WHO CARES FOR FUTURES.

It's been a long spell since the world last heard from frYars, the spectral electronic outfit of London's Benjamin Garrett. A few years on from the then-teenager's ambitious debut, Dark Young Hearts, Fryars returns all grown up on his nebulous new single, "Love So Cold". The wind-swept croons let off James Blake-esque smoke signals mixed with the bleary-eyed overtones of The XX, plus the lowest lows of 808 + Heartbreaks-era Kanye thrown in for good measure. And when the soft drums roll in, the minimal acoustics chill the dust off your winter coats right down to the tails, and there's just no looking back.

DOWNLOAD: "Love So Cold" - Fryars
 

GOT GAME BY THE POUND.

Until recently we'd have told you Blackstreet's "No Diggity" was virtually untouchable, but then Australian up-and-comer (and New Shapes SXSW alum) Chet Faker went and changed our whole shit up. Swinging for the fences on his original interpretation, it's all swooning minor chords and murky Thievery Corporation-esque production. When the smoke clears, you're fully entranced by Chet's cigarette-scorched croon, the downbeat synths, and his bearded James Blake whiskey swagger. All in all, it's an ultra-modern ballad that goes toe-to-toe with the original at every step of the way. Major hat-tip to our brothers from another motherland, Chess Club, who dropped Faker's Thinking In Textures EP in March and will be bringing him over to the UK with us for his debut shows there next month.

MP3: "No Diggity" - Chet Faker

TOUCHING THE SKY TONIGHT.

D-E-W-L are a relatively mysterious new d-u-o emerging from the backstreets of London with a refreshing approach to experimental soul and leftfield R&B. Debut offering "Red Velvet" affectionately (confectionately?) borrows elements from Miike Snow and Phantogram, setting the scene with a glitchy backdrop, Icarus-flying oohs, and chop pop vocals out of the Clock Opera playbook. Then come the heartwarming tones of fingers falling gently on piano keys and that soulful croon on the hook, coming off like the most unclassifiable parts of James Blake and Jai Paul with a vocal reminiscent of Paul Usher of the late great Magistrates.

It's like a more subtle take on Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness", until D-E-W-L catches full-blown Ratatat fever and revs up dueling guitars and rousing atmospherics, as tribal chants drive you to an epic conclusion. There's no shortage of reference points in play here, yet the final offering - premiered below - manages to come off entirely unique, a monolith of pop accomplishment that has us incredibly excited to see what the two Londoners have in store for us next.

DOWNLOAD: "Red Velvet" - D-E-W-L [exclusive]