Tag: soul

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SAULT – Wildfires

Even on an album as brilliant as SAULT’s debut Untitled (Black Is), Wildfires stands out. Like much of the LP it focusses on the theme of police oppression towards the black community, with lyrics like “Take off your badge / We all know it was murder” striking a tone somewhere between pleading and resignedly furious. It’s a remarkably affecting track, and even more remarkably they’re giving away the entire album free on their website, or if you’re really feeling it you can get a CD or double vinyl on Bandcamp.

https://www.sault.global

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Phenomenal Handclap Band – Do What You Like

I feel like it’s all been a bit serious on the TPW recently, so here’s a dose of carefree funk for you courtesy of Phenomenal Handclap Band, and a track that came out a couple of months ago on their album PHB via the always excellent Toy Tonics label. There’s a definite channelling of Chic, especially towards the back of the track, but that’s no bad thing, and the spoken-word bridge and semi-chanted chorus are both wonderfully retro and unashamedly positive: a beaming grin of a record and one that will be on repeat for some time to come.

https://toytonics.bandcamp.com/album/phb-2

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Moses Sumney – Two Dogs

I have tried hard to love græ, the new album by Moses Sumney. It’s clearly brilliant, and the scale of it is pretty staggering, but I’ve found it almost overwhelmingly impenetrable on the many occasions I’ve sat down to listen. This is a failing on my part. However, there is a three-track run at the start of the second side of the double LP that is utterly sublime, kicking off with Two Dogs. I just wish I liked the rest of the album as much as these 10 minutes or so. I’m sorry, Moses: I have tried, and been found wanting.

https://www.mosessumney.com

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Denai Moore – Motherless Child

I absolutely love Denai Moore. Her last two albums We Used To Bloom and Elsewhere have been on heavy rotation for the last few years, and I’m very exited about her next LP, Modern Dread, which lands in July. The production on Motherless Child is a lot more electronic and stripped-down than some of her previous music, but her voice is as heartfelt and soulful as ever. She’s a true original, and if her new album is anything like as good as the last two, we’re in for a treat.

http://www.denaimoore.com

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Nick Hakim – QADIR

Qadir reminds me of shitloads of different songs and artists, but is also undeniably original. In this one song alone I can hear Zero 7, BADBADNOTGOOD, Thundercat, even a touch of Marvin Gaye, as well as various others, but somehow it still sounds fresh and unique. The rest of the album, WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD – which came out last week – is a similar vibe, and combined with the sun blasting in from outside is making me feel exceptionally chilled and happy.

https://nickhakim.com

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Music

Lady Wray – Piece Of Me

Just heard this on Huey Morgan’s 6 Music show – it’s so good. Sounds like it could have been made in the heyday of 60s soul but actually came out last year. Perfect ‘bbq and beer in the sun’ soundtrack… if only.

https://twitter.com/Ladynicolewray