Radar reviews Petite Biscuit's new EP and checks out Weezer's new single 'Feels Like Summer'.
Petit Biscuit - Petit Biscuit (EP)
Mehdi Benjelloun, better known as Petit Biscuit, is the 17 year old French DJ and music producer prodigy that we should all be listening to. He released his debut EP way back in May 2016 but it’s about time people took notice.
When Mehdi was younger he played normal instruments like the piano and the guitar but he always preferred the sound of electro and house.; because it allowed him to create “unlimited combinations of music”.
‘Once Again’ is the first track from the EP; it utilises the nostalgia of church organs to create a unique setting for the rest of the EP. Wind chimes are soon introduced accompanied with melodic vocals set an enchanting mood.
‘Sunset Lover’ is just so perfect, if you’ve heard one song by him it’ll surely be this one. Benjelloun hasn’t put a foot wrong with this track, it’s not overdone or overproduced . His signature guitar rhythms produce a blissful and effortless vibe that take you back to those hazy, chilled summer afternoons.
Third track from the EP is ‘Jungle’; his synonymous guitar introduces this tropical house track, it’s quickly followed by skewed vocals. If there were any other producer behind this track it would have come out completely different; what’s so individual about this track - and the other tracks - is that it’s obviously fueled more by emotions.
The penultimate track, ‘Full Moon’, is full of glittery wind chimes that are most definitely the star of the show.
‘Iceland’ finishes up the EP beautifully. It reintroduces the church organs from ‘Once Again’ and revisits where all the tracks took us.
Petit Biscuit’s sound is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before; he’s taken this genre and completely broke down its walls.
Each track has a defining characteristic and is unique on its own but what is so great about it all put together is that it tells a story; a story filled with emotions and deciding moments.
Think of The XX and Odesza but about ten times better and that’s Petit Biscuit; for someone who created this when he was 16 it’s insane and incredibly impressive. You wouldn’t be a fool for thinking he was older. It’s safe to say Radar is chomping at the bit to her more from him.
Weezer - Feels Like Summer (Single)
Weezer are back with their new single ‘Feels Like Summer’, which is a new sound for the band.
The track’s deceptive title would lead you to believe this is a happy, upbeat track; but don’t be fooled, yes it’s upbeat but the lyrics are quite dark. Lead singer, Rivers Cuomo, sings about a lover who passed away.
Cuomo has spoken about how the autotune on the lyrics “I'm holding on and I don't want to let you go” was something that was decided by ‘the powers that be’ and as much as he tried to cut it down it just wasn’t happening. Maybe, this explains the drastic new sound.
However, as much as this song is bombarded with happy keyboard riffs,little drops and autotune the melancholy and sadness is most obvious in the lyrics and Cuomo’s’ voice.
This song isn’t about what summer feels like in general, it’s a different kind of summer, a kind of summer you have when it reminds you of someone you lost.