The next 10 brings some of the best choruses to grace 2012 in First Aid Kit's Emmylou and pretty much every track off Jessie Ware's 'Devotion', while if this is, as rumoured, the last Grizzly Bear record, what a way to go.
Jessie Ware's latest Wildest Moments could well be the track to fire her into Radio 1 listerners' consciousness, but it's Star Slinger's remix that really gets our juices flowing.
Jessie's collabs have been second to none in the past year or so, and the Manchester producer continues this happy trend, accenting Ware's soulful vocal with garage beats. Jessie's debut record 'Devotion' is out in August, but in the meantime, listen below.
Matthew Walker (AKA Julio Bashmore) currently has a lot of fingers in a lot of pies. The Bristol based DJ has been freshening up Radio 1, helping turn Jessie Ware's tracks into filthy dance grooves and has recently launched his own label Broadwalk Records.
Au Seve is the first track from his new record due on the label in the summer; bright, bounding house which by the end leaves us aching for a smooth segue into the next track. Sadly it doesn't come, so you'll just have to hit repeat. Latest tracks by juliobashmoremusic
Who's having the best time right now? Jessie Ware's who, making a mockery of the April hailstones with some Jackie O sunglasses and a spring/summer wardrobe in the video for the uptempo yet equally lucious track 110%, featuring Julio Bashmore. Have a watch below.
Jessie Ware steps way beyond the pavement dwelling scenes of earlier track Valentine and takes on a 90s diva regality in the video to her new track Running. Beige leather sofas? Red velvet drapes? Basement cabaret clubs? This has Sade's Smooth Operator written all over it for inspiration, while the track also has a foot in smooth R&B territory while maintaining the driving beats as heard on Strangest Feeling. Scrubs up nice too Jessie, eh?
We've been in love with Jessie Ware for a long time thanks to her various collaborations, not least the beauteous Valentine with Sampha, and 2010's Nervous with SBTRKT. Strangest Feeling, released on limited edition 10" vinyl on November 28th via PMR Records, is the perfect showcase of her sensual, layered vocal over minimal beats, and a tasty teaser for the debut LP to come.
Sampha has helped propel the likes of Jessie Ware and SBTRKT into the public consciousness with his delicious R&B vocals and production mastery.
Here on Indecision he's branching further down the John Legend road than on previous solo releases with a lush, piano-led ballad accompanied by a soulful vocal to pull on those already over-stretched heart strings as he pleads "let is all work out". Can't wait for a full record, but in the meantime listen below to this and his work with Jessie Ware below.
Having remixed the likes of fellow illustrious Londoners the xx, SBTRKT and Scroobius Pip last year, Sampha's cache is growing all the time, not least through recent production duties, backing vocals and remixing for Jessie Ware'sValentine out last month.
His solo stuff, however, is on another plain altogether. Sounding something like a Jamie xx remix of early Billy Ocean, Sampha's blend of two step, dub and house beats are levitated with his classic soul vocal. With James Blake currently blazing a more high profile trail for 'the future of music as we know it', perhaps not of his own doing but such is the industry frenzy for the next big thing, Sampha is more than equipped to follow that up. Last year's Sundanza EP on Young Turks was evidence if any were needed that a breakthrough is imminent, and hopefully more material this due this year will do just that.Here's some samples of his wares below (and you even get a bit of acting in the Valentine vid!)
Welcome to No Action.
Based in Bow, East London, writing about stuff that sounds good.
No Action has also written for High Voltage and The Fugitive Motel.
