Singles Bar | OMR Reviews June 15th

Singles Bar – this week, releases from Frank Ocean and Ciara feat 2 Chainz.

Two new singles are picked apart by the pop guzzling cretins of One More Robot magazine (new issue in shops now!).

Frank Ocean – ‘Pyramids’
[Def Jam/Odd Future]
★★★★☆
Frank Ocean’s baseless, story-driven croonings have put him at the forefront of recent pop inventiveness, but ‘Pyramids’ is a bold move even for him. This ambitious ten minute single is a groggy troll through the most deviant night of young Ocean’s life, featuring layer after layer of ambient synths, wandering 808s and backward drum loops. But it’s the Odd Future singer’s grim vocals that remain the most effective instrument. –Dean Van Nguyen

Ciara feat 2 Chainz – ‘Sweat’
[Epic]
★★★☆☆
On the first single from upcoming album One Woman Army, Ciara is back in her comfort zone and determined to make you sweat! This bass-driven, R&B track is what we have come to know her for. It is truly a stomper of a tune with an uptempo sound and throbbing bassline. During the verses, she virtually speaks the melody, which is a shame. It would be nice to hear her use that pretty voice, while the rhyme from 2 Chainz does work well, but it’s dropped from nowhere as if it may have been an after thought. Still, solid effort. –Karen Lawler