A Week In Music, Daft Punk Make Triumphant Return With Get Lucky, Chvrches EP Precedes Anticipated Album, Vampire Weekend Interviewed At Coachella

A Week in Videos... Undoubtedly the most eagerly-anticipated video of the week comes from Daft Punk, who return to the scene with ‘Get Lucky.’ Featuring Pharrell on vocals and the legend that is Nile Rogers on guitar, the track has already broken daily play records on Spotify and quickly became one of the most talked-about tracks online. A classic in the making, Roger’s distinctive guitar sound lends the track an authentic disco edge.

Heavy on the expletives, low on production costs, this Frank Turner video for ‘Plain Sailing Weather’ sees the angry troubadour continuing the confessional vibes of his last single ‘Recovery.’ Playing with his band in a church, the track begins with Frank playing alone, with his guitar, before the band kick in with him for the chorus.

Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding must both have very understanding partners because their on-screen romance in new video ‘I Need Your Love’ is pretty damn convincing if you ask us. Calvin might not be a single man but he’s definitely a singles man and ‘I Need Your Love’ is no less than the seventh track to be released from his album. With Ellie on vocals, the track’s a typical Harris banger, and the video is a 3 and a half minute display of excessive cavorting from two of the UK’s biggest pop stars.

Of course, this week’s video section couldn’t pass us by without mentioning one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now. That’s right, folks, Psy has finally come through with the follow-up to ‘Gangnam Style.’ Suitably bizarre behaviour from Psy in the video for ‘Gentleman,’ as he turns out to be the world’s worst gentleman, pulling chairs out from under his date, pushing them over and all whilst wearing a particularly offensive pair of baggy-crotched trousers.

Records of the Week... Much-hyped, CHVRCHES aren’t quite ready for a full-length release just yet, but the Recover EP has been treated with the same degree of anticipation as a debut album would have mustered. They’re currently straddling a gulf between underground electro-pop and more commercial fare. At times they are “polished and playful” but we’re talking in the realms of Grimes or Robyn, rather than Smash Hits territory. “Chvrches continue to impress with each new development. Their blend of likable electro-pop is devoid of many of the genres cliches, is catchy but not overly commercial, is not manufactured or mannered and above all produces some great tunes. Bring on the album.”

Another precursor to an anticipated album release, Just Movement is a 5 track sampler for Robert DeLong’s forthcoming album, due for release later this year. Whilst the critically lauded producer and songwriter displays a wealth of talent here, our reviewer was wondering what’s left in the bag and hoping that the album might reveal some more hidden depths. “…on occasion, you are left wondering: What if? Has Delong been a little too polite and too reserved? Would 'Global Concepts' be better if it was brasher, dirtier, filthier? It is screaming out for the dancefloor... but possibly also a Chemical Brothers style remix. That aside, expect to hear a lot more from Robert Delong, he's very talented young chap.”

Interviews... Vampire Weekend are about to embark on the promo trail for album number two and the band chatted to Jack Osbourne at Coachella. Aside from the glaring ‘wearing brogues without socks’ error that’s going on here, these preppy indie rock wizards reveal that they’re planning to hit Europe and Australia this year as well as playing a Roseland Bowl show – their homecoming.

Alex Clare talks at Coachella, clearly unaware of the balmy weather and retaining his commitment to flat cap wearing. He’s about to embark on a huge gig at the festival, sandwiched between fellow Brits Jessie Ware and James Blake ad he reveals that he likes to go jogging to keep him show-fit.

Another band excited to play at one of the USA’s biggest festivals, Of Monsters and Men have been warned that Coachella’s a life-changing experience. They reveal that the weirdest place they’ve ever played was in a room where people were giving out free hot dogs… sadly, it was the in the early days and the ht dogs won the war of the crowd’s attention.

A Week In Music News... The nominations for this year’s Ivor Novello awards have been announced, with Alt-J coming up trumps, along with Plan B, The Maccabees and Lianne La Havas, amongst others.

The hotly-tipped Jai Paul’s album demos leaked online, with many assuming that it was the real thing, until JP himself took to Twitter to tell people not to download the bandcamp demos, as they were not the finished article.

Last weekend was the annual vinyl-lover’s big event of the year, Record Store Day. Even if competitive retail shopping isn’t your bag, there were plenty of excusive live performances at record stores up and down the country. Paul Weller put in a show at London’s Rough Trade, backed by members of The Strypes and Mile’s Kane’s drummer Jay Sharrock.