Rita Ora: Premature evaluation

Here, at last, is the new single from Rita Ora, whose second album was thrown into disarray by the end of her relationship with co-writer / producer / superstar DJ Calvin Harris.

As you can see from her shoulder, the song is called Poison and it's produced by Sir Nolan, who recently had a mega hit with Nick Jonas's Jealous.

I've listened to it once, and it's a solid 7/10. It could be a grower, it could become fantastically irritating. But that's what makes pop music exciting isn't it?

Lyric video below.

Rita Ora - Poison

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Ewan McGregor sings again!

It's a long time since Moulin Rouge, but Ewan McGregor is finally flexing his vocal cords again.

The world's second-best Obi-Wan Kenobi pops up in the new video by Catfish and the Bottleman - after the band staged a somewhat creepy campaign to get his attention.

Singer Van McCann stitched together a three-minute montage of McGregor's smiling face to soundtrack the song Kathleen - and sent it to him; while while drummer Bob Hall played a tour with McGregor's picture on his drum skin.

Incredibly, the Scottish star was more flattered than frightened - and subsequently became a fan of the Bottlemen's scrappy, infectious rock ditties.

And so, he agreed to star in the video for Hourglass - even singing the song a capella in his hotel room. Rock and Roll, eh kids?

"Working with Sir Ewan was one of the funnest things I think I'll ever get to do," said McCann. "When people tell you not to meet the people you look up to, fuck that. Videos for us are hard, as we've got Austin Powers heads, but this was just a fucking class craic."

Here is the video in all its six-minute glory.

Catfish and the Bottlemen - Hourglass

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Like bees to the hon-ay

Over the years, Britney has released some excellent, world-beating pop songs. But she hasn't looked like she's having fun since Toxic, over a decade ago.

That all changes today, with the breezy video for Pretty Girls, her collaboration with Iggy "inexplicably the biggest female rap artist in the world" Azalea.

So, Iggy is an alien who crash lands in Britney's swimming pool and leafs her down a path of bubblegum debauchery. Or something. There's a lot of vamping, a demented display of Iggy's "alien powers" and the best dancing Britney's pulled off since her well-publicised meltdown.

It seems the song has brought back Britney's balls - which is a phrase I instantly regret typing. But the video is as much of a blast to watch as it clearly was to make. Well done, everyone.

Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea - Pretty Girls

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Dancing on her own

I've waxed lyrical about the new Lianne La Havas single, Unstoppable, twice already. A blissed-out, love-struck intergalactic soul jam, it's one of my favourite songs of the year so far.

A video came out this morning, which sees the Londoner so overcome with joy that she starts dancing around with a big grin plastered all over her face. It's quite lovely.

Lianne La Havas - Unstoppable

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Shiny new things from Years & Years

Death-defying train line trespassers Years & Years have unveiled their new single Shine which, you will be disappointed to hear, is neither an ode to shoe polish nor a cover of the Take That "classic".

Instead, it's a glimmering-but-moody electropop ditty, the inevitable success of which will make Theo Hurts burst with jealousy.

Here's frontman Olly Alexander explaining the inspiration behind the song:

"The metaphor of 'shine' and 'shining' comes from the way somebody can make you feel totally brand-new and special and re-made in the light of their love, but how that can feel incredibly unstable and overwhelming and make you want to destroy yourself".

He sounds like a right barrell of laughs, doesn't he?

Listen below and gird your loins for Years & Years debut album, Communion, which is due out on 10 July.

Years & Years - Shine

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Tinie Tempah: Not Letting Go

He's back! And he's remembered how to make a catchy single again!

It's everyone's favourite London MC Tinie Tempah, with a shiny, upbeat love song - a refreshing change from the hand-wringing "I'm famous and it's horrible" lyrics on his last album.

With a sample from James Brown's Funky Drummer, a hook from Jess Glynne, and a reliably tongue-in-cheek verse from Mr Tempah ("I hope I'm still with you when your hair gets thinner") Never Letting Go a refreshingly summery track. Which was the intention all along, apparently.

"I've been a fan of Jess since I heard her song Home," said Tinie in a press release announcing the single. "We met properly at the Brits last year and spoke about doing something together. Both being Londoners, I wanted to make a song that captured that London summertime feeling which is always the best time of the year for me and the time where I've had my most romantic experience. So it's an ode to a girl I met and our experiences in this amazing city we call home - London!"

Listen below. Never Letting Go is out in the summer.

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