Music
singles Ladyhawke
Speech Debelle
Black, White and Blue
I'm With It EP
Black, White and Blue synth-pop sensation Ladyhawke’s long-awaited second album, 'Anxiety.' Having maintained the
Tall Buildings
Never having been a massive fan of rap music, I wasn’t sure whether this EP would really be my cup of tea. However, I was pleasantly surprised. With hints of soul and motown (plus the occasional trumpet), 'I’m With It' makes for more easy listening than most songs of its genre. It is, quite simply, a love song. No complications, no political message or agenda (as is often present in Speech’s work). Just a good old-fashioned love song – well, not quite old fashioned… it’s still a rap. On the other hand, the second song on the EP, Blaze up a Fire (featuring Roots Manuva and Realism), is less laid back and much more thought provoking. It was leaked last summer in response
Tall Buildings is taken from the band’s debut album Black Light, released last month. It aims for euphoric highs, with the prominent bass line, upbeat drum beats and cheerleader-inspired
months earlier. The song is controversial in that it speaks of the need for political revolt (with a nod in the lyrics to the riots in the Arab States), and is
up against electro classics such as the likes of My Delerium and Paris is Burning. Infectious. Alice Marriott
Diagrams
of pulling it off. The lead singer’s monotonous voice drags the track down; a problem which is only exacerbated by the large amount of reverb surrounding it. Kit Denison
4/10
4/10
Karl Phillips and the Midnight Ramblers Dangerous EP Aside from the horrendously compressed, pseudo-dubstep title track, this new EP from the London-born rapper isn’t that bad. Lyrically, the ently impressive but I can’t help my immediate cringe reaction when I hear another cocky white rapper, particularly when every word is laced with a strong cockney accent. The EP is musically diverse, with tracks ranging in style from the aforementioned dubstep to the Faithful Stanley (which is executed considerably better of styles produces a confused and incoherent EP with more dubious moments than highlights. Kit Denison
The 5 remixes of 'I’m With It' are decent, but not particularly exciting. The strongest amongst them is probably the Louis La Roche Remix.
7/10
8/10
listings NME Awards Tour Monday 20th February 20 Benjamin Francis Leftwich // The Globe Friday February 24 Spector // Louisiana, Bristol Tuesday February 28 Soko // Thekla, Bristol
Allo Darlin' // Buffalo Bar
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