Recommended music: 'All We Need' by Raury

Raury's major label début is here, and what a début it is. Over 14 diverse tracks he sings, he raps, he talks, and overall he delivers on the promise of being one of the most original and exciting new talents out there.



It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about this record that I love so much, but mostly I think it's the warmth, both in the sound and in the emotions he conveys. It helps that whether he's singing or rapping he's equally brilliant at both. It's clear, particularly on 'Revolution', that he's as influenced by Pharrell Williams as Kanye West, but it's not just those, he's got a deep understanding of the history of music that he conveys in these tunes. It's like he's an immortal soul, a time-travelling troubadour who blends elements of the 60s and 70s with modern-day meanings, morals and methods.


The album flows so well as a whole piece that it's hard to pick out particular highlights - even the little bits of dialogue and skits in between don't disrupt the like like they sometimes can. So whether you like the auto-tune style of CPU, the 'Freedom'-vibe of 'Revolution', the slow jamz of 'Woodcrest Manor II' or the massive, sure to be stadium-filling end of show number 'Friends' there'll definitely be something here that will grab hold of you.



This record moves me, emotionally and spiritually, and it will do the same for you if you let it into your ears. I don't understand how a 19-year old has crafted something that can do that to me, but I'm glad that he has.

Recommended music: 'Algiers' by Algiers

Like some futuristic imagined nightmare of 23rd century slavery, the debut album from Algiers bridges old time gospel music, protest songs. blues, soul and sampling to create an ominous, brooding vision of what we might become. The twin pinnacles of Franklin James Fisher's soaring vocals and Lee Tesche's scything guitar are underpinned by a deep, rumbling bass from Ryan Mahan. Together they combine with an almost religious fervour, provoking your feet to move and your brain to think at the same time.

It reminds me a bit of Young Fathers in terms of attitude and power (imagine them making a sequel to Moby's 'Play' and you'll get a sense of what this sounds like) - it's not often that a record comes at you with such intensity that you feel pinned back into your seat and forced to listen to it, but that's what happens here.

To pick out any one track is to do the others a disservice - 'Blood' is probably the most immediate, and 'Black Eunuch' is the track I first heard that drew me to the album, but it's very much a record that should be listened to as a whole so you can soak up the atmosphere - it's like being transported to the deep South, you can feel the heat and sense the simmering tensions.

If you can't find something in this record to interest you then you probably shouldn't be reading this blog - it spans so many genres that unless you listen to black metal 24 hours a day you'll find it worth hearing. Buy it now!

Algiers - "Blood" from Algiers on Vimeo.