Coming ahead of a deluxe version of Bleeds, the latest remix by Bristol’s Pinch pushes Roots Manuva‘s Don’t Breathe Out into darker headspace.
Having played a hand in the early days of dubstep founding the Tectonic label, Pinch is no stranger to scraping beats and warped electronic sound. Kicking off with some serious low-end thump and choral vocal processing, the mix strips back on the brighter elements of the UK rap pioneer’s original to evoke a more spacious sound. Lavish production shifts out for a hollower and haunting ambience. If the original reflected some sense of triumphalism, this floating mix touches on something more dejected.
Despite Pinch’s skillful decompression, the track still carries the bravado of Manuva’s bounding wordplay. Yet there’s greater emphasis on Don’t Breathe Out‘s ominous chorus lines than its more personal reflections. This said, there’s no shortage of drive, with rhythmic patterns creating a percussive counterpart to Manuva’s downcast and confessional delivery. Pinch strikes an optimal balance amidst infectious groove and seriously twisted production.
Bleeds (Deluxe Edition) will be dropping August 19th via Manuva’s Big Dada label. The expanded take on the album will also collect remixes from Kode 9, Champion and rLr.
Bleeds (Deluxe Version) by Roots Manuva
Read more: Album Review: Roots Manuva, ‘Bleeds’
Here it is, your weekly playlist of some of our favourite new songs this week! We try to cover as much ground as possible, and here’s a few amazing new tracks we might have missed throughout the week.
Enjoy!
- Roots Manuva, On A High
Off the back of last year’s stunning new album Bleeds, On A High can be found on the upcoming deluxe version. Backed by an eerie, synth-based instrumental and a thin, rather unsettling vocal loop, Roots paints a dark, lyrically illustrative picture, ominous but not quite as gritty as some of last year’s tracks. This is another great track, with Roots continuing his reign as one of the UK’s best hip-hop exports ever. Read our review of the incredible Bleeds here. - Aphty Khea, Onyx Glitz
Aphty Khea has just released a two-track EP, and it’s so good that we’re featuring both right here. The slinky, electro-trip hop offerings immediately evoke a lush, immersive atmosphere that I quickly found myself lost among. The rhythm and sparse instrumental layers, predominantly percussive effects and glitchy piano trickles, create an unsettling backdrop which slowly builds behind the multi-layered vocal melody. - Aphty Khea, Peacebloom
The second half of Khea’s EP, Peacebloom begins with a briefly noisy sample, before we’re immediately thrust into a much deeper atmosphere. The huge beat and deep, resounding bass quickly forms a syncopated rhythm, as a seductive vocal loop injects melody up above. I absolutely love how deep and trippy this instrumental is, and the vocal melody is simply sublime. Of the two, this is my favourite, but put together, you’ve got an incredible eight minutes of sonic magic. - Marcus, Toast
Another incredible upcoming name in hip-hop from our own backyard, Melbourne’s Marcus has this week released new track Toast, following on from his new mixtape Pizza For Breakfast. The production is really beautiful, courtesy of Basquiat JR, best known for producing Joey Badass’ Christ Conscious. Marcus has a really smooth, natural flow, an absolute pleasure to listen to for the track’s theme-appropriate 4:20 running time. - Ryan Hemsworth, Wait ft. Keaton Henson & Mitski
Goddamn. The Adult Swim singles series just gets better and better each week. Today, we’ve got a brand new Ryan Hemsworth production, featuring deep vocals from Keaton Henson, along with the delicate darkness of Mitski, who just released new album Puberty 2. This is a deeply emotive track, and the low chords, robotic synth effects and both guests’ vocals altogether create something really quite heavy and introverted. - Tempesst, Broke Down Blues
Lightening the mood a bit, The Aussie born, London based duo Tempesst are back with a rich, twangy, guitar-laden campfire track. Raucous and bluesy (as the name might suggest), this is so, so catchy and a real pleasure to listen to – you can absolutely picture this as a late night festival singalong. - Dom Zilla, Tonight
We’ve covered the UK’s Dom Zilla a couple times before, and each time, I love it. New track Tonight is a blissfully smooth, full, soulful offering. “I don’t need nobody tonight,” he begins, forming a calmly comforting atmosphere that flows so beautifully throughout this wonderful track. - Japanese Wallpaper, Cocoon
Melbourne’s Japanese Wallpaper, aka Gab Strum, has finally returned with new track Cocoon. The first track since his self-titled debut EP, this is a warm, rich tune, showing off a deep melody and a really beautiful, full, warm soundscape. This marks Strum’s first track featuring his own vocals, and it couldn’t work better. I can’t wait to hear more. - James Vincent McMorrow, Rising Water
The bearded man with one of the most delicate voices in folk music has returned, and he’s had one hell of a makeover. This is a really exciting new direction that he’s heading in, following his 2014 album Post Tropical, and I really, really like it. Swift percussion, a funky bass and a wonderful melody come together in the first track off his newly announced third LP, We Move, out September 2. Listen to Rising Water here. - Kacy Hill, Lion
G.O.O.D Music’s Kacy Hill has released released Lion, the first track to be released from her highly anticipated debut album, out later this year. This is a truly incredible track, and I can’t wait for the full record. Dark yet dainty, emotive and commanding throughout, showcasing her incredible, unique vocals and a powerful chorus. Listen to Lion here.
