After making the BBC Sound of 2012 shortlist and emerging with hype inducing tracks ‘Friend Crush‘ and ‘I’m his girl’, the Lucky Numbers signed band Friends, seemed to disappear into the ether. Several months later the Brooklyn based outfit are back with a new video for their latest single ‘Mind Control’. ‘Mind Control’, like much of their other material is reminiscent of 80′s Nu Wave pioneers Tom Tom Club and fittingly their new video takes us back to a dystopia portrayed so well in SciFi films of that era. The polished video and solid track suggests to me that we won’t have to wait as long to hear from Friends this time round.
The moment before the moment many of us have been waiting for has arrived. Hours ago the rap enigma that is Jay Electronica announced via his Twitter page that his long awaited (and long overdue) LP is finally complete. Whilst there is no release date for Act II:Patents of Nobility, this announcement alone is enough to satisfy and excite his believers worldwide. Keep posted for more news one of the most anticipated albums of 2012.
One guy making movements in the UK is London based Mikill Pane. His distinctive delivery and Rodney P swagger has an appeal many UK emcees lack and his recent collaborations with Ed Sheeran will surely nudge him ever closer to mainstream crossover.
The lead track from his Morris Dancer EP (out now) which dropped in January sees a collision of Calvin Harris inspired production and Mike Skinner lyricism, which will no doubt help his cause. Have a listen to this and get ready to explain to your colleagues why your head is bobbing up and down at work. Download for free via the Soundcloud player below.
Mikill also recently released a video for ‘Kings’, another track lifted from his current EP – peep that after the jump.
When listening to an artist or band for the first time, my brain attempts to find a suitable place for it on the shelf of my musical minds eye.
On hearing Nedry’s Condors LP a year ago, I would have put this London based trio somewhere between The Prodigy and Tricky. A year and a new single later my brain would slide Nedry’s new material comfortably between Portishead and Bjork.
‘Violaceae’ keeps much of the bands early Trip-Hop influences intact, whilst fusing it together with a newer post-Dubstep sound. The clashing instrumentation doesn’t overpower the vocals of lead singer Ayu Okatita either – vocals which are helplessly reminiscent of Bjork’s ethereal warbles.
Take a few minutes to chill with this track and look for their new album In a Dim Light which drops March 12th.
