Category: New

Be My Husband (Hot Chip Remix Edit) – Nina Simone

I have a really special treat for you today readers.

There have been quite a few Nina Simone remixes coming out recently as part of a Greatest Hits re-issue, and I have been pretty unimpressed. To be fair it is a hard job to take recognisable and established tracks and reimagine them in a way that is an enhancement, without killing what was special about them to begin with. That challenge is amplified when it comes to Nina – her vocals tread a fine line between power and fragility. That tension is why she is such an iconic singer, and why she is able to convey so much emotion through her voice. It is also why most remixes of her tracks seem to miss the mark.

And so how does Hot Chip get this one so right?

I get the sense they are real fans of her work. They treat the vocal with a huge amount of respect and still let it lead the energy and the tone of the track. And then behind it they build up an incredible soundscape with piano, electric guitars and a bassline so thick you can almost touch it. It gets full marks from me.

Transcendence – Windows

Early Jan might not be the most clubby time for most people, but I couldn’t help but share this one from Windows (formally DJ Windows XP).

The EP opens up with All the Things You Are; I can only describe it as a thumpy monster. But the best part about it is that I’m pretty sure it samples Estelle & Kanye’s American Boy. Inventive, genius, and did I mention thumpy?

Sunset Love is a bit more on the dreamy side and sounds like an early Wayward track. Also highly likable.

Finally Secrets and Long Gone are both nice atmospheric pieces with nice piano and string leads respectively. I suspect they will last a little less long in the memory, but they both stand up well.

Check it out. I’m looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

Rosewood – Bonobo

It has been a beat since I’ve posted about Bonobo. The guy is my most listened to artist of the year, again, again, so it only feels right. Top 1% of listeners baby.

Anyway he has 4 new tracks out ahead of the release his upcoming album Fragments, including collaborations with O’Flynn, Jamila Woods and Jordan Rakei. My pick of the bunch is Rosewood. Bonobo delivering a trademark Bonobo track. Doing what he does best. Touch.

Bonus: all 4 tracks are on this playlist if you want to check out the others. And let’s face it, why wouldn’t you?

There are tickets on sale to 4 dates he has at the Royal Albert Hall. Definitely worth a look.

The Distance – Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

If you’d asked me back in 2012 who my favourite artist was, there’s a good chance I would have said Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Trouble was released that year – to date it remains TEED’s only full length album, and it would be tempting to say that Orlando’s production output hasn’t lived up to its promise. There have been some sparks, not least collaborations with Bonobo, Tinashé and Amtrac, but I’ve been thirsting for some new solo work that hits the heights of that album.

And, here we have it.

It’s a high quality EP. My pick is Into the Light.

Bonus album: Trouble. Where it all began. I’ve don’t know why I’ve never written a gushing post about it before. Here it is in all it’s glory.

Just Hold On – Sub Focus & Wilkinson

Sub Focus & Wilkinson. Wilkinson & Sub Focus. Two of the bigger names going in UK drum & bass over past decade.

Just Hold On represents a bit of a departure from their template with some original melodies, and some live strings for extra depth (it was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studios in Bath). But really this isn’t one to think about too hard. Just turn it loud and rock out.

If you are fan, they released an album together, Portals, in 2020. For me, none of the tracks are quite as interesting as Just Hold On. But if it is 50 minutes of energy you are after, then check it out.

Whities 029 – Lord of the Isles

It is so hard to do spoken word over music without it sounding forced. For me, producers who dabble in the genre tend to turn out tunes that disappoint (recent examples include Wayward and Tom Demac). So it is always a bit of surprise when I come across one that I love.

Maybe it is because I am a sucker for an accent, but I can’t get enough of this all-Scottish partnership: producer Lord of the Isles, and poet Ellen Renton.

The highlight is Inheritance, but the EP delivers a beautiful ambient soundscape throughout.

Tread – Ross From Friends

Ross From Friends is back with his second album. As you would expect it is slickly produced, and in his trademark dusty lo-fi style; a style that gives the impression that you are over-hearing the music, as opposed to listening to it. Or that is is from a a different era somehow.

Anyway, as an album it bubbles away nicely without ever really taking off. Each track has an interesting idea at its core, but never enough to grab you by the collar and give you a good shake. The closest are Love Divide and Life In A Mind that both threaten to go big, with some strong 90s club influences – but even they turn out to be a bit of a tease.

I don’t want to sound too neggy, because overall it is a decent listen (almost reminiscent of Aphex Twin at points), but I am finding it hard to get too excited about it. What do you think?