Every Thursday, the Paste staff and contributors choose their five favorite songs of the week, awarding one entry a “Song of the Week” designation.
Song of the Week: Fire-Toolz feat. Jennifer Holm, “And Where Is The Heart? I’ve Searched My Entire Home”
Warp Records has been on some serious momentum this week, between the new Oneohtrix Point Never single and this excellent Fire-Toolz track. After discovering session singer Jennifer Holm through a YouTube clip, Fire-Toolz crafted a track that feels like a masterclass in overstimulation. Holm’s anonymity lends her vocals an impossible quality, reminiscent of Beth Gibbons, while Fire-Toolz surrounds her with synths that clang with the spirit of Beverly Glenn-Copeland. It is a piece of music that is post-hardcore, post-New Age, and entirely genius.
Emily Nenni: “What Have I Done Wrong”
Emily Nenni continues to prove she is a master of the pedal-steel grin. “What Have I Done Wrong” carries the aroma of William Bell and Aretha Franklin, offering a retro, winsome sound that feels like a tailored nine-piece suit. With contributions from seasoned players like Steve Potts and John James Tourville, the track is a firecracker with a mile-long fuse, showcasing Nenni at her most compelling.
Massive Attack / Tom Waits: “Boots on the Ground”
Two of music’s most elusive figures have emerged from their bunkers for a seven-minute masterclass in doom. “Boots on the Ground” is a collaboration that breathes with a surgeon’s sense of timing, pairing Massive Attack’s Mezzanine-era claustrophobia with Tom Waits’ gravelly, political rage. It is a powerful, furious track that demands attention.
Qontinue: “Pressured Up”
Following his impressive record FIGURING(!), Toronto’s Qontinue delivers a small masterpiece with “Pressured Up.” The track layers gospel and soul samples over a jazz-inflected arrangement, creating a sound that feels like a sped-up NTS radio show. It is a beautifully textured piece of work that highlights Qontinue’s unique ear for production.
Tori Amos: “Gasoline Girls”
Eighteen albums into her career, Tori Amos remains as uncompromising as ever. “Gasoline Girls,” a preview of her upcoming record In Times of Dragons, captures the playful, strange energy of her best work. It is a deceptively small song that manages to feel like a grand statement on transformation, anchored by Amos’ signature piano work and a soaring, full-band chorus.
