As we approach a year since the UK was plunged into lockdown it’s easy to reflect on that which we have lost yet it remains just as important to remind ourselves of the things that have stuck by our sides; carrying that needed comfort. Music has been one such lockdown ally and as the dawn of March approaches the Platform team lead us through the tracks that have been topping their February spin cycle…
Jason Derulo – Love Not War (The Tampa Beat) (single)
This month I have had Jason Derulo’s Love Not War (The Tampa Beat) on repeat. I honestly cannot, from the top of my head, think of a bad Jason Derulo song. His pop-infested tunes have me permanently craving summer, and instantly boost my mood. The saxophone used in this particular song adds a summer holiday and pool-lounging vibe, it’s hard not to want this on constant repeat simply for the endorphins it radiates. Despite that, some of Derulo’s songs can be a little repetitive when it comes to the chorus and this is no exception, but it’s still the perfect song to put on when you need an instant pick-me-up.
Rating: 8.5/10
By Faith Pring (Editor-in-chief)
Justin Timberlake – My Love (single)
During the second lockdown, I started making a Spotify playlist with all the songs that I grew up with (thanks to my parents) that mainly consisted of 2000s bops. From Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Britney Spears, Pitbull, and Justin Timberlake, I’ve had them all on repeat since then but my favourite this month has to be Justin’s My Love. The 2006 track is the second single from the Future Sex / Love Sounds album and features a rap verse from T.I. towards the end which makes the RnB ballad even better. It is an upbeat song that describes a couple’s possible future together and Justin’s boundless love for his partner, which he managed to highlight from the very beginning of the track – “Ain’t no other woman who can take your spot, my [love]“. So, if you’re feeling nostalgic about the 2000s music, this track might be a great start for a throwbacks playlist.
Rating: 10/10
By Rucsandra Moldoveanu
GIRLI – Ex Talk (EP)
In terms of Valentine’s releases, there are really only two ways you can go. GIRLI’s latest EP is on the more melancholy end of this spectrum; a celebration of newfound singlehood, and a pretty ferocious one at that.
It’s a highly enjoyable five-song riff on the pain of a break-up, and a great expansion of a discography that has seen many different genres and lyrical ideas explored. The 23-year-old Londoner, real name Milly Toomey, has had success with up-beat, romantic songs such as Girl I Met On The Internet and Friday Night Big Screen before, but has added depth to her repertoire here, with the slower Passive Aggressive and Throw Myself Away particularly notable.
Simply, though, it’s an entertaining lambast on several topics, and as an artist at the cutting edge of several genres currently, it’s great to see GIRLI’s progress again with this record.
Rating: 8/10
By Will Hugall
Peach Pit – Tommy’s Party
Tommy’s Party is the closing track on Canadian band Peach Pit’s debut album Being So Normal. The song is from Tommy catching up with his roommate the morning after his party. You listen as Tommy expresses his longing for said roommate and friend, pointing out that the girl his friend turned up with seems to be “knowing him” the way Tommy used to. Whether that longing is the romantic, unrequited love kind or just simply wanting your best friend back after they get a girlfriend is left up to the listener’s interpretation.
No matter which way you think that longing goes, the song perfectly evokes that slow, meandering feeling of being hungover the morning after a party. Lead singer Neil Smith’s soft-spoken vocals layered over rock-inspired guitar melodies lead the listener almost lazily through the roundabout conversation Tommy’s having with his best friend. You can almost feel that sadness of feeling like you’re drifting away from your friend, and it’s a gorgeous listen.
Rating: 9/10
By Robbie Nichols (Creative Corner editor)
Mother’s Cake – Cyberfunk!
My choice this month is a recommendation straight from our Music Editor himself and an album I wish I had discovered a whole lot sooner. Cyberfunk!’s predecessors range from The Beatles and Pink Floyd to Stevie Wonder and CHIC, and the album wears these influences loudly and proudly on its brightly-coloured sleeves. Sure, it’s derivative – but who cares when the band is having this much fun? The retro aesthetic is infectious and there’s a level of skill that cannot be denied. It’s one of the few things to come out of these cursed past twelve months that I won’t be leaving behind.
Rating: 8/10
By Jamie Morris (Deputy Editor)