Stormzy’s new track is on loop today, paused only to watch the video of the same release, which features a host of famous faces. But there’s been plenty of other bangers this week, too. Here’s our pick of the bunch.
Stormzy – Mel Made Me Do It
Stormzy returns with a tune that’s massive in every sense. With fearsome bars over 808 beats and string-work, the track dives in on the rapper’s image with an abundance of references. The glorious, 11-minute music video takes this a stage further, featuring a remarkable number of people Stormzy mentions in his verses – from Usain Bolt to Little Simz, Louis Theroux to José Mourinho. It’s as if Stormzy’s saying, ‘Whatever I speak, I can conjure’. Now that’s power.
Oscar Jerome – The Spoon
The titular track from Oscar Jerome’s sumptuous new album,
The Spoon.
When we spoke to Oscar, he told us his desire to “get back into this deep, telepathic musical thing”; this track epitomises just that, a psychedelic nu-jazz sound that’s both driven and one you can zone out to, beneath the musician’s emotive vocals.
Beth Orton – Haunted Satellite
Beth Orton’s first release in six years (and her first with Partisan Records),
Weather Alive is a beautiful, haunting affair. Some tracks have already been teased out, including ‘Fractals’, which features The Smile’s Tom Skinner on drums. Recorded at Orton’s home studio in London, there’s a real space to breathe on this record, typified by ‘Haunted Satellite’.
The Murder Capital – A Thousand Lives
Five-piece post-punker The Murder Capital continue to fly the flag for the abundance of incredible music coming from Ireland of late. Announcing their second album today,
Gigi’s Recovery, which is set to drop in January, they’ve today released brand-new single ‘A Thousand Lives’. Speaking rather poetically about what the new track’s about, frontman James McGovern has said: “Knowing that the day is only X-hours long, alongside my understanding of how love can be the true restorative seed, means that if and when you are so lucky to find it (and it is true) the seemingly small glance that is our lifetime could never contain enough of those days or those hours. Even a thousand of those lifetimes would never be enough.”
Girl Scout – Do You Remember Sally Moore?
Stockholm-based newcomers Girl Scout have put their debut track into the world,
Do You Remember Sally Moore? A ‘90s-inspired garage rock track, this group might be new, but it feels like a throwback – in much the same way the TV influences that inspired it, like
Sex Education and
Stranger Things, do. Fans of Holly Humberstone who attended the BRIT Rising Star winner’s sold-out shows in London and Manchester earlier this year will likely remember them in their supporting slot.
Jamie xx – KILL DEM
He barely ever puts a foot wrong, does he? We might be in the dying embers of summer (which officially ends today in fact), and Jamie has seemed to capture just that with new release ‘KILL DEM’. This track was in fact made with one of summer’s highlights in mind, Notting Hill Carnival, and follows ‘Let’s Do It Again’ released in April. C’mon Jamie, give us the album.
DaBaby – SOCKS
Trust DaBaby to put out an album with at least some degree of controversy. His latest drop,
Baby On Baby 2, has caught the attention of some for its track ‘Boogeyman’, which makes
certain claims about Megan Thee Stallion. You hope that doesn’t take all the shine off the new record, which features some decent work from the rapper. Produced by Atlanta-based Pooh Beatz, ‘SOCKS’ sonically touches on the eerie themes of the album.
Nilüfer Yanya – Rid Of Me
A cover of PJ Harvey’s ‘Rid Of Me’, this is Nilüfer Yanya’s first release since her terrific sophomore album,
PAINLESS, came out earlier this year. Speaking about the cover, Yanya – born to an Irish-Barbadian mother and Turkish-born father – has described how the track “haunted” her for years after she first heard it, “but in a comforting kind of way. It comes across defiant, alien and twisted, but it is a perfect song. I actually think it’s very romantic despite what some of the lyrics get at.”
Jordan (feat. Maverick Sabre, Big Narstie) – Danny Boy
Salford rapper Jordan has enlisted two big names for his latest track ‘Danny Boy’. Released alongside a strong new video, which depicts tales of struggle told in a small counselling session, the track isn’t your usual boastful UK rap track. Maverick’s voice is always majestic, and Big Narstie’s more heartfelt, almost vulnerable approach is an interesting addition.
Lip Filler – Cool
New West London outfit give us their debut single. It’s hard not to hear a Jamie T swagger about this one, with frontman George Tucker’s delivery and lyrics, as he screams of “4am” and “Walthamstow”. Based on this opening introduction to them, expect to be hearing of this five-piece a lot more in the future.
