NAILAH BLACKMAN | BATTLES | GRUFF RHYS | OSCAR JEROME | JAZZMEIA HORN

Hello again friends, freaks and fans of future jazz music of the kind that is as flies to wanton boys. The Gods kill it for ze sport. Soon ze science will be able to slow down the playing of Shabaka Hutchings; it will fix Yussef Dayes and Alfa Mist to the state and so they will become eternal. Only Femi Koleoso, Nubya Garcia and Yazz Ahmed will still slay us (with their skillz). And, fortunately, Tenderlonius and Scrimshire will multiply. I love future jazz.

Have I got some bangers for you!

Up first, and standing proud like an upturned collar, is Soca superstar Nailah Blackman. Her new single Sweet and Loco is as sexy and as psycho as the name suggests and it provides our Charm Offensive choice this week.

Following up with all the precision-violence of a well-aimed karate kick to the head of a Crystal Palace supporter is Battles’ new track Titanium 2 Step. The nutters from New York may be two men down but their sound is on the way back up and that’s why they are our Military Coup.

Back with a Pang! is Welsh alt-rock hero and some-time Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys. He’s roped in South African electronic artist Muzi on his latest offering and the resulting folk / jazz meditation provides a Peaceful Protest track so beautiful it could be used to score some arty French film.

And, following that trawler like a seagull looking for sardines to be thrown into the sea, is Oscar Jerome. His off-beat loony tune Gravitate is your Guerrilla Warfare selection.

Finally, launching us into space with her astral lounge jazz wizardry is Jazzmeia Horn. Her single Green Eyes is a deep, refreshing swig of old school swing that comes with a twist and always leaves a ‘taste suprême’.

So, if any of that has you thirsty for more, make sure to hear more here…

NAILAH BLACKMAN: SWEET AND LOCO
BATTLES: TITANIUM 2 STEP
GRUFF RHYS: PANG!
OSCAR JEROME: GRAVITATE
JAZZMEIA HORN: GREEN EYES

P.S. You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –