An easy hit to enjoy, a timeless stomp of a song with striking performances form all involved – Signed Sealed Delivered makes light work of engaging with listeners past and present. A sharp and stylish new release, and easily one of the most likable rap singles to emerge so far this year.
Singles
When In May carve out an emotive and genre-fusing pathway, programmed rhythms juxtaposing the organic and crisp guitar, with a breathy vocal somewhat blurring the lines between emo-rap and The xx.
All the more impressive with each revisit. Once again, EspeceX has managed to capture a sound that’s entirely its own thing – something like Lemon Jelly if reimagined in a cinematic modern world.
Always an artist with an unrelenting thirst for exploring the unknown, Souleye impresses every time, and Final Frontier absolutely follows suit. There’s a subtle old-school groove and flow to the verses, which fuses unexpectedly well with these timeless dance synths and the stop-and-start nature of the set-up.
Raw indie pop-rock with scene-by-scene storytelling and a likable groove – established Connecticut songwriter and musician Adam Lippman reflects on mismatches in romance, with Wasted.
Celebration and sorrow walk hand in hand, and rightfully so, as Black and Blue delivers one of the most fitting and memorable tributes ever to the iconic Amy Winehouse.
London songwriter and artist Jennifer Juan brings a unique fusion of traits to modern music, as the seductive tones of First Love softly pour through the airwaves.
Carving out their own distinct sound and style as thoughtful songwriters and alternative rock musicians, Washington DC band Waking Stone release the riff-strong and heavily impactful Ashes to Ashes.
Irish fourpiece Chiral note hints of influence from the likes of Tool, Rage Against the Machine and The Prodigy, but ultimately carve out their own unrivaled art-rock alternative, which proves both seductive and unsettling in its gentle to explosive unpredictability.
Simple by design, complex in the depth of its cinematic, imaginative embrace – composer and pianist Angelo Nicola Giuliano captures the raw essence of intimate piano playing, with the beautifully authentic Whispers Of Love.
Colourful pop production though stripped back and simple in essence, meets with a confident and rhythmically distinct rap outpouring, as Marcus Porter releases the aptly joyful new minimalist party anthem Celebration.
Diary-like lyrical vulnerability meets with a poetic metaphorical overtone and edgy pop production – songwriter and artist klaud explores the depths of isolation and loneliness, with mad king.