Barely halfway through June and here is our seventh singles round-up of 2020. This one features five cracking tunes, I love them!
These five tracks feature another eclectic mix of bands and singers from northeast UK, Houston, Detroit, London, and Scotland. All of these acts are new to With Just A Hint Of Mayhem and I reckon they will all feature again sometime in the future. Get on them now!
“Creep” – Anna Blaise
It takes a brave artist to cover Radiohead, many have tried and only some manage to pull it off. But Anna Blaise, a multi-talented singer from the northeast of the UK nails it with this gorgeous take on Radiohead’s “Creep”. For me, I expect a cover version to be much more than a facsimile of the original and this slow-paced, piano-driven ballad-style version of what might be the former On A Friday’s grungiest rock track. This is haunting, soulful, moody, and beautiful. I could definitely handle an album full of covers like this. Anna gives the song elegance, grace, and a refined delicate style. The perfect song to chill out and reflect on your day late in the evening.
“Not Even Close” – Kringe featuring BBY KODIE
The string sample has a real middle eastern feel to it giving a strange warped feel to the beat. Kringe is a young rapper from Houston who went somewhat viral with his song “Crowd Control” in 2019. I sense an affinity with British rapper Slowthai, although maybe less political and more aligned with the sounds of Drake. Kringe’s delivery is sharp and his rhymes are tight. His first album ‘Don’t Think Too Much’ released earlier this year is already building him a wider audience. I think he would fit well on the bill for Reading/ Leeds in 2021, maybe late afternoon on the BBC Radio 1 Stage.
“Up All Night” – Sara Marie Barron
Detroit artist Sara Marie Barron releases the first single from her sophomore album, ‘Existential Glam’ due out in September. “Up All Night” is a sophisticated, slinky, slow, and sexy slice of modern jazz-funk. Her band is incredibly tight and knows how to lay down a perfect groove. Barron’s vocals are perfect and handle this sultry, soulful ballad perfectly, at times her singing evokes Sade and Amy Winehouse. If the new album is half as good as this track it will be damned good!
“Okok” – Bokito
Despite the really exotic-sounding name Bokito are based in London and most of them hail from Ireland. “Okok” is s dreamy indie-pop anthem which slips into your head, almost unnoticed at first, but then it won’t leave. Frontman Moses’ voice runs the whole gamut from Jeff Buckley to David McAlmont via Brett Anderson. At times there is an African feel to the tune reminiscent of Vampire Weekend or Violet Contours. The song starts slow but builds into a magnificent crescendo. This track leaves me with a smile when it is over and on the evidence of “Okok” and some of their earlier songs I reckon they will be an absolute blast live!
“Elephants” – The Snuts
Scottish band the Snuts are back with a funky, jangly tune that is steeped in classic post-punk pop. A floor filler everywhere from the school disco all the way through to your grandmother’s 80th birthday party. This deserves to be a huge hit, it is miles ahead of much of today’s bland, formulaic pop fodder. “Elephants” also has the makings of a lasting festival anthem. Can we have the Snuts on all the major festival bills in 2021, please?
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