When this first came on I wasn’t so excited. The intro feels a bit disjointed – over-tricksy, over-sampled. Too Future Classic-y.
But after a while the threads begin to come together and what this track really hangs on is the strength of the main sample*. The bass underlines it, and the synths bring out the flavour. Sing it with me, “Me and My Heart, we’ll make it, we’ll make it through”.
* It’s Demi Lovato!
This track is about as fucking beautiful and powerful as it gets. It was written by the artist (David Balfe) as a tribute to his recently departed best friend and bandmate Paul. Super raw.
Oh and if you needed the emotion of this track reinforcing, here is a live performance with Jools Holland. Christ. Expect big things from David in 2021.
Merry Christmas readers. My present to you on this festive day is a window into a happier future. Smile.
As you might have been able to guess it is 5 years since Bristol-based label Shall not Fade entered the scene. To celebrate, their 5th compilation. There is a lot to like packed into the 16 track double-LP (with 5 bonus tracks on the digital version).
My picks are Everything You Need by Module One & Soela, Welcome Aboard by DJ Psychiatre and T Garden by the ever-impressive Lxury.
Unmistakably Jacques Greene, in the best way possible. Haunting. Cool. Emotional. Deep. Beautiful.
Thaw is his first solo release since Dawn Chorus. Check it out.
I know everyone goes on about the Spotify annual round-up (I love it too, don’t get me wrong). But sometimes Soundcloud bangs. Check out a playlist of HarrysMusicalEmporium’s top played tracks this year, right here.
Unlike Spotify, it features a bunch of artists I don’t know so well. Just really nice vibes for the weekend. Enjoy.
“Heyy I’m Jess, I make tunes about my life. i grew up in Spain but i’m Irish and living in London. dunno if you care about any of that but was told I should make a bio so hope that was alright lol x”
So says Jess Smyth, aka Biig Piig, and I think we’d better listen up.
Photo credit: Matilda Hill-Jenkins
This is a really interesting album to listen to. Tracks are scattered from 81 to 147 bpm. I get that that might not sound like an appealing prospect to some people. But I think this is one worth a little effort. Each track feels like an event – they weave together in way that shouldn’t work but does.
You’ll know what I mean from the first two tracks The Relic and Star – they have more than a touch of Jacques Greene about them – building R&B vocal samples into a broody electronic aural landscape – but they go into a darker place than Jacques tends to. The album then swerves into over the top brass and hip-hop with Freddie Gibbs on the vocals, before reaching my top pick, Wait 4 U. It is neat and uncomplicated, like an early Ramadanman track. My other top pick is Believe in U is Wait 4 U‘s upbeat twin. A final mention goes to 1000 Miles, featuring Sub Focus.
Bonus track: this is what got Machinedrum onto my radar back in 2014. It’s his emotional remix of Kelis, and it’s a banger.
Do you remember nightclubs? This video will take you right back, trust me. Exactly how it happens. 100% just the same as always. Just a normal night in a normal club. You know how it is.
The inimitable Irish songstress Róisín Murphy back with her first album for 4 years.
The whole release has a really fun, chuggy, funky feel with heavy disco influences. As always, her vocals range from the sultry to the melodramatic in a way that only she can pull off.
There are some great tracks on the album (Simulation, We Got Together and Murphy’s Law are my picks) – but what really stands out is the quality of the package. The mixing has been given so much attention and love. Each track flows into the next in a natural, but original and exciting way. Maybe it is a bit of nerdy thing to call out, but it all comes together to create a very cool 54 minute experience that’ll give you a good lift.
Sidenote, she released this on her own label which is called Mickey Murphy’s Daughter. That has to be one of the best label names going.
