Little Simz
Might Bang, Might Not
A lot of music being released now was recorded in solitude. For many artists that means self-indulgent tracks in desperate need of notes from a producer. But holy smokes, not Little Simz. Made entirely in her bedroom, this back-to-basics freestyle is peerless, lyrics rolling like thunder across a breathless breakbeat. It’s from the Drop 6 EP, her best work to date, so might we suggest Simz never listens to anyone else ever again.
Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber
Stuck With U
The dawn of a new novelty genre, as artists used to cashing in on Christmas start to write songs about lockdown. This A-list attempt is heavy with the optimism of young love in early April, with Bieber crooning: “Imma get to know you better / Kinda hope we’re here for ever.” “CAN YOU PLEASE LEAVE THE ROOM TO FART” might have been more appropriate for its mid-May release.
Ella Eyre
L.O.V.(e).
With its 90s techno-kitsch artwork and a track title from the Elon Musk book of baby names, it seems Ella Eyre is going for a bit of a PC Music overhaul. Unfortunately, the music doesn’t match the new mood, with L.O.V.(e). sounding as if it was cc’d to Raye, Mabel and 50 others then given to whoever got back first.
Jessie Ware
Save a Kiss
Noted mum haver and food podcaster is now turning her attention to music, and you know what, she’s pretty good! This is a svelte, Donna Summer disco number that makes you wonder if you’ll ever again get to take a grab bag of narcotics to a place where it gets so hot you have to tie your T-shirt round your shoulders.
Matt Bellamy
Tomorrow’s World
“Look to tomorrow … our world could be so full of joy,” whimpers the David Icke of stadium rock on this ode to what things might be like when this is over. Bellamy says the song is inspired by the BBC’s long-running technology series, but Tomorrow’s World got a lot more wrong than it got right. Indeed, the only gloomy certainty of our post-Covid world is that it’s going to have one more Matt Bellamy song in it.
