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Yazmin Lacey: Teal Dreams
New album: A classy, colourful, beautiful and emotionally intelligent second album by the London-born artist following the acclaimed 2023 debut Voice Notes, her rich vocal tones blending soul with jazz, ska, reggae, lover’s rock, R&B and and pop
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Adrian Sherwood: The Collapse of Everything
New album: A title with themes for our scary times, a refined dub-rich but also eclectic release by the legendary veteran producer and label founder on a collection of eclectic, cinematic, instrumental tracks with collaborators including Brian Eno and Doug Wimbish
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Africa Express Presents ... Bahidorà
New album: The collective that brought Blur’s Damon Albarn together with Malian musicians 20 years ago now assembles artists from four continents, though particularly plants the roots of this superb 21-track double album in Mexico, with a feast of numbers spanning cumbia, hip-hop, kuduro, soul, salsa, pop, reggaeton and more
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The second part of our favourite albums of 2024
Favourite albums of 2024: Welcome to The Song Bar’s favourite albums of 2024 Part 2. Part 1 can be found here. There’s no such thing as ‘best of’ and everything is subjective, but please dig into this rich seam of originality and quality, and even suggest more of your own
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Izumi 'Mimi' Kobayashi: Choice Cuts 1978-1983
Album review: Out of many compilations released in 2024, this Time Capsule collection is a highlight, picking some of the fabulously fun, inventive, hybrid jazz-funk-Latin-reggae-electronica pop of the innovative Japanese composer and pianist
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Seun Kuti: Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)
New album: The youngest son of the great Fela Kuti, and of eldest brother of Femi, returns with his father’s band Egypt 80, which he inherited and his fifth, and first album in six years, keeping the fabulous bright flame of afrobeat alight, and including the son of another great in the form of Bob’s son Damian Marley
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Liam Bailey: Zero Grace
New albums: A two-for-one by the talented Nottingham singer-songwriter and guitarist with releases in February and and also this month, the former a fabulous zamrock-influenced psychedelic-reggae fusion LP, the latter with Parisian dub musician Blundetto aka Max Guiget
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Kali Uchis: Orquídeas
New album: With agile, crisp clarity of voice, and a diversity of beats and styles, this is another clever hybrid LP of passionate, romantic cheeky, sassy Spanish-language, clubby pop by the Colombian-American singer, joined by high-profile Latin American guests
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Favourite LPs of 2023, Part 2.
Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 2, and Part 1 was yesterday. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order …
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Part 1 selection of 2023 favourite albums
Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 1, and Part 2 is also out here. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order. This is all about quality and innovation …
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Creation Rebel: Hostile Environment
New album: After recent late-career records by Horace Andy and African Head Charge, another great release on the On-U Sound label, a first by the reggae collective for 40 years, responding to the ongoing unjust Tory UK immigration policy, first introduced by former home secretary and then PM Theresa May
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Yussef Dayes: Black Classical Music
New album: Taking a title cue from Miles Davis, a brilliant, landmark 19-track debut LP by the supremely gifted British jazz drummer variously exploring and re-interpreting many sides of 70s funk, reggae and afrobeat, joined by a stellar group of musicians and vocalists
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Skindred: Smile
New album: Prize for the most eclectic, eccentric and enthusiast record of the week goes to the Welsh band with their eighth LP, a heady mix of thunderous metal with summery, upbeat, simmering BBQs of reggae, ska, dancehall and pop
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Big release: Janelle Monáe’s fourth LP, The Age of Pleasure
New album: The American artist returns after 2018’s dystopian Dirty Computer a series of acting roles with a celebratory LP of her full sexual liberation and confirmed non-binary status in a release that feels like a hedonistic non-stop party of the LGBTQ Black culture scene
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Hak Baker: Worlds End FM
New album: Vibrant, witty, energetic debut by the east London rapper and musician, presented like a pirate radio station the mixes hip hop and storytelling with echoes of The Streets’ Mike Skinner and Ian Dury, as well more conventional, yet pointed indie about troubled Britain
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The Orb - Prism
New album: The veteran dance music and ambient noise duo still with co-founder Alex Paterson return with a vibrant release of cosmic electronica, dub and reggae, house, drum n’ bass, guest vocalists plus newscaster and other sampled voices
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Dave Okumu & The 7 Generations: I Came From Love
New album: A rich, complex and brilliant release about black history, identity, and channelling the idea of ancestry by British singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist joined by a stellar cast of fellow artists, including Wesley Joseph, Tom Skinner, ESKA and Grace Jones
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Yazmin Lacey: Voice Notes
Debut album: A magically smooth, beautiful fusion of jazz, soul, funk and reggae in this debut by the superb London-born, Nottingham-based singer, whose fluid, dreamy voice captures the emotions in the intonations and nuances in her eloquent delivery
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Santigold: Spirituals
New album: Inspired by African-American folk and gospel, this powerful, feverishly intense, emotional fourth LP released in September by the singer-songwriter brings an electric mix of punk, hip-hop, funk, afrobeat, electro-pop, and reggae wrapped in rage, anxiety and reflection
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Gemma Rogers’ debut album No Place Like Home
Debut album: Variously compared to Kirsty MacColl, Ian Dury, Lily Allen and more, the London post-punk indie artist’s debut LP is a packed with own authentic style of witty, talky, mischievous lyrics and catchy melodies from the perky to wistfully emotional.
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