January isn't our favourite month but a certain playlist is back again this week, to keep those spirits high. From the musically varied Panoptic team, we bring you our favourite singles that we've been jamming out to over the last few days and the ones to watch in 2018.
Follow our Singles of the Week here.
Brooklyn Jones,’On Hold’ by Fenne Lily
I’ve been a fan of Bristol songstress Fenne Lily ever since I first heard ‘Top To Toe’ in 2016. Her newest release, ‘On Hold’, adds a bit more rhythmic depth; imagine a bit more Regina Spektor than Daughter, and calling in some early Laura Marling and just a dash of The Pixies. This single is perfect for a Sunday afternoon staring at the seemingly endless January rain. Not only is this song beautiful in its instrumentation, but the lyrics are just stunning: “Come inside I’ll make your mind up/All this pain is gold/Come inside you’ll be surprised at all there’s yet to know”. Fenne Lily goes on tour this April and with her London show already sold out, she’s one to watch.
EJ Oakley, ‘In My View’ by Young Fathers
From snatching the Mercury Prize out from under everyone’s noses to soundtracking T2 Trainspotting, Scotland’s most exciting musical outfit has certainly made some strides in the past few years. They look set to make those same strides again in 2018, with their upcoming album Cocoa Sugar set for release in March. ‘In My View’ is the almost flawless second single from the record, evoking biblical imagery over rumbling electronic bass to create a bittersweet paean to isolation and a longing for company. The way the song builds from sparse, minimal instrumentation to its dewy-eyed cathartic chorus is nothing short of exquisite, and the dulcet tones of Alloysious Massaquoi and Kayus Bankole certainly help elevate the single onto a level just short of divine revelation. “I wanna be king until I am,” goes the final verse, after the dance has died down and the song takes on the demure, slightly melancholy atmosphere of a club after all the revellers have gone home. Are Young Fathers telling us to beware what we wish for? Perhaps. But if the strength of ‘In My View’ is to be reckoned with, I’d say getting excited about their new album is certainly no crime.
Emma Bradley, ‘Water Baby’ by Tom Misch ft. Loyle Carner
We’ve been waiting for a new Tom Misch bop and here it is. The London producer’s beats are are always fresh, jazzy and have some funky harmony. We love. Misch’s velvety and soulful voice contrasts with Loyle Carner’s rapping, a frequent collaborator of Misch’s. Loyle Carner’s lyrics are eloquent, sensitive and thoughtful as always. The gorgeously ornamented jazz-influenced piano interlude at the end will make your heart swell if you are a sucker for jazz piano over a beat like I am. We can always expect interesting and well-thought out harmony that goes above and beyond his rivals in the field with Tom Misch and he has not disappointed with ‘Water Baby’
Image: Hollie Fernando
