Maluca – El Tigeraso
(From MySpace)
Deceptively different Diplo-directed debut from a desultory Dominican dance diva. We like her style as much as we love alliteration.
The Heavy – Oh No! Not You Again
(From MySpace)
A less than two-minute blast of Contortions-style rock'n'soul featuring the Noisettes's Shingai Shoniwa, whose own single, Don't Upset the Rhythm, is flavour of the month (we're pretty sure, as someone once said, that the flavour is "pralines and dick"). Anyway, download Oh No! … for free to hear Shoniwa and the Heavy boys clean up the indie landfill.
Eternal Reflections – Back Again
(From Frank151)
First new material in almost a decade from Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek's acclaimed side project. "People like rap again"? We've heard that (and this template of pairing blissful soul with hip-hop evangelising) many times before. It never makes the idea any less appealing.
Basement Jaxx – Raindrops
(From MySpace via Popjustice)
The Jaxx realise that the zeitgeist wears pastel jackets and drives a DeLorean. The vocoder, the synths, their intention to have Cyndi Lauper on guest vocals on new album Scars – everything's perfect, except the title. Shoulder pads are a nightmare in wet weather. Pesky puddles.
Leif – Timbs
(From MySpace via Brooklyn Vegan)
Arty, pouty and determined to make the monotone sexy, Leif makes club hip-hop inspired by Baltimore house and Dizzee Rascal's much-missed "bleepy" period. And he's from New York, aka Where All The Good Music Comes From (Again).
