Category Archive: Songs I’m Diggin’

Diggin’ This: Meelo – “Day” (One House)

  An inspiring and exhortative new track from the London musician.       “Day” is a spacey and leftfield R&B cut in the vein of Sampha (therefore I’m automatically a fan) from… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: DJ Harrison – “Lil Birdie” (Vince Guaraldi Flip) (Stones Throw)

  Now that we’re in the run-up to Christmas, it’s unquestionably Guaraldi szn.       Richmond, Virginia singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Devonne Harris aka DJ Harrison adds a heavy dose of… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Pocket Sun – “Familiar” (Video)

  Conveying the hazy, ethereal sounds of Melody’s Echo Chamber, Little Dragon, and Men I Trust.       “Familiar” by Bristol, UK five-piece Pocket Sun is pondering and reflective, tinged with psychedelic… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Tara Clerkin Trio – “The Turning Ground” (World of Echo)

  File under Amen Break-Folk.       Pastoral, delayed guitar pickings meet shoegaze vocals over a slowed down loop of the quintessential drum ‘n’ bass breakbeat spiked with jungle sub-bass murmurs that could… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Fabiana Palladino with Jai Paul – “I Care” (Paul Institute/XL Recordings) (Video)

  The world is always ready for any and all new music from Jai Paul.       Paul Institute signee and Pino‘s daughter, Fabiana Palladino has released “I Care,” an 80s-indebted retro-futuristic… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Session Victim – “Enlightenment” (Night Time Stories)

  A downtempo twist from the Berlin house purveyors.       The opening track on the duo’s new album, “Enlightenment” by Session Victim is a jazzy, enticing listen that makes me want… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: LEILAH – “Stop Hurting My Feelings” (Produced by Mura Masa) (VLF Records)

  The best song yet from the rising UK artist.       Having featured on songs by SBTRKT and written with Nao, emerging musician LEILAH is definitely one to watch.    … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Sleepy Soul – “Backwards” (Fevre Records)

  New from the St Louis-Minneapolis duo.       A charming indie-pop dream, “Backwards” is the latest song from Sleepy Soul, the project of Nick Hummel and Michael LeFevre.      Love… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Mary In the Junkyard – “Tuesday” (AMF Records)

  A sidewinding guitar riff straight out of OK Computer.       “Tuesday” is the breakout hit and debut single from the soon-to-be-huge London, UK band Mary In the Junkyard, comprised of… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Papooz – “Don’t You Think It’d Be Nice” (Half Awake Records)

  Think 1970s Paul McCartney as a 1950s lounge singer.       Paris, France duo Papooz‘s latest tune is the sunny and easygoing “Don’t You Think It’d Be Nice.”     Here… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Gan Gemi – “That Sound” (One House)

  It’s all about those vocal harmonies.       “That Sound” is a synth-driven experimental pop-R&B outing from London, UK’s Gan Gemi that reminds me of the sonic sensibilities of Photay and… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Das Koolies – “Shakedown” (Strangetown Records)

  The best track from an ambitious, eccentric, and endlessly creative new album that defies categorization.       Cardiff band Das Koolies is made up of Huw Bunford, Guto Pryce, Cian Ciaran,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Ava McCoy – “Grow” (Acrophase Records)

  We need more of this experimental Americana.       “Grow” by the New York City musician Ava McCoy combines banjo pickings, harmonica hums, handclaps, and glitchy drum loops.     Ava… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Helado Negro – “LFO (Lupe Finds Oliveros)” (Private Energy/4AD) (Video)

  An experimental, driving new track from Roberto Carlos Lange.       Gently brisk and stirring, “LFO (Lupe Finds Oliveros)” is designed to awaken.      Love when the song suddenly decides… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: LVUSM – “Don’t Waste My Time”

  Sounding like a lost Shalamar B-side.       “Don’t Waste My Time” by New Jersey’s Miguel Santiago aka LVUSM is a masterful homage to 80s boogie, funk, and R&B.    … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Soulization ft SAÍGO – “Be Here Now” (Stereofox)

  Bulgarian beat brilliance.       “Be Here Now,” the latest track from Bulgaria’s Vasil Vutev, otherwise known as Soulization, is an intricate and precise future R&B cut with brightly colored synths,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Mo Kolours – “Rockets to Mars” (WRWTFWW Records) (Video)

