THE PLAYLIST

Bodyslam/ Wicha Tua Bao

Lifted from their forthcoming eponymous seventh LP, Wicha Tua Bao [literally “the art of light body” which refers to Qinggong, a Chinese martial arts technique for making the body extremely light in weight] finds the Thai stadium rockers treading familiar ground of melodic pop-rock and sentimental, yet hopeful lyrics. Frontman Toon, perhaps the most relatable everyday guy in the Thai music scene, sings about letting go as he’s come to terms with the fact that his relationship couldn’t go on. “I’ve still got love for you/I’ll love you with the understanding/ That our bond will remain/ Even if it wasn’t what we’d dreamed of,” he croons.

Ciara/ Level Up

R&B mainstay Ciara returns with Level Up, a highoctane dance jam based off of DJ Telly Tellz’ Fuck It Up Challenge, a Jersey Club remix of Fun’s smash hit, We Are Young. As for the track itself, it still retains the frantic energy of those two songs, but with the message of female empowerment as an added bonus. “Them old mistakes are gone, I won’t do them no more… I’m chilling, I’m winning/ Like on another level,” she quips, effectively brushing off her haters everywhere. Muse/ Something Human

“My circuits have blown/ I know it’s self-imposed,” Matt Bellamy sings in the opening verse of Muse’s latest cut Something Human, addressing the mental and physical exhaustion accumulated during their epic 18-monthlong Drones World Tour. Stylistically, the track shies away from the band’s usual prog-rock grandiosity and finds consolation in the simple, more mellow production. “Three thousand miles left on the road/ Two-hundred hours till I am home,” Bellamy adds, counting down to the reunion with his loved ones.

Everything Is Recorded (Feat. Obongjayar & Yazz Ahmed) / Carry Me

A brainchild of XL Recordings label boss Richard Russell, Everything Is Recorded is a collaborative project recorded at his West London studio, The Copper House. Following a full-length album from earlier this year, he’s gearing up for the release of 8AM, a six-track, vinyl-only EP that boasts contributions from Sampha, Infinite Coles, and Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside. Lead single Carry Me is a gospel-inspired soul number made even better by emerging young artists Nigerian-born soul crooner Obongjayar and Bahrain-raised, London-based trumpeter Yazz Ahmed.

Cat Power/ Wanderer

Chan Marshall, better known as Cat Power, finally emerges from a six-year absence and is set to gift us all a long-anticipated follow-up to 2012’s modern classic, Sun. Titled Wanderer, her tenth studio album drops in a few weeks, but here we have its lead cut/title track to tie us over until then. Set to an ethereal folk arrangement, the just-over-one-minute-long song finds the singersongwriter intoning alongside a choir backup. “Oh, wanderer I’ve been wondering/ If your brown eyes still have colour, could I see?” she begins. “When your goal is ages out for the end of your story/ Give my hand to Jesus when I ran away with you.”