PRESS/PLAY/STOP/REWIND/PLAY

Today is D day. After 14 years, D'Angelo dropped his follow up to one of the greatest albums of all time, Voodoo. And my god was it worth the wait. Go buy Black Messiah right this instant. 

If there's anything that's gonna get me out of a slump, it's fire like this. There's a reason why Rodigan and Zane Lowe pulled this up so many times on their recent versus session, because it's a heater of the highest degree. This shouldn't be legal in raves because it's too fucking damaging. Selecta!

I'm fucking angry. I'm fucking angry with everything that's going on all over the world. I'm fucking angry with all the heartless deaths that are happening in America. I'm fucking angry with the way employers are treating their employees. I'm fucking angry that the small things piss me off as much as the big picture. I'm fucking angry that there's not a damn thing that's gonna make me feel any better about any of this any time soon. Fuck it. Run The Jewels know the feeling. Run The Jewels is the answer to the question 'what's popping'. 

Revisiting a beautiful slice of cosmic house to beam me out of the office on a rainy Tuesday morning. Sci-Fi saviour. 

Everything I thought I knew is a lie. I don't know what's real any more.

He actually sent me a demo of this a long time ago, and the glacial synths and roller of a bassline really knocked our socks off. He's got some other killer tunes that he's working on and I for one can't wait to hear what he's got up his sleeve... Keep your eye out for his Foundation Crew too. Big tings a gwarn.

So when I heard he'd dropped a whole tape of beats leaning hip hop, I got rather excited to say the least. Clearly indebted to Dilla and his contemporaries, it's a wonderful collection of tracks that have been sitting on his harddrive for some time. At times raw, and with a real head snap to some of the beats, it's ideal for a rainy Wednesday night.

I'm back!

It was our work summer party last night and I'm hungover as fuck right now. Somehow, these breathless waves of synth is making me feel a bit better. But not much. 

FKA Twigs is about to go massive and I can't wait for her forthcoming album on Young Turks. Her voice is rich and ethereal (the constant Aaliyah comparisons are entirely warranted) and her choice of production compatriots shows off a leftfield, robotic humanism. It's matched by her twisted visual aesthetic that permeates everything she does. I'm also a sucker for anyone that can swear in such a beautiful manner. 

I can't recommend him enough as a live artist, he ticked every box for me; fun, honest, talented. Go see him next time he's around. 

Been bumping this one for a hot minute... It's pretty aggressive, but I fucking love it. Dope beat. AB kills it as always. Shouts to motherfuckin' Albania

Rockwell is one of those amazing producers that works loosely within the framework of Drum & Bass, but warps it into entirely his own style and influence, pulling in everything from Disco to Trap and making something that sounds unlike anything else in that realm. Shogun Audio have a lot to answer for with this one. 

RIP to the Bravest man In The Universe. A real loss, and I'm lost for words.

I've almost certainly extolled the virtues of Jai Paul's songwriting and producing on here. 'Jasmine' still sends shivers down my spine, and his album-that-wasn't-an-album is magnificent. While this is a collaboration between a wonderful and relatively unknown singer, Nao, and Jai's brother A.K. The 2 brothers work together closely and it's obvious here from the lo-fi production style and wonderful guitar stabs. It's neo-soul for the 31st century.

For now, though, I just had to share this. It's a breathtaking slice of electronic house/pop *hopefully* coming soon on Method Records. The vocals from the wonderful Lianne La Havas are beautifully gospel, shivers-down-the-spine, hands-in-the-air stuff, over this skippy beat that never empowers the rich voices that fill the room. This is going to be HUGE. Take it to church, Lianne!

When 'Act I: The Pledge' dropped a few years ago, it floored me. Along with most other music and hip hop lovers. It was something unique, lyrically astounding and just as musically intelligent. Since then, it's no secret how sporadic Jay has been with his music, and how frustrating it is to want more and never be rewarded. And I don't think this will be the calling for that mythical 'Act II'; it did leave my jaw wide and my hairs on end though. That similar cinematic formula that worked so well the first time round is repeated with aplomb here, but with the beautiful addition of LaTonya Given's stunning vocals. It's late night listening and it's wonderful. I'm not going to shout at Jay to release more, he'll give it to the people when he's goddamn good and ready. But this will tide me over for now.