Blissful. Wrap yourself in vocoders and sample pads, steal drums and sonic sunlight. Let Hugo Manuel (a.k.a Chad Valley) be your desert island disc, for today at least. The NME (on a quick google) describe him as ‘to chillwave what Katy B is to dubstep’. I have no idea what this means.
Chad Valley – Now That I’m Real (How Does It Feel)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In reality he’s the frontman of fun, inde-pop band Jonquil, one of those Oxford bands who grew up in the wake of Youthmovies and Foals. His music, both in Jonquil and solo is beautifully optimistic and soothing – when his album came out last year it was described unanimously as either chill-wave or tropic-house. Last year was great for genre names.
Now That I’m Real is one of those Hollywood songs. One where it transports you into some idyllic cavern in your imagination and lets you ride out some wild fantasy in this summer setting. It’s one where cool kids in loose fitting t-shirts and crazy-skinny jeans are having clothing-advert-fun. It’s one where sun-lit beach parties fall into night-time barbecues.
Jonquil – Real Cold (live)
Youthmovies – If You’d Seen A Battlefield
See you at the beach
Tom xx
