Keep Some Hope – Wildbirds & Peacedrums

A Swedish duo preparing a new album entitled Rhythm? I can’t help but instantly start hoping for something to fill the big void left by The Knife’s departure. Not that this second single imitates any of their electro pop mastermind: there are no synths to be found, or any other electronic sound for that matter. But do keep some hope: it is wonderfully reminiscent of dance music but trades all of its sounds for their organic equivalents. It serves a galvanizing mix of drum kits over a soulful vocal carrying a mantra inspired by "the chaos in the world and the speed of everything", according to the band. 

The Light in the Addict (feat. Action Bronson & Black Atlass) – Party Supplies 

Bronson and Party Supplies have worked excellently together in the past, on both Blue Chips and Blue Chips 2. Their magnificent latest offering is essentially a blues-soul record, elevated by sweet Spaghetti-western piano riffs masterly handled by Party Supplies as Bronson opens the song with a deeply melancholic rap verse, with lines such as "Thinking if I jump, will I feel it when I hit the ground?" After transitioning from rapping to singing some of the chorus, he hands over the rest of the song to the melodic Black Atlass, which carries the rest of the song to its bittersweet end over rain sound samples. 

Kind of… Sometimes… Maybe – Jessie Ware

First premiered promotionally in late September, this cut is probably the standout of Jessie’s sophomore offering, released last week. In an album where she experiments with writers and producers from across the pop spectrum, such as Ed Sheeran, Dev Hynes and Lana Del Rey’s Emile Haynie, this collaboration with Miguel is a match made in heaven. His touch is audible amid the twitches and clicks that are enough to create a woozy atmosphere to match Jessie’s lyrics: "Do I get lonely at all?" she starts off singing, to which she initially answers "No, because Jamie and Johnnie and Jack keep me warm". But she already is on a whiskey-led trip from tipsy playfulness to drunken honesty, as she eventually changes her mind: "Oh kind of, sometimes, maybe".