  Having broadcasted and written about the music of Mo Kolours since 2011 when I first heard “Drum Talking,” I was delighted to hear that the English-Mauritian artist and producer has returned with… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Moses Yoofee Trio – “Ocean” (LEITER)

  Listen to this relentless search for a groove that actually becomes the groove itself.       The Moses Yoofee Trio is comprised of pianist-producer Moses Yoofee, drummer Noah Fürbringer, and bassist… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Special Feelings – “Down Goose” (Rhythm Section)

  A sound inspired by the likes of Yussef Dayes, Madlib, Moodymann, Emma-Jean Thackray, Kaidi Thatham, and Neue Grafik.       “Down Goose” by Melbourne-via-Perth’s Special Feelings (Naomi Robinson and Poli-Pearl) is… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Pyrex – “Call Me”

  Taken from the Australian band’s debut EP.       Pyrex hail from Creswick, Australia, just northwest of Melbourne.      Possessing a foggy and languid post-rock haze, “Call Me” is the track… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: 表情银行 (Mimik Banka) – “阻击手与陨石 (Sniper and Meteor)”

  Psychedelic indie-soul-jazz from Beijing.       Into this freeform journey from the wonderfully named 表情银行 (Mimik Banka), which is translated as “Facial Expression Bank.”     表情银行 (Mimik Banka) – “阻击手与陨石… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: First Beige – “Reflections”

  Dancing into the weekend to this one.     “Reflections” is the latest song from the Brisbane, Australia five-piece First Beige.     Future jazz that propels you forward.     Love… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: KAINA ft Sen Morimoto – “Good Feeling” (Aja Grant of Phony Ppl Remix) (City Slang)

  An easygoing alt-pop-dance rework.       Feeling this reimagination by Phony Ppl’s Aja Grant of “Good Feeling,” which originally appeared as a woozy, chilled-out cut on the Chicago musician’s 2022 album,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: HONESTY – “U&I” (Partisan Records)

  Blending cues from Burial, Massive Attack, and early James Blake.       George Mitchell, Matt Peel, Imi Holmes, and Josh Lewis are the Leeds, UK four-piece HONESTY.     “U&I” is… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Raze Regal & White Denim Inc – “Dislocation” (Bella Union)

  A sonic partnership based on a mutual love of Wayne Shorter, Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, and 80s R&B production techniques, which I completely comprehend.       James Petralli of the Austin,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Sam O.B. – “Indian Summer” (Astro Nautico)

  Sam O.B. is “a smooth soul trying to bring positive noise into the modern world.”       I’ve been a fan of the New York musician Sam O.B., formerly known as Obey… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Ego Ella May – “Undone”

  I first got switched on to the sound of London’s Ego Ella May back in 2015 when I heard “How Far” on her Zero EP.       Her latest track, “Undone,”… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Crumb & Melody’s Echo Chamber – “Le Temple Volant”

  The collaboration we didn’t know we needed that makes perfect sense.       “Le Temple Volant” is a psychedelic whirl of intrigue from the Brooklyn group Crumb and the French artist… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Cleo Sol – “Self” (Forever Living Originals)

  Forever thankful for a new Cleo Sol album.       I really liked the direction in which Cleo Sol and Inflo were heading with their SAULT song, “Love Will Free Your… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: HAFFWAY – “Dirty Fire” (Video)

  Utterly transfixed by this vocal performance.       HAFFWAY is the musical project of Sam Westhoff, an Oklahoma-raised and Nashville-based artist, songwriter, and producer.     A layered yet stripped-down folk… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Munan – “Comes In Two” (Video)

  File under tranquil indie-disco.       Feeling this light yet subdued cut from Munan, the musical project of the South Korean-Australian artist Peter Lee.     Munan – “Comes In Two”… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: ((( O ))) – “TRAVELIN'” (Video & COLORS Show)

  A celestial and ethereal meditation from the Filipino-American artist and producer who is married to FKJ.       “TRAVELIN’” by ((( O ))), also known as The Sundrop Garden/June Marieezy, is… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: The Still Brothers ft Marina B – “I Wanna Be with You” (Lewis Recordings)

  Here for the jubilant crowd cheers in the background.       Featuring the dreamlike vocals of Marina B, “I Wanna Be with You” is the newest song from The Still Brothers,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: And Is Phi – “Working” (Albert’s Favourites)

