The year was 1991 and one of Jazzie B's muses Miss Victoria Wilson James has just dropped this delectable slice of swingbeat-infused neo soul. "Through", which was additionally remixed by another legend of the house scene - Frankie Knuckles, was a follow-up single to Wilson James' collaboration with Soul II Soul - the tremendous "A Dream's A Dream". Both tracks have been trending high on my playlists these past early-90's-nostalgia-themed weeks... I found it to be a good excuse to revive my "Lost Classics" thread.
2 of my beloved divas are back this week with brand new disco-flavoured gems. Miss Jessie Ware and Miss Róisín Murphy. Inspired by the hilarious edition of "Table Manners" where both artists met up to talk all things cuisine coupled with the disco-revival theme of their respective new singles, it only seemed right to blog about them together. Aside from "Spotlight" and "Murphy's Law" I've decided to use this opportunity to re-visit both artists' single discographies to date, cherry-picking their finest releases. Enjoy!
Jessie Ware announces the release of her 4th LP "What's Your Pleasure?", celebrating a decade of music-making, with the deliciously crafted "Spotlight". The richly produced single follows the fantastic "Mirage (Don't Stop)" - one of the 25 greatest tracks of 2019 as compiled for my annual countdown. It's an instant Pop classic, a multi-layered, string-laden, exquisitely arranged song with a good old-fashioned breakdown and all. The video for "Spotlight" is a fittingly stylish piece shot in Belgrade and directed by Jovan Todorovic. You can pre-order your copy of Ware's new album in your format of choice HERE.
Check out also Top 15 Jessie Ware Club Diva Moments HERE.
Róisín Murphy teams up again with the indestructible Sheffield club scene legend Dj Parrot aka Crooked Man for an 8-min-long, early 1980's synth-infused disco jewel. We are all invited for an exhilarating, pure fun moment of dance-floor nostalgia. In Róisín's own words: "Murphy’s Law is our crack at a straight up, straightforward, no-frills, disco standard". I once before celebrated Murphy/Parrot collaborations around the release of the unparalleled "Incapable" and I am thrilled to see this creative partnership continuing to thrive. And long may it last!
I must admit I first stumbled upon Cleo Sol only a few months ago while listening to a very special BBC 6 radio show curated by the one and only Róisín Murphy. It was the multi-layered, luxuriously produced "One" and it literally left me speechless... The exquisitely sung "One" is an amalgamation of neo-soul, nu jazz, 1970's psychedelia dipped in an ocean of strings, choirs, exotic instruments, Sol's own vocal acrobatics and diva reminiscences vibrating between the worlds of Minnie Riperton, Roberta Flack and Amy Winehouse. "One" sounds both charmingly retro and unique. A single so rich and impressive I could simply not imagine another track reaching anywhere near its splendour. And yet this London based singer-songwriter has ensorcelled me once more with the delectably smooth "Sweet Blue". That effortless coolness, immaculate Inflo-penned production, vintage-flavoured vibes, pizzazz and THAT voice!!! So here they are, both songs already trending very promisingly among my mid-year Best Of 2019 cherry-picks.
First up, Vendredi sur Mer! Whenever I finish listening to her divine debut album "Premier Émois" I am automatically gasping for more of these luscious slices of electro poetry. I have been fascinated by this unique Swiss synth-pop artist ever since I heard the irresistible "La femme à la peau bleue" 3 years ago. The impossibly catchy "Encore" is a fitting culmination of this record and one of the most adorable songs of 2019 so far. What an absolute darling of a tune.
Secondly, the high and mighty - la Reine de la Pop Christine & The Queens has recently charmed us with a fresh assortment of remixes completed for the 5th single taken off "Chris" - "Comme si". Honey Dijon's Saturday-night-ready 90's house flavoured rendition of the track is an instant favourite among the lot. Put on your dancing shoes, baby!
How about a double portion of Kaytranada magic? The ever so prolific Haitian-Canadian producer is back with his brand new EP including another collaborative gem featuring one of my favourite vocalists right now - Shay Lia. "Chances" is a mid-tempo oldskool-flavoured groove which serves as a delicious warm-up to the house-meets-afro-beat banger that is "Another Lover" which the beat wizard has recently arranged for a Nigerian-American sister act VanJess. The single is accompanied by one of this year's most vibrant music videos directed by Mahaneela.
Kaytranada seems to be absolutely unstoppable right now between his own releases, guest appearances and production duties. And long may it last.
Yaeji is keeping herself busy with this double offering of new sounds. The Korean producer is serving her brand new track "One More" together with a delightful remix of Charli XCX's "Focus" she has adorned with her own vocals. The pulsating "One More" brings back sweet memories of her earliest works such as "New York 93" or "Feel It Out", mixing house and electronica elements in her own signature kooky style.
Here's how Yaeji herself describes the mood of the track and its eclectic and ever-changing production on her Instagram account:
"I started writing this track while experiencing deep growing pains. I felt lost in my life's quick change of pace, and was betrayed by someone I trusted. I needed to write this song to understand what was happening around me. Throughout the next few months, I kept revisiting the track, adding and taking away bits, changing the synth completely, rewriting a part of the lyrics—it was a constantly changing piece that documented the process of my transformation. Listening to the earliest version of the song through its evolution, I remembered the times I was confused or angry, processed those feelings, understood my pains, and finally felt like I gained a bit of control over it all. "One More" is about enduring and coming to terms with pain until you have the strength to forgive and move on."
