1. M.I.A., Bird Song (Diplo Remix)
M.I.A. makes amends for flipping the bird at the Super Bowl halftime show by writing a song all about them: shouting out parrots, robins, vultures and ostriches on the Diplo produced first single from upcoming album A.I.M..
2. Slaves, Spit It Out
Slaves’ second record features collaborations with Baxter Dury and former Beastie Boy Mike D and the latter’s influence is clear on Spit It Out: a winning combo of brattish bass and room-rattling production from the Tunbridge Wells Bovver Boys.
3. Young Lean, Eye Contact
The White Armor-produced Warlord track gets a dark visual that’s quite little drummer boy meets Midsummer Night’s Dream. Complete with compulsory cigarette, Lean’s life is a fairytale of neon-lit flowers, pomegranate and praying mantis. What kind of tropical hell is this?
4. Swet Shop Boys, Tiger Hologram
Swet Shop Boys is the new project from London actor and activist Riz MC and NY rapper Heems. Both with working class immigrant roots (from Pakistan and India respectively), they’ve teamed up with producer Redhino on Cashmere, an album with really great artwork that touches on Brexit, Trump and the ‘random’ searches they both regularly experience at airport security. Spoiler: there’s a track called Zayn Malik.
5. Tayla, Call Me Danger
Straight out the blocks is Tayla with a debut single that achieves the difficult balance of making an impact without ramming it down your throat. Expect to hear this a lot over the coming weeks.
6. Mndsgn, Cosmic Perspective
“Think about it as a box of crayons for you to draw emotions with,” Mndsgn (mind design) aka Ringgo Ancheta advises of his soulful just-dropped Strones Throw album Bodywash. If it looks and sounds like this, take us to your cosmic church.
7. Danny L Harle, Super Natural ft. Carly Rae Jepsen
Pop worlds combine here, Carly Rae Jepsen lending a sheen to PC Music co-founder Danny L Harle’s trademark Vauxhall Corsa euphoria. Strong wig game too.
8. Nicole Dollanganger, Obervatory Mansions ii
You might remember Nicole from that time Grimes started up a record label called the Eerie Organization and snapped her up, prompting speculation that she was secretly a new Grimes alter-ego. Taken from a timely reissue of her earliest material, Run For Cover, this one’s heart stirring and probably sung by choirs of doll angels illuminated by floating candles.
9. Neon Indian, Annie
Alan Palomo gives his best Matthew Wilder impression in the Yacht Rock inspired clip for new single Annie. It’s complete with retro style karaoke visuals as all songs probably should be.
10. Danny Brown, When It Rain
It’s been a busy week in the Brown household. Dropping both Pneumonia with Evian Christ and this, a warped Mimi Cave-directed video to a track Danny has described as ‘a risk.’ “Does it suck? Is it good? I don’t know…” he told Beats 1 last night. “That’s the way I want to come back in the game… I knew I had to show it to people rather than just the song for them to get it.”