Review: The CQQL label has always come at house music from a different perspective than most, and that's certainly true once more on this latest drop, not least because it comes on 7", which is not so often associated with this genre. It is K Wash who steps up here with guest AMIRSAYSNOTHING for a low slung, swaggering cut with bold analogue drums and plenty of hip hop attitude. The mumble rap bars add another layer while snaking leads bring some West Coast cool. After that opener comes 'Protect My Neck' which ups the tempo but keeps the production raw, stripped back and suggestive, with more intimate vocals and ticking hi-hats keeping time.
Review: We've got a lovely bit of golden-era hip-hop here from the DATUM Recordings label. It comes on 45rpm and features one jam each from King Most and Casquiat. The former goes first with 'A Tribe Called Westwood' with signature Tribe bars and a deep cut groove with raw bass. On the flip is 'Colossal Rhymes' which is a great big slice of boom-bap complete with smooth flow, organic percussion and some eerie melodies hanging in the air above the beats.
Review: The seventh in this series of 7" singles is by Bristol and Avon's Kinlaw and Franco Franco and it is a rare mix of sounds with R&B, Italian rap and twisted basslines all defining the tracks. 'Crocs On The Plough' is industrial and experimental in its production - earth-shattering bass, police sirens, and soot-black synths, but background chords bring light as the vocals are delivered with guttural rawness. On the flip, the OSVMVSM version slows things right down to a crawl and the distorted synths and crunchy textures take on even more otherworld character.
Review: Following the more contemporary r&b, neo-soul and psychedelic funk flavours of 2023's Red Moon in Venus, a set in which she sung almost entirely in English, Colombian American artist Kali Uchis has decided to return to her roots on fourth full-length Orquideas. That not only means vocals in Spanish, but also a varied sound palette that draws on a wide variety of Colombian and wider Latin musical styles - think reggaeton, demblow, bolero, salsa, Brazilian MPB and bossa-nova. It's a superb, expansive and evocative set all told, with a fine supporting cast of high-profile guest performers including Karol G, Peso Pluma, El Alfa and JT.
Review: A decade after making her debut, and some six years on from the release of her widely acclaimed 'Tale Me Apart' album, Kelela is back on Warp with what some critics are saying is her strongest work to date. While her early musical missives twisted R&B in dark new directions, with her sweet and emotion-rich voice front and centre, 'Raven' takes her in a variety of thrilling new directions. The album was recorded in two weeks in Berlin, with the lyrics chronicling a love affair in reverse order (so the pain of breakup is explored on the drowsy ambient pop opener 'Washed Away'). Musically, it's far more diverse than many were expecting, with forays into dreamy breakbeat, jungle, IDM and two-step garage complimenting her usual otherworldly R&B grooves.
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