Now Hear This: New music from AJ Tracey, MIST, Kehlani, Big Thief and Tora

In her weekly column, our music correspondent goes through the best new releases

R&B singer Tora

This week ends on a rather bizarre note, as AJ Tracey and MoStack have managed to release a collaboration that samples the same song (“Push the Feeling On” – Nightcrawlers) in the same way as fellow rappers MIST and Fredo... in the same week. It’s not exactly a bad thing, and I’ve heard from a reliable source that AJ and MIST are having a laugh over it.

“Dinner Guest”, AJ’s track, has a playful dance vibe; MIST’s “House Party” is a touch darker. MIST says of his track that “house/ Garage is my come-up and [producer Steel] Banglez is a scientist. He played me the beat a few months ago and the rest is history. Instant energy”. AJ recently tweeted that all first-week download sales of “Dinner Guest” will be donated to the Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, which supports NHS staff and volunteers.

I’m a huge fan of newcomer Tora, who just dropped new single “Call Your Name”. She released her debut, “Vein”, in March this year and is swiftly asserting herself as a talented R&B artist with a clear sound and vision. Kehlani’s shared “F&MU” (“fight and make up”) from her forthcoming album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t.

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Albums-wise there are a couple of releases you should check out. Ghostpoet’s fifth album, I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep, has evolved the anxiety of his previous record, Dark Days + Canapes, into fully fledged panic.

In a review of the album, I commented: “Songs such as “Nowhere to Hide Now” and “Breaking Cover” borrow Gang of Four’s scratchy, post-punk electric guitar twangs; other tracks move slowly, building tension. But what Ejimiwe really reminds me of here is Tom Waits – from his fascination with mortality to the delight both artists take in sounds designed to unsettle. You’d be forgiven for mistaking the chimes on “Concrete Pony” for the dry clack of bones.” Read the full review here.

Happyness have also released a new record, Floatr, which uses the band’s winsome style of slacker-rock to explore what gets us through the everyday ennui. (Review here). Big Thief’s “Love in Mine” is a standalone track that plays like a bridge between their two acclaimed 2019 albums, the celestial UFOF, and the earthy Two Hands.

If you’re looking for a blast from the past, though, try the “new” Oasis song, “Don’t Stop”. Noel Gallagher found the demo while he was rooting through some old CDs – apparently it was recorded during a soundcheck in Hong Kong. Liam Gallagher has, of course, made it clear he’s not exactly happy about it.

“Well there’s something missing in this god almighty stew and it’s your brother your brother don’t forget your brother La as you were LG,” he tweeted this week.

He also called Noel “Tofu Boy”, which I kind of love as an insult.