If you happen to be in the UK or other parts of Europe, you’ll probably be blessed with an extra hour of sunshine at the end of your hard day’s slog, thanks to the clocks jumping forward an hour. Forget farmers and their dark mornings, it’s time to play trick sack in the park until 9.00 pm with your best friends.
Do people still play hacky sack? Have they ever been?
Moving on. While the temptation to go out and play late into the night may be strong, we’ve got a selection of great tunes to draw you back to the dignified grounds of your dedicated listening area, with bands from the likes of Harry Styles, Rosalía and Gnarls Barkley all on this month’s menu.
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American Girls by Harry Styles
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During my school years, I was deep in school One direction trenches (I can already feel the judgement). The kind Harry Styles always stood out to me, with his curly hair and cheeky demeanor. So when he started his solo career back in 2016, I was curious to see how his music would develop.
It has definitely changed for the better. His latest album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Sometimesit may be full of almost cheesy vocals, but it’s a very well-produced collection with plenty of toe-tappers.
It’s a song that’s been on repeat in our testing room since the album came out American girls. It starts slow and quiet with a creeping electronic whine, interrupted by a loud piano.
Next, a punchy drum track kicks in soon followed by Harry’s booming vocals. An extra layer of bass is introduced, which can easily sound blobby and weigh down a song if not presented with the right level of punch and pep.
If you haven’t tried the new album, this is the song to start with.
Words by Robyn Quick
Hosted by Berghain
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Is it pop? Is it an opera? Whatever it is, Rosalía’s wonderful symphonic hits Berghain a small sensor. The three-minute epic is packed to the brim with enough orchestral drama to make the conductor’s baton win. Your speakers had better take 20 minutes to do a deep stretch, because this is fine, appropriate Exercise.
Performed in at least three different languages (Rosalía apparently showed off her linguistic prowess by singing more than 10, a big show), this is the kind of hard-hitting, boundary-pushing pop that cemented the Spanish singer’s legacy as one of the most forward-thinking artists working today.
It also features vocals from our all-time favorite icon Björk, who was also a huge influence on Rosalía and performed with her on a fun song for the charity. Oral, Berghain slipping and sliding between loud, Wagner-esque opera to the kind of unusual strings you’d find in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
This is easily achieved without a second, and the result is a fun ride.
Words by Harry McKerrell
Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine
For many of us, Rage Against the Machine was the sound of rebellion – even if our rebellion was jumping up and down on the bed in our bedroom as the music played one volume higher than it was meant for.
And of the many things that make your blood boil and go on in the world and the years make me brave, this month I found myself playing Rage Against the Machine’s. Bulls on Parade more than a few times.
First, because the iconic song turns 30 years old. Second, because despite its age, it remains as relevant and amazing as ever. Featuring Zack de la Rocha’s poignant, political vocals and Tom Morello’s instantly recognizable guitar style, the song is a perfect example of everything that makes Rage Against the Machine iconic.
And as an added bonus, the track’s rolling rhythm, quick volume changes and booming bass make it a great gauge for any system’s low-end heft, versatility and general sound ability. If you’re not listening to Spinal Tap 11, you’re not doing it right…
Words by Alastair Stevenson
Tomorrow You’re Dead Today by Gnarls Barkely
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Gnarls Barkley is back, baby!
Or maybe that should be Gnarls Barkley there is back, because despite the confusion caused by people who think that Gnarls himself is an independent person, he is actually a duo that includes the famous producer Danger Mouse and soul singer CeeLo Green.
Regardless of the singular/plural confusion, it’s a triumphant return for the duo following a yawning 18-year hiatus. Atlanta the first record Gnarls Barkley has released since 2008 The Odd Couple, with the group behind the 2006 smash-hit You are crazy
Tomorrow Dies Today the album’s ecstatic opening, which moves from small, hand-backed verses to loud, haunting vocals as Green’s unmistakable soulful lament mourns the end of all time.
“Take cover all you children of God / And the sun is going to hide / The sky is raining letters / And I will never forget the day the future died.”
The world may be ending, but you’ll have one heck of a sound when the lights go out.
Words by Harry McKerrell
The Days We Left By Paul McCartney
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Paul McCartney is one of the most famous singers in the world, he used to be a member of a small group called The Beatles, and this week I had his new song. The Days We Traveled play a little.
This was surprising, for several reasons. First, because McCartney has never been my favorite Beatle (team Harrison all the way). Second, because I have never been happy with some of his recent albums.
While they’re all well composed and recorded, as you’d expect from a man who helped create the blueprint for pop music, they feel empty, and dare I say it, try hard. As someone who is looking very hard to relive his glory days and stay relevant.
The Days We Traveled it shows a nice departure from what I adore. The song is a thoughtful, retrospect, gentle ballad full of wistful reminiscence and at times a melancholy cry of old age.
It’s not his best work ever, but it’s a solid reminder of why McCartney has been such a powerful force in music over the past 50 years – he was one of The Beatles’ best songwriters, let’s not forget.
Accompanied by a soft, well-tuned acoustic guitar composition and sweet, yet grown-up vocals, the song is a slow burn that skillfully tugs at your heartstrings, evoking the sense of loss that comes with many of us as we age, but without feeling maudlin.
If you’re a fan of The Beatles, even if you’ve fallen out of love with some of McCartney’s recent work like I have, I’d highly recommend giving it a listen.
Words by Alastair Stevenson
Like A Dog Chasing Cars by Hans Zimmer
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We’ve been using Hans Zimmer’s no-nonsense The Dark Knight song from before I was a part of What is Hi-Fi? group, with our clean CD copy always wheeled out anytime we have a disc spinner that needs testing, or we want to see if a given speaker or different hi-fi and digital source deals.
However you play it – CD, streaming, vinyl if you’re lucky – there aren’t many tracks that can compete with it. The Dark Knight because of its sad size, and adrenaline rush. Each track is a winner, but we always choose Like a dog chasing cars for its layered, dynamic nature and its ability to convey an ever-rising sense of dread and drama in equal measure.
It’s a metronomic, repetitive song that’s almost hypnotic like a sharp, pulsating bubble underneath, with a succession of strings and drums that should, with the right arrangement, have enough phrasing and phrasing to sound like the waves of a stormy ocean.
For gauging dynamics – both small and large – and how your system tracks those deep, bass-sounding notes, Like a dog chasing cars perfect for testing whether your hi-fi is a superhero, or a little Joker.
Words by Harry McKerrell
What is showing now?
As a collective, our review team listens to a lot of music. Sometimes we rely on old favorites that we’re familiar with, but we always find new tracks – either new releases or songs we’ve never come across before – that give us valuable insights into the new products we’re trying.
We also know that many of our readers are looking for new tunes, to test the capabilities of a new system or to show off the full capabilities of their innovative hi-fi setup. That’s why we’ve come up with our monthly ‘Now Playing’ list, a list of everything we’ve been listening to and loving lately, whether we’re at home with a set of headphones or at work in our beautiful test rooms.
Each installment we’ll bring you a handful of tracks selected by our review team, explaining why we love them and what they bring to particular productions. So even if you’re not looking for new songs to play on your system, we hope you’ll find something you’ll like no matter how you choose to listen to it.
We’re always looking for new music, so comment below to share what you’ve been listening to!
MORE:
Read last month’s edition: discover the 6 bangers of the test room that make noise in our march
Don’t Look Back in Anger at these classic 1996 tracks that turn 30 this year
Large horn speakers, Bluesound radio, and Bryston power amps: inside the new Spotify Listening Lounge designed to showcase lossless audio
Look at ours final test tracks collection