In the first lockdown Song Crush, we hear a soul soother from ol' fave Four Tet, a living room dance-party starter from Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes, and a newcomer currently stuck in Serbia. Hataitai housebound host Kirsten Johnstone is joined by Tony Stamp from his wardrobe, and Brad Warrington from a deserted RNZ studio.
Four Tet - Kieren Hebden Photo: supplied
Four Tet - Romantics
Four Tet has been making electronic music for over twenty years now, and for me has never put a foot wrong - he’s as compelling melodically as he is rhythmically, constantly finding that sweet spot between organic and synthetic. New album Sixteen Oceans finds him running the gamut from techno beats to ambient reveries, with ‘Romantics’ somewhere in the middle, with stringed instruments, percussion and vocal fragments clustering around a mid-tempo beat to typically euphoric effect.TS
Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes - What Kinda Music
In what must be one of the smoothest collaborations of 2020, Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes have brought the worlds of electronica, progressive jazz and hip-hop together in a bass-heavy beat. From Daye's crisp powerful drum breaks to Misch opening up about his demons, this track sits somewhere between what makes both artists great. It is a ground-breaking collaboration full of good vibes and great production styles. With a Shapeshifter feel it will immediately resonate with many of us. ‘What Kinda Music’ is the title track of the album, slated for an April 24 release on Blue Note. Sticky
Dana Gavanski - Catch
If you like Cate Le Bon or Aldous Harding - Dana Gavanski is a good addition to your collection. Her debut album Yesterday Is Gone sees her exploring many of the same instrumental textures, and similar angular vocal melodies. While a fair few songs on the album centre around regret for a lost love, this one is a “a conversation with the gods of creativity”. It’s beautifully produced, introspective, spacious, and addictive. KJ
Sophia Kennedy - Kimono Hill
Raised in Baltimore & now based in Hamburg, Sophie Kennedy is that rare type of musician who’s hard to get a handle on. There are theatrical flourishes on her self-titled album (which makes sense, her background is in theatre), but beyond that she seems unconcerned with genre.
This song grabbed me with its percussion-based groove, and Kennedy’s distinctive, powerful voice, whipping up and down octaves with ease.
Listen to Kimono Hill on Spotify here
Channel Tres - Weedman
The self-proclaimed weird kid from Compton has followed up his epic 2019 EP Black Moses with his new banger, 'Weedman'. ‘Weedman’ is a driving hip-house tune produced by old school beat maker and rapper DJ Quik. In it Channel Tres explores the injustice of black people still being incarcerated for selling cannabis while cannabis has become, or is in the process of, being legalised. House music’s latest boundary pusher is redefining house music for a new generation. ‘Weedman’ is a fun song with a serious message and it will no doubt will be on "high" rotation! Sticky
