Recommended music: 'Mean Love' by Sinkane

On his fourth full length album (the first for DFA Records) Ahmed Gallab shows that he's finally ready for the big time. With his confidence having been boosted by a starring roles in Luaka Bop's 'Atomic Bomb: Who is William Onyeabor?' live project, he's created a classy and stylish album that's full of brilliant touches. Effortlessly switching genres, from Afrobeat to funk to soul and back again, his voice is smoother than a silk negligee sliding down Kate Moss's freshly shaven legs.

With tracks harking back to the 70s and the 60s, this is still a thoroughly contemporary record that could only exist in the melting pot of today's cultures. Take 'Galley Boys' for example.It's got African rhythms, a reggae bassline, tons of pedal steel and a chorus melody similar too Primal Scream's 'Star'' Topped off with Ahmed's brilliant voice it all sounds so easy, but you know that sounding so laid-back is a hard thing to achieve.

It's the kind of record that you can play at any time of day or night, whatever mood you're in, and emerge feeling like a better person. Basically if you're at all fed up it'll put a smile on your face, and you could as easily dance to it as make love to it (or maybe even do one followed by the other?).

I reckon this album cements him as a major talent who'll not only continue to make his own great records but can have his pick of whichever artists he wants to work with in the future.

Currently on a whistle-stop tour to promote the album, Sinkane are back in the UK later in the year for some more dates, including one at Oslo in Hackney on December 1st which promises to banish the winter blues. I'll see you there!

Track of the Day: 'Hey Mami' by Sylvan Esso

According to Soundcloud this has been around for about a year, so maybe I'm a bit late to the party. But the first time I heard it was when Mary Anne Hobbs played it this morning, and I've been hypnotised by it ever since. I love how it starts out like a simple child's rhyme, one of those things they used to teach you to sing in a round at school, and then the electronics kick and it becomes a totally different animal.



If, like me until 12 hours ago, you've not heard of them before, Sylvan Esso are comprised of Amelia Meath from Mountain Man and Nick Sanborn (Made of Oak / Megafaun). Their album came out earlier this year (I'm off to check it out when I've finished writing this) and they're on tour in Europe in September and early October before heading back to the States at the end of that month).

Things that remind me of other things #2: 'Tough Love' by Jessie Ware & 'Little Red Corvette' by Prince

The very first time I heard this Jessie Ware track I knew I recognised the percussion sound.



It's not just the percussion though, the feel of the track is the same, there's the same sort of sultry vibe to both of them. BTW, it's pretty damm impossible to find 'Little Red Corvette; on the internet - the Purple One is a pretty litigious chap and I imagine he's quick to get them taken down. But I imagine everyone's heard and most people own it or know someone who does, so play the Jessie Ware and then go off and find Prince

Track of the Day: 'Onward' by Daedelus

So apparently the new records from Daedelus will be a concept album inspired by the Crimean War (the old war that is, not the new one that's erupted since he made the record). If it's difficult to imagine what that might sound like then it's even harder after listening to 'Onward', which is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I've heard for ages. I'm wondering whether the album itself will be similar to Apparat's 'Krieg und Frieden' soundtrack for War and Peace, as that's the sort of vibe I'm getting from this. The album's out on September 29th on the ever excellent Brainfeeder label.

Recommended music: 'Golden Skies' by Mono/Poly

The début album  from Mono/Poly on Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label is a cosmic whirl of tinkered with and twinkling electronics, beats and ambience, which combine to create a pyschic soundscape where nothing is quite what it seems. Less jazzy that FlyLo's output, and less funky than Thundercat's (whose 'Heartbreaks + Setbacks was made with Mono/Poly) this is a trippier, more mellow flow of mostly instrumental music. In place it's not a million miles away from stuff like The Orb, while other parts are more like film soundtracks, and although there are a few dance beats in there for good measure this is more of a record to throw on and drift away to rather than to hit the floor to.

In places you could accuse it of being a bit to vague and unfocused but that's also part of its charm - Charles Dickerson (the rather sober-sounding guy behind Mono/Poly) is not afraind to try a load of things at once, knowing that most of them will work out.

Video of the Day: 'The Sunlight' by New Build

The first track to appear from New Build's second album 'Pour It On' has a gloriously blissed-out Balearic feel that puts me in mind of the stuff The Beloved used to do back in the day (ask your dad if you're too young to remember). Felix and Al (from Hot Chip) have crafted a great track here that bodes well for the album, which comes out on Sunday Best on October 20th. They'll be on their first ever live tour in October and November to support the album so catch them out and about if you can.

Video of the Day: 'Breakdown' by Peaking Lights

The first track from Peaking Lights forthcoming album 'Cosmic Logic' now comes with a clever and amusing video about how someone's obsession with a smart phone ruins their life. It's a cautionary tale for sure so make sure you take the message on board my friends.



The album comes out on October 6th via Weird World Records, and the band will be playing a few dates in Paris, Glasgow, Liverpool & London between 21st and 28th November, so go see 'em.