Watch the visually stunning music video for James Blake’s gorgeous new single ‘Retrograde’, the first track taken off his upcoming new album Overgrown. The song needed very little else to emphasise it’s sheer beauty, but it’s great to see such a well made video accompany it. By far the best song of the year so far.

As promised we present ‘Retrograde’ the first single taken off James Blake’s forthcoming new album Overgrown due out April 8th. Premiered just moments ago on BBC Radio 1 the song is another shining example of the diversity in Blake’s musical skill-set. Bedded with an undeniable Dilla-swing (befittingly it’s JayDee’s birthday today) and one of the most powerful (and passionate) vocal performances we’ve heard from him to date, the song diverts from the folk-style productions found on his debut and focuses on a more fuller, structured, embellished sound. As he always seems to do Blake has again thrown a spanner in the works, diverting the predictable and upping the ante by a million trillion.

Oh gosh.

Prince just released some new songs on his (now not so) mysterious website 3rdEyeGirl.com, all for just $0.88 each. Among the 4 songs available to purchase is ‘Breakfast Can Wait’ – his latest attempt to impregnate you with a purple love child. Back on his smooth-as-f*ck groove, Prince exercises his iconic falsetto over sexy synth, guitars and a deep-soul beat. Dude switches it up chimpunk style (literally) and still sounds better than everyone else. F*ck.

Go buy over at 3rdEyeGirl.com. Use protection.

P.s If Prince was to ever collaborate with D’Angelo, the universe would implode.

Rainy Milo reveals a new .gif video for her ‘Don’t Regret Me’ ballad taken off her Limey EP released late last year. We said very early on that there was something about this young lady so it’s good to see her making noise; Over the past few months she’s appeared in a number of noted publications (i-D Magazine, the Guardian) and was selected by Giles Peterson to be part of his ‘Brownswood Bubblers’ series Vol. 8. Watch other .gif videos from Rainy here.

Arguably one of the most beautiful songs of the past 5 years, Frank Ocean’s ‘Pink Matter’ was already a bonafide masterpiece featuring André 3000. But now it (unofficially) reunites Outkast and that means something entirely different. After reports surfaced a couple weeks back that Big Boi would be adding his own verse to the song, fans rejoiced and hoped that it may finally signify an Outkast reunion. The jury’s still out on that but for now, enjoy this.

Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman are together known as Lion Babe, an emerging NYC outfit who recently released their debut single ‘Treat Me Like Fire’. The single offers a dark, scratchy production and provides a good space for lead single Jillian to express herself. She seems inspired by Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah: Part 1 (in my opinion, at least) and while vocally I do still need some convincing, I think the juncture she’s arrived at here could be pretty interesting moving forward.

If you didn’t catch Rainy here back in December with breakout cut ‘Bout You’, then huddle up as her star is rising on this debut “collection of songs written on red buses, tubes, cloudy days and chilly nights in London”. Sailing out to the soultronic hub of LA, connecting with musicians like Oddisee and Ariel Pink associate Cole M.G.N, the singer/songrwriter from Norwood has knocked out these growed up, leftcoasting, downtempo vibes that belie her 16 years. Still soaked in Londonisms and broods on boyfs, Chanel and some business about the clink – there’s an undeniable, earthy charm. Sinking in and out of those impulsive diary entries, the singer’s velvety drawl rides on the fresh side of pop angst, as nimbus grooves keep the grit.

The EP also features production from Chet Faker and Last Night In Paris‘ Blk Rssian and is perhaps destined for heavy Autumnal spins. Especially with standouts like ‘Don’t Regret Me’, making our top 22Tracks right now, and ‘This Thing Of Ours’. Free download below…

Released this week - the jury is in – and the new Miguel album is incredible. Overlooked for a few years, but finally honing his life’s work on this second LP packing it with killer songwriting, melodies and grandiose funk, Miguel is slowly becoming a sort of futurist pop/rock n’ roll/R&B revelation in a league of his own… a little like a familiar purple figure in the 80s. One of the years favourites, stream the whole of Kaleidoscope Dream on Spotify here and cop via the iTunes.

In typical Ms. Ware fashion, another epic for the radio comes with a hot remix for the streets, or sheets. Perseus is a Parisian producer fond of warm, delightful, rétro rhythm and boogie like ‘Running Back To You’ that sat on our 22Tracks a few months back. Here he makes ‘Night Light –  something that feels like it takes power cues from 1996 - now sound like it’s been mined from 1990 and Jessie sounds amazing over it. Phwoar indeed. The single is out now.

One of our favourite under-the-radar EPs of 2011 was a mysterious little three-tracker from this intriguing LA outfit. The lo-fi’ed Prince influence was an instant left hook and joints like ‘Heart Crimes’ became repeat fixations. Now the 4AD signed duo have returned to a little more deserved fanfare, back into an online arena at a time that seems right with this new decade’s expansion of R&B borders. ‘The Place’ hits a more rare groove end of their loving spectrum, coupled with contemporary drumline beneath. And whilst we hope they haven’t necessarily retired the Linn Drum altogether, this is still velvety as hell.