A new year’s resolution of sorts at FACT: every Saturday, we’ll post a run-down of the music – old and new – we’ve most been enjoying in our UK and US offices that week.
No emphasis on the boxfresh or the under-the-radar: just an honest account of what’s spent most time on the respective office stereos, with (where possible) links to the music.
Lil Silk – ‘OG Bobby Boo’
This rubbery performance from Thugger protege Lil Silk makes mincemeat of the current freestyle beat du jour ‘O.G. Bobby Johnson’. There’s a bunch of these around right now but Silk’s is the most interesting by far.
AWE – ‘Eagle Soul’
A throwback to days spent playing Cadillacs & Dinosaurs in Laser Quest with a can of Tab Clear and an Irn Bru bar. Almost makes us pine for a step and an undercut.
The Space Lady – Greatest Hits
Kerbside Casio pop from pure-voiced ’80s street musician Susan Dietrich, finally set free by Night School this month
Justin Walter – Lullabies & Nightmares
A belated discovery (it came out last May) of the Chicagoan’s spumy electronica, featuring the rarely heard Electronic Valve Instrument.
Trap Door – Mix for the Astral Plane
Belting, bootleg-heavy mix from part of the Gang Fatale collective, tipped here this week.
Cali Swag District – ‘Shake Something’
The kids that taught you how to dougie return with a track by producer-to-watch Larry Jayy. Big, brash, loads of fun; not everything needs to reinvent the wheel.
Peter Walker – Has Anyone Seen Our Freedoms?
Halting, almost Tourettic folk, recorded in 1970 but only excavated last month.
Willie Burns – Woo Right EP
Sunblind house from the WT bossman, who’s knocking out this sort of manna in his sleep at the moment.
Rich Homie Quan feat. Young Thug – ‘Get TF Out My Face’
Two of Atlanta’s brightest stars, suffering from success over a harpsichord-trap beat by FKi. Realistically, this slot could be anything Thugger has done for the last several months — it’s all been gold.
Actress – Ghettoville
Darren Cunningham’s last album as Actress – maybe – and if that’s the case, he’s signing out in style: the album’s second half, in particular, is excellent.