So here it is, the 3rd chapter in the ever so captivating collaborative saga between Róisín Murphy and Maurice Fulton. The "Jacuzzi Rollercoaster" / "Can't Hang On" single is featuring London based singer Ali Love whom you may know, aside from his solo projects, from his previous joint efforts with Freeform Five, Luca C & Brigante & Hot Natured, all of whom would have also joined artistic forces in the past with La Murphy herself. "Jacuzzi Rollercoaster" is a full-flavoured slice of mid-tempo electronic-funk-meets-synth-pop, embellished with some rather delectable 1980's R&B reminiscences. The track certainly fits into the Irish artist's very own description of her current sound "My kind of dancing: all low and funky, allowing itself to be a little out of control". The throbbing "Can't Hang On" on the other hand is an invincible dancefloor-ready stomper with layers of Murphy's vocals.
The very talented Portuguese New Yorker Bráulio Amado designed all the exclusive artwork for the whole series of these four exhilarating 12" singles produced by Maurice Fulton. Roll on October release of "The Rumble" / "World's Crazy" combo.
2 new talented singer-songwriters and one prolific producer. Following his work with Kali Uchis, Mary J Blige and Katy B, among others, the omnipresent Haitian-Canadian producer Kaytranada expands his vast catalogue of collaborations with these two fresh singles by Lauren Faith and Shay Lia.
For the uplifting summer afternoon groove "Just a Little", Kaytranada teams up with British vocalist Lauren Faith. Her smooth vocals paired with his signature modern take on contemporary R&B create a luscious listening experience.
As for Shay Lia, I have blogged about this Djiboutian artist on a number of occasions already, "Cherish" and "What's Your Problem?" being my favourites of Lia's songs to date. It's always a pleasure to see her back. "Funky Thang" is a 90's house flavoured anthem in the making. Pure fun!
Our most beloved disco revivalists Midnight Magic are back out of nowhere with not one but two brand new tracks!!! The unparalleled Tiffany Roth and her reliable crew are serving us a double dancefloor feast. The spell-binding "Give Me Life" is a sonic cocktail of house, the Magicians' horn section's signature embellishments and those sublime vocal harmonies and melody twists reminiscing the band's phenomenal club delicacy "Trouble T" which I selected as my 2014 Track of the Year here. And to think that's only a b-side!!! The summery and super-catchy A-side "Give Me a Reason" is an 80's flavoured synth-pop groove which already sounds like a Midnight Magic classic. It will no doubt sound equally charming in a live setting.
Check out also the video for "Down Delay" which the band premiered here back in January.
2 Swedish divas are back! It's been 4 years since Neneh Cherry's experimental "Blank Project" and 8 years since Robyn's epic Pop triptych "Body Talk". For the euphoric "Missing U" Robyn teams up with her long-term artistic ally Klas Åhlund and Metronomy's Joseph Mount while Neneh Cherry is joined by the legendary Massive Attack's 3D and Four Tet constructing a haunting ambiance of electronica and dub on "Kong". Two very much welcome comebacks in one week.
And here are both singers joining forces for their collaborative single "Out Of The Black" which was out 4 years ago:
What a week for all the Svala Björgvins aka Kali devotees like myself!!! The Steed Lord-Blissful diva is back with 2 brand new singles today!
The Icelandic vocalist has been recently signed by Sony Denmark and is embarking on a solo career again. "For The Night" is a smooth synth-pop number Svala co-wrote with her long-term artistic (and not only artistic) partner Einar Egilsson and Ryland Blackinton. The song serves the impossibly infectious melody paired with a full palette of vocal harmonies, Svala's signature sounds across her Steed Lord, Blissful repertoire as well as her solo-efforts to date. The video for "For the Night" was directed by Saga Sig.
To spice things up we are also receiving "Ekkert Drama" today which sees Svala teaming up with Iceland's prime feminist rap collective Reykjavíkurdætur. "Ekkert Drama" is a bona-fide urban flavoured deep-house anthem for all the Scandinavian music lovers out there. One for Saturday night no doubt.
Following the superlative "All My Dreams" + "Innocence" double-offering, Róisín Murphy reveals the 2nd instalment in her latest artistic project in collaboration with Maurice Fulton. This time the pair is serving the instantly anthemic "Plaything" - your brand new club essential and the multi-layered, steamy electro-meets-disco-noir moment "Like". Both tracks immediately land among the Irish artist's most accomplished tracks to date. Alongside "Momma's Place", "You Know Me Better" and "Simulation", 'Plaything" stands out as one of Murphy's most vigorous house gems in her entire catalogue! The intricately produced and almost Kraftwerk-ian in places "Like" on the other hand, joins the likes (!) of "Foolish", "Discomfort of Strangers", "Unlovable" or "Ripples" in the extensive list of her most impressive b-sides. Such a treat for die-hard fans and completist collectors of her art as myself. I life you Róisín Murphy!
The very talented Bráulio Amado designed all the exclusive artwork for the whole series of these four scintillating 12" singles produced by Maurice Fulton and released across four consecutive months this summer.
