This Week’s New Music Round Up: John Legend, deadmau5, Childish Gambino & More

ALBUMS

Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love!

Donald Glover is back. Despite being best known in the ‘music world’ as a rapper, Childish Gambino sings throughout his brilliant funk and soul orientated third studio album. "I remember listening to songs my dad would play—albums by the Isleys or Funkadelic—and not understanding the feeling I was feeling," he told Billboard.

"I remember hearing a Funkadelic scream and being like, ‘Wow, that’s sexual and it’s scary.’ Not having a name for that, though; just having a feeling. That’s what made it great… There’s something about that ’70s black music that felt like they were trying to start a revolution." Awaken, My Love! is the best album released this week by a country mile. Get comfortable, put on your headphones, lie back and listen.

AJ Tracey – Lil Tracey – EP

Here’s one to watch. Featuring on MTV’s Brand New 2017 shortlist – and just about every other shortlist going – West London’s AJ Tracey has a new EP out now. Apart from that killer artwork, Lil Tracey – EP features Bonkaz, Chip and Remy Banks and the standout track ‘Pasta’. Do yourself a favour. Stick this on now.

deadmau5 - W:/2016ALBUM/

Named after the desktop folder he kept the album files in, W:/2016ALBUM/ is Joel Zimmerman’s eighth album. Having reportedly bought his way out of his old label EMI with a rumoured seven-figure sum, this is the first deadmau5 record released from his own label, mau5trap. Going out out tonight? Get this album on.

John Legend - Darkness And Light

“I think it’s my best work yet,” John Legend told fans during a recent Facebook Live. Obviously, he would say that – those albums won’t sell themselves! – but with a little help from MTV favourite Chance the Rapper, Miguel and Alabama Shakes’ Blake Mills, John Legend may just have delivered on that promise.

The Hamilton Mixtape

Featuring Sia, Miguel, Chance the Rapper, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Aloe Blacc and, of course, Lin-Minuel Miranda, this is a must-listen for any Hamilton fan. Which is just about everyone apart from Mike Pence.

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Dream Synopsis EP

Apart from the first and final tracks, Alex Turner and Miles Kane’s new EP’s core consists entirely of covers. Leonard Cohen’s ‘Is This What You Wanted’, The Fall’s ‘Totally Wired’ and more get a Shadow Puppets spin, and you can listen to it all below.

SINGLES

Laura Marling – ‘Soothing’

Categorical proof that Laura Marling cannot create a bad song if she tried, ‘Soothing’ is the first taste – a slow-burning, eerie new track with a killer bass line - from the folk musician’s forthcoming album Semper Femina.

“I started out writing Semper Femina as if a man was writing about a woman,” Marling said about her new record. “And then I thought it’s not a man, it’s me — I don’t need to pretend it’s a man to justify the intimacy of the way I’m looking and feeling about women. It’s me looking specifically at women and feeling great empathy towards them and by proxy towards myself.”

Here’s a fun fact: the slithering, leather-clad music video is Laura Marling’s directorial debut. Check it below.

Sigala & Digital Farm Animals – ‘Only One’

Featuring a lyric that sounds a lot like “your ultra light beams staring at my asshole” in its opening 20 seconds, this is exactly what you weren’t expecting to hear this Friday morning. Does it make sense? Of course not. Is it a lot of fun? Yes, yes it is. Stick it on.

Jessie J – ‘Can't Take My Eyes Off You’

Frankie Valli’s classic ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ is a strong contender to top The Most Covered Song Of All Time list. Jessie J, who has a new haircut, has added her name to that list. You can listen below.

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