  An airy yet cloudy R&B cut that dissolves into a swirling psychedelic soul soup.       “Working” is the latest from Andrea Isabelle Phillips, otherwise known as And Is Phi,  a… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Orions Belte – “Jai Alai” (Jansen Records)

  A superbly crafted, rich, harmonious, and expansive new song by the Oslo, Norway trio.       “Jai Alai” is a melodic folk offering from Orions Belte.     Love that screechin’… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Mint Field – “Orqu​í​dea” (Felte Records)

  Hazy and shoegazey dream pop from Mexico City.       Melancholic yet shimmering, “Orqu​í​dea” (Spanish for “orchid”) is the latest song from Mint Field‘s Estrella del Sol and Sebastian Neyra.  … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Léon Phal ft K.O.G – “Idylla” (Heavenly Sweetness)

  Kaytra-ish beat-driven jazz with twitchy drums and soaked in brass.        The latest single from the French-Swiss saxophonist and graduate of Lausanne’s Haute École de Musique Léon Phal features his labelmate,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Colouring – “Lune” (Bella Union) (Video)

  Fragile, vulnerable songwriting over a delicate breakbeat.       Colouring is the musical alias of the UK artist Jack Kenworthy.      “Lune” is his first single since signing to the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Otis Mensah – “bruiser bb” (Lekker Collective)

  New from Sheffield, UK’s first Poet Laureate.       Produced by Berlin’s the intern, “bruiser bb” by Otis Mensah is raw, impassioned, and poetic hip-hop.     Love that woodblock beat.… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Oscar Jerome – “Far Too Much” (Jeromeo Records) (Video)

  A breezy acoustic soul rendition.       “Far Too Much” is an easygoing jam from the London soul and jazz artist, Oscar Jerome, that wouldn’t feel out of place on the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Turnstile & BadBadNotGood ft Blood Orange – “Alien Love Call” (Roadrunner Records)

  The partnership we didn’t know we needed.       Buzzy Baltimore hardcore punkers Turnstile have collaborated with the Toronto jazz outfit BadBadNotGood for three surprise reimaginings of three tracks from Turnstile’s… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Lutalo – “PLPH” (Winspear)

  “Pretty Little Painted House.“       Cousin by marriage to Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, the Minnesota-raised, Vermont-based musician Lutalo Jones melds decidedly raw, lo-fi drums that recall Unknown Mortal Orchestra‘s roughened… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Salin – “Si Chomphu” (Amari Music Group)

  A Thai take on Afrobeat and 70s West African psychedelia.       Drummer and producer Salin Cheewapansri wastes no time in getting the groove underway on her undeniably funk-filled new single, “Si… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Leisure ft Night Tapes – “All The Good Times Never Die” (Nettwerk Music Group)

  The Auckland, New Zealand production heavyweights join forces with the UK dream pop trio.       The good times are rolling on this new nocturnal (listen out for the cricket chirps… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Centre El Muusa – “Catching Stars” (Funk Night Records)

  Instrumental space rock from Tallinn that sounds like early Nightmares on Wax.       “Catching Stars,” the latest single from the Estonian band Centre El Muusa, gently flies you to the moon.  … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Pollena & Max Wheeler – “Singing to the Void” (Near Future Records)

  New from the world of UK electronic jazz.       I was a huge fan of Max Wheeler and Pollena‘s previous collaboration, “Away,” as soon as I heard it. It landed… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Henry Green – “Uyuni” (Akira Records)

  A welcome return for the Bristol, UK electronic producer and artist who has previously collaborated with Cyril Hahn and Kygo in addition to supporting London Grammar and Nick Mulvey on tour.      … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Serebii – “Really You” (Innovative Leisure)

  Taken from the New Zealand artist and producer’s first solo project.       Serebii‘s name is inspired by the Japanese idea of Komorebi (木漏れ日) which conceptualizes the image of sunlight peeking… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: L’Impératrice & Cuco – “Heartquake” (Microqlima Records)

  The Parisian nu-disco troupe team up with the Hawthorne, California bedroom pop artist.       After meeting backstage at Coachella in 2022, L’Impératrice and Cuco have now joined forces to create… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Sampha – “Spirit 2.0” (Young Records)

  The first new single from Sampha in six years.   Can’t believe it’s been that long.   His debut album Process came out in 2017, which was my number 1 album of… Continue reading