Add to playlist: the nerve wrecking and acid delirium of Silverwingkiller is the best music of the week | Music

From Manchester, via Peterborough and Shanghai
Recommended if you like Crystal Castles Pictures, Mandy, Indianaacid house
Next thing Festival dates including East London Block Party, Brighton Psych Fest and End of the Road

Salford’s Silverwingkiller sounds like the heat of the summer: disgusted, full of fear and trembling with pent-up energy. Named after the Chinese name of Blade Runner, they build industrial dance music based on the roots of nerves, the acid sound of the Roland TB-303 synthesizer and the shared creative ideas that James Baca and Yushang Ni discovered when moving to Greater Manchester, from Peterborough and Shanghai respectively.

Since their debut in 2024, the duo has released a series of brutal music on their DIY 1000% Triad Funded label, combining themes of paranoia, conspiracy and criminal violence with adrenaline-seeking electronic production. They’ve also made a name for themselves with a fierce performance: Baca on live drums, banging his hats, while Ni holds court on the microphone, singing seamlessly in English, Mandarin and Shanghainese.

June’s single Gunman Corner is their latest addition to the alluring sound of violence: rumbling drums, whining synthesizers and Ni’s breathy, well-crafted vocals build into a massive, laser-shooting blast. B-side Shang’s video offers relief: calm and dreamy, combining ambient and heavy beats, yet connected in an atmosphere full of fear.

The duo recently told Crack magazine that their music is the kind “you can buy off the dark web”. In just two years, Silverwingkiller has created a unique sonic world; which reflects our worst desires. Katie Hawthorne

This week’s best songs

Leon Bridges – Tears of Joy
Based on the four songs he’s just released from new album Happiness Anytime, the US soul has been exploring old-school afrobeat – a Tony Allen-ish beat behind the track. BBT

Uniiqu3 – Call My Name (ft Leonce and Cakes da Killa)
“On the dance floor, it’s just calling my name,” Uniiqu3 sings between the club’s standard songs – only for Cakes to answer his call (“hello?”) and divert the song to a strobe-dappled Jersey club. LS

Jake Xerxes Fussell – Rock Island Line
The Georgian folklorist combines American culture with words from the English nursery school for comfort: his voice is deep and unhurried, the arrangement of love is well-maintained and soft. LS

Beck – Into the Night
“Love’s hard to know / You see it come and go…” Returning to a broken heart, Beck uses the acoustic guitar and powerless strings that gave Sea Change’s Round the Bend such power. BBT

Sweeping Promises – Words
The bass-driven post-punk spirit of Slits, Ut and Au Pairs fits the best of the latest single from the Kansas band, as singer Lira Mondal spins around and then screams out loud. BBT

Eden Samara, Tim Reaper and Comfort Zone – Oracle
There’s a lot going on here – three murderous producers, the influence of the jungle, gospel and opera, songs asking the Oracle of Delphi for guidance – but a strong, passionate prayer emerges effortlessly. LS

Picture – Uuuuuuuuu
Danish techno artist Eeeeeeeee’s album was one of our favorites of the year, and there’s already a follow-up, Uuuuuuuuu – this closing track is a fast, dusty track. (Not on Spotify: download to Bandcamp) BBT

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