LISTEN: Five New Releases You May Have Missed

We always do our best to bring y’all the latest Eurovision releases ASAP. But sometimes a few songs slip under the radar and pass us by. Forgive us! As penance, we’ve done a backtrack and gathered up some new singles which we missed.

 Lordi – “Nailed By The Hammer of Frankenstein”

Over the years Eurovision has thrown up many curiosities, and Lordi must surely rank amongst the oddest. But hellish costumes aside, their win was probably deserved. Incredibly it’s almost a decade since their victory, and rather than mellow in old(er) age, the band have moved towards a more hardcore sound. The results aren’t pleasant. To the regular ear “Nailed By The Hammer of Frankenstein” is a crude exercise in dick waving, as the group roar out lyrics which even Robin Thicke would turn down – “the hammer nails tonight”. A monstrosity.

Serebro – “Don’t Make It More Painful”

They’ve had as many line-up changes as the Sugababes, but unlike their British counterparts, Serebro are stronger than ever. With only one original member left (Olga Seryabkina), the band’s sound has inevitably evolved somewhat since Eurovision. On “Don’t Make It More Painful”, the punk influenes of “Song #1” are largely gone, replaced with electronic beats. However, the sass, attitude and passion all remain, and it would be safe to predict that their hit rate is going to continue for some time yet.

Aarzemnieki – “Cietos Vakos”

When Aarzemnieki first emerged victorious from Latvia’s Dziema, their winning entry was treated with almost universal disdain by the Eurovision fandom. But then as May approached, something strange happened – people started to like it! After five Aarzemnieki-free months, it’s clear we all went temporarily mad. And if evidence is needed, look no further than their latest effort “Cietos Vakos”. You might call it charming, just like you would a busker which you rush past with your hands firmly wedged in your pockets. The twee and hokey may have caught some of us off guard before the contest, but the same trick won’t work twice. The Latvian gang and their German leader are going to have to do much better if they’re to remain musically relevant.

Jessy Matador – “Zuluminati”

Jessy Matado can usually be relied on to give us a decent summer belter. His Eurovision entry, “Allez Ola Ole”, is every bit as infectious now as it was in 2010, while subsequent releases have also provided ample dance fodder. Sadly, “Zuluminati” doesn’t quite live up to his past glories. Previously, Matador’s tendancy for constant repetition helped to mould catchy ear worms, whereas now it comes across as grating. The whole track feels over produced and lacks any sense of spontaneity. Passable and unexciting.

Ani Lorak – “Slowly”

In 2008 the “Shady Lady” pop princess became a Eurovision queen (let’s forget Russia’s Dima Bilan won, ok?), and ever since we’ve basked in her regal brilliance. Admittedly she’s stayed away from the euro-pop which stole our hearts, and that makes us sad. But when she insists on producing output as exquisite as “Slowly” we can’t be angry. Balladering at it’s finest – soaring vocals, raw emotion, and a classy music video to boot. Bow down before your queen.

Photos: Screengrabs via Youtube