The playlist - pop: Mavrick, Olly Murs, Annie and more

Mavrick – Remedy

The Swedish musical landscape is peppered with exciting female pop stars. You know that, I know that, the world at large knows that. For some reason, however, their male counterparts have been lagging behind, with 2011 Eurovision winner Eric Saade the last male Swede with a penchant for pop to really breakout (albeit briefly). Step forward then, Gothenburg-born former Swedish second-division footballer Marcus Sennewalk, aka Mavrick (the “e” is missing “to make it a bit more unique”). Debut single Remedy slots neatly into the current pop trend for slapping a drum’n’bass beat behind a big gospel-tinged banger – all pensive piano, long pauses and vocals that seem to constantly be building to a crescendo that tantalisingly never quite materialises. It’s a big, chamber pop sound that suits his little boy lost vocal and his apparent loner status (Remedy was written during a month-long solo trip to Iceland). Keep an eye on this one.

Annie – Workx2

Norway’s Annie isn’t one to rush. Since she released her debut single, The Greatest Hit, back in 1999, she’s only managed two albums; 2004’s incredible Anniemal and 2009’s only marginally less good Don’t Stop. Four long years after that album she slinked back into the spotlight with 2013’s The A&R EP and now – in what is a relatively quick turnaround – she’s back with the four-track Endless Vacation EP. Like The A&R EP, it’s a collaboration with underappreciated pop maverick Richard X, who, if the songs released so far are anything to go by, has been listening to the sort of Eurodance last heard in Magaluf in the early 90s. Lead song Cara Mia puts a tropical spin on its featherlight dance backbone, while Dadaday starts off like La Isla Bonita before morphing into a melancholic synth-laden sigh complete with an irresistible “da, da, da, di, da, day” hook. Premiered here is the more effervescent and knowingly playful Workx2, a song with about 15 hooks that reeks of cheap Hooch and gives a sly nod to RuPaul’s Supermodel (You Better Work). Honestly, what more do you want from pop music?

Yelle – Moteur Action (Remix)

When pop goliath Dr Luke approached French trio Yelle about working on their new album (he’d been impressed by their remix of Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold, a Luke production) their reaction was muted. “We didn’t know who he was,” frontwoman Julie Budet told Billboard. “In France, nobody knows the name Dr Luke because nobody cares who is making the music. They are more into the artist, but not into the producer.” After a quick Google, they decided to collaborate and the result was last year’s Complètement Fou. Earlier this year, one of the album’s highlights, the fizzing Moteur Action, was given a delirious makeover by producer SOPHIE and PC Music’s AG Cook. A new edit of that version, which is basically half the original bolted on to half the remix, now comes with a baffling video featuring dynamite popcorn, various bouncing body parts and a crystal bejewelled motorbike helmet. At less than 90 seconds long, it’s a brief peak into a a very surreal world indeed.

Olly Murs – Kiss Me

Getting into the true spirit of Q4 – ie pop’s end of year bonanza where nearly every major act releases something new, something repackaged or something Christmas themed – X Factor presenter and occasional pop star Olly Murs will release a new version of last year’s Never Been Better album at the end of November. As well as a DVD of one of his concerts, fans, who likely already own the album, will also get four new songs, one of which is the new single, Kiss Me. Co-written by Taio Cruz, who seems to have realised it’s easier writing for other people than trying to do it yourself, Kiss Me sounds a bit like the Years & Years, carries a faint whiff of the tropical sound that fits so snugly into what’s happening on radio at the moment that it could well have been focused grouped by Radio 1itself. It’s also very good; Olly sounding more relaxed here then when he has to dance around in a pork pie hat being the eternal happy-chappy. Four albums and eight UK top 10 singles into his career, he’s earned the right to feel comfortable as a proper pop star.

KDA feat Tinie Tempah and Katy B – Turn The Music Louder (Rumble)

Producer KDA has so far made his name as a remixer, re-working songs by the likes of Kylie Minogue, Chvrches and London Grammar. He also had a go at Katy B’s excellent Crying for No Reason, which might explain why she’s decided to return the favour by appearing on this reworking of his debut single Rumble, now retitled Turn the Music Louder (Rumble). Appearing alongside Miss B is ever present rapper Tinie Tempah, whose main role – apart from looking dapper in a floor-length patterned suede jacket in the video – seems to be clarifying what exactly is going on: “Wanna hear TT on the KDA with the Katy B?” he asks at one point. The rest is all Instagram likes and swag-like hipsters. The real star, however, is Katy B, who sings every line like her life depends on it, her keening vocal confidently riding the song’s joyful bounce and snap until it almost sounds like she’s about to explode during the middle eight. Seriously, if this song doesn’t make you want to dance around like a fool then you’re probably really boring.