Crisp acoustic guitar, generated alongside a raspy vocal style that suits the short but striking lines of the writing. Deepak Chandrasekar brings a catchy reggae-pop gem to the modern scene, with the slick and recognisable King Nothing.
Reggae
Already an impressive and consistently likable band, this latest offering injects a twist of something like soul and ska modestly woven into the band’s classic tapestry. The songwriting is catchy, the vocals sublime, and the faultless unity between musicians lets this spacious and genuine arrangement create a completely intoxicating groove.
Reggae’s legend of the times, today’s leading artist and a songwriter with an inspiring degree of passion and kindness at the heart of his process. Azato delivers another gem of an original track, with the full-band set-up, catchy melodies, and poignant conceptual relevance, of Bridges Not Walls.
Love the Magician plays keyboard, acoustic guitar, and percussion, throughout this electro-acoustic project of free-flowing yet often heavily conceptual wonder. The album has been a lifetime in the making, and its timeless tones and careful balancing of playfulness and power speaks volumes on behalf of that.
Openly a reminder that life is largely unexpected, The Whole Story is a celebration of the messy and hilarious realities that often take us by surprise. It’s also a strong introduction to the style and songwriting of Vermin & the Beachrat – an act with a swiftly expanding repertoire.
The idea is protection and teaching, raising children who can deal with anything in a bright and empowered fashion, despite a darkened world – instil a sense of change and possibility that lasts – and the song naturally gets that kind of positive energy flowing through the space.
Retro-electronic sound-play follows colourful keys that rise and fall, as we’re welcomed by the implied security of a hopeful production. Love the Magician focuses on unity and possibility, by way of scornful and robotic lyrical outpourings, which openly reflect upon the clear gaps and obstacles in societal connection.
Creatively bridging the gap between nostalgic reggae and the contemporary hip hop and alternative pop realms, Jah Sent delivers a five-track EP of originals, which prove as diverse as they are heartfelt and melodically engaging.
Reggae breakthrough Caleb Hart continues to bring catchy songwriting and originality back to the timeless genre. Emancipation is beautiful, an anthemic arrangement with softly passionate vocals, and a lyrical core that inspires and celebrates liberation.
From smooth and unplugged beginnings, through changing paces and catchy flows, Ayana John and Peter Ram carve out an intoxicating lane of good vibes and striking vocals, for the unforgettable Do Bad Remix.
Come And Get Some V2 is a brilliant track – not overly performative but kind of confident and satisfying in its own way. Think Will and The People, Sticky Fingers, Sublime, but with a more relevant kind of indie-pop production and versatility to the lyrical and performative spread.
The deciding factor is not always just my enjoyment of the track, sometimes it helps to note the response of others who hear it playing. My three-year-old son is not easy to please musically, but as I turned this one up loud, he ran into the room dancing, and openly declared it ‘his favourite song’. Strangely enough, it quickly became mine, too.