Bubba a great mix for Xmas
Just in time for Christmas is Bubba, an unexpected present from Kaytranada, which will have you happily grooving through the holiday period.
His first album, 99.9% ,wasa funk-filled fiesta that cemented him as a go-to producer with a gift for groove.
Big names such as Anderson Paak and Craig David jumped on his beats, while he showcased unknowns such as Shay Lia and obscure bands such as Little Dragon and BADBADNOTGOOD.
Bubba takes us around the world on a dance floor, with slices and snippets from a diverse range of artists who seamlessly sit together.
Often you can’t tell where one song ends and another begins, not because they sound the same, but because they’re beautifully mixed together.
Superstar Kali Uchis does a fine job on peppy pop song 10%, which melds perfectly into Need It, featuring the exquisite skills of Jamaican viral star Masego. They’re wildly different styles but Kaytranda’s reliable groove gives consistency to this constantly entertaining, often surprising album.
The short songs don’t outstay their welcome as we flit from beat to beat. Right at the end Pharrell pops up on Midsection, where the over-saturated superproducer sounds like he’s taking orders rather than giving them. The result is the least polished Pharrell performance in a decade and, like the rest of the album, it’s refreshing.
Across the Atlantic, the giant of grime Stormzy brings us Heavy is The Head, the jewel in the crown of his year, which saw him become the first British rapper to headline Glastonbury.
‘‘Not top two, top one’’ he kicks off on Big Michael and the assertions of dominance don’t let up on this powerful statement of an album. He’s a joy to listen to. His powerful delivery is constantly switching gears, and he drips authority, despite being open about his vulnerabilities.
Rappers of this status rarely talk about crying after shows or battling bouts of depression, but Stormzy has been publicly fearless on such things.
He’s a funny freestyler and a better rapper than singer, but when he croons the chorus on Crown, his sincerity shines bright enough to silence cynics. As heavy as the crown may be, long may he wear it.
Sisters Maude and Julia Morris are on tour with their dad’s old band, Th’ Dudes, this summer, but they’ve also released Toxic Love, which is pure pleasure.
The twins operate as Lexxa, melding minds and voices as one on these 1980s-infused pop delights. There is real genius and genuine emotion here with clever, relatable lyrics and crescendo choruses.