbled” from his EP of the same name. The bop changes up in rhythm (while remaining super-catchy) as his flow remains effortless and flawless. Previous tunes by the musician have been more indie/rock influenced; this new release leans toward pop, and his ability to touch on so many styles effectively is echoed throughout the EP.
Cashmere Cat + Major Lazer + Tory Lanez: Miss You
With plenty of reverb, “Miss You” is a minimal but tropical track by Cashmere Cat, Major Lazer and Tory Lanez—with props to Palmistry for the original beat. While it’s certainly got an island-style vibe, the tune steers clear of becoming gimmicky—thanks in part to its glistening, polished production.
Ryan Hemsworth feat. NewAgeMuzik: Four Seasons
DJ/producer Ryan Hemsworth has teamed up with London-based afrobeats group NewAgeMuzik for a lush and atmospheric track called “Four Seasons.” Hemsworth—who will release a new album this year—has created a hazy but glittering beat, over which NewAgeMuzik offer tender vocals that warm up the track. This is a silky tune that begs for repeat listens.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
