November’s tune of the month

Roots Manuva – Here We Go Again feat. Spikey Tee

Here’s another class tune by Rodney Smith (aka Mr Manuva) from his latest album 4everevolution. This time the UK rapper has teamed up with ragga-soul singer Spikey Tee (best known for his work with Mr Scruff, Sindecut and Jah Wobble) to produce an intense but soulful track about the childish nature of ‘street life’ and good friendships gone bad. Once again we’re hit with a deep groove and a dose of frank, genuine home truths to nod along to.

You’ll like it if you like:

– British hip-hop
– A filthy bassline
– Honest lyrics

The single is released on 4 December 2011. Buy / preview it on iTunes

October’s tune of the month

Mack the Knife – Ella Fitzgerald
Ok, so I know it’s not a new track, but I was listening to it the other day and it struck me that anyone who hasn’t heard this, should.

This recording of Ella singing live at a concert in Berlin is the perfect showcase of what an incredible performer she was. The jazz singer forgets the words as she enters the second verse but makes up some clever alternatives, with a bit of a scat thrown in, all while holding up those incredible vocals. Mack The Knife is a great song as it is, but this has to be the best rendition, by arguably the best female vocalist that has ever lived.

You can hear it on YouTube here, but the quality’s not great.

You’ll like it if you like:

– Music
– Music
– Music

Frankly, I believe you’re not human if you don’t like it. Ella, I salute you.

September’s tune of the month

Kill It Kid – Heart Rested With You

If you like a dose of muddy blues-rock you need to get a load of Kill It Kid’s latest single. The second track on the band’s second album, Heart Rested With You, begins with an echoey stadium sound – but don’t let these first seconds fool you. The track quickly builds into the howling, thunderous foot-stomper that it clearly is. Imagine the devil rising up through meaty chords of strum-fire in a sweaty marsh, deep in the south of America. Not the kind of music you’d expect to come out of Bath, but with artfully layered male and female vocals, a larger-than-life sound and no lack of energy, this one deserves to be turned up. Loud.

You’ll like it if you like:

– The Dead Weather
– Filthy blues-rock
– The Black Keys

I feel it’s slightly unfair homing in on one track because the whole album is pretty delicious (make sure you cop a load of Pray on Me), but rules is rules… Find out more on the band’s MySpace page.

July’s tune of the month

Anna Calvi – Suzanne and I

First things first. I love seeing a petite lady strapped into a guitar like it’s a weapon. I also love hearing melodies belted out from deeper inside a singer’s gut than I ever thought possible. Anna Calvi does both of these – with gusto. Her self-titled album is available to buy now, but if you just want to dip your toes in first, Suzanne and I has to be the best track on it. Think mesmerising, powerful vocals and big, echoey drum-beats. It’s what you might get if you stuck Shirley Bassey, KD Lang and Richard Hawley into a pot and mixed them up. And yes, lads, it’s a pretty lady singing about another lady.

You’ll like it if you like:

– powerful, almost theatrical music
– hearing a melody getting ripped up, slapped about, punched in the face and generally attacked with force
– Errr, Shirley Bassey, KD Lang and Richard Hawley

Buy the album and find out more here.