Image: Ryan Hemsworth / Adult Swim
Words by Andre Vivero
Before Skepta was shuttin’ it down and before Dizzee was telling you to fix up and look sharp, Rodney Smith – Roots Manuva – was forging his deserved reputation as a British rap heavyweight and one of the most respected lyricists in the world.
Roots Manuva makes his return with his sixth studio album, Bleeds.
The title of the record is, in the man’s own words, an “egocentric jest of daring to do things in the tradition of Jesus: I’m ready to bleed for the artform.”
The album is described by his record label (Big Dada) as Smith’s “most emotionally affecting and powerful release” since his breakthrough Run Come Save Me. This is immediately evident, as the veteran rapper delves into an abyss of self examination in opening track Hard Bastards, lamenting “life in the fast lane might seem nice, got a little peas, got a little rice, you crush your heart and hope to stay alive.” These harsh lyrical reflections on reality echo as a theme throughout the album.
Single Don’t Breathe Out stands out as one of the brighter tracks on the album, featuring a sample of Barry White’s Honey Please Can’t See Ya and a melodic, falsetto-laden chorus, taking the role of the rare ‘catchy’ moment, in contrast with Smith’s frenetic rhyming pace.
Musically, the agnostic approach to genre of Rodney Smith is on full display.
On Me Up Smith showcases his lyrical prowess over the familiar bounce of 808’s and synths. Before long, you realise that Smith’s booming vocals are now floating above the neo-classical and cello-laced production on I Know Your Face.
The album’s production credits are as diverse as they are impressive, including tech-wizard Four Tet and dub-master Adrian Sherwood, alongside Fred and With You.
The eclectic roster of producers is another testament to the album’s diversity, a unique and pristine blend of hip hop, reggae, techno, funk and neo-classical elements, taking it far and away from your average rap album in 2015.
It is evident that Rodney Smith doesn’t throw around phrases like “bleed for the artform” lightly. This album exemplifies a respect for penmanship and lyricism that manifests itself in an eclectic, thoughtful and thoroughly engaging manner. Smith has never been much of a mainstream mainstay, and that is unlikely to change after the release of this album; however, that’s fine. That’s not the goal.
Rodney Smith has delivered a sprawling, captivating album of the quality and density that has served him success over the best parts of two decades. Bravo.
Bleeds is out now on Big Dada via Inertia. Buy it here.
We’ve got a slightly extended playlist this week, featuring a completely diverse range of artists, from psych, to electro, to indie-folk, to experimental hip hop and everything in between. Ladies and gentlemen, sit back, relax, and enjoy the best new music of the week.
Moses Gunn Collective – Hole in the Wall
The Brisbane psych-rockers return with a hazy new single, as they continue on their journey to the top of the pile of Australian psychedelia. There’s a beautiful depth – lyrically and tonally – that’s usually kinda hard to see through the washed-out fuzz. It’s glittery and fun, and another delightful taste from their recently-released album Mercy Mountain.
Summer Flake – The Sun Won’t Shine
With a sound nestled comfortably in between Courtney Barnett and Darts, this folky, distinctly Australiana track isn’t my usual fare, but I love it anyhow. I love the organic feel, and the kind of subtle expansiveness. The rhythm and that lo-fi folk melody make for simple, easy listening, and the extra vocals and the heavier guitars really capture my attention, drawing me in to a track that’s catchy and surprisingly dense.
Young Franco – Don’t Want Me ft. Blair De Milo
Young Franco has come a long way in the past couple years – and he’s moving up, up and into orbit. This is a really cool house track, perfect for cocktail hour, but probably more perfect for a late night boogie. The vocals are punchy and smooth, a great complement to the staccatoed synths and wompy bass. YF is heading out on tour, so get those dancin’ shoes on. Details here.
The Cactus Channel – Sleeping Alone ft. Chet Faker
My favourite for the week, hands down. The Cactus Channel have been on my radar for a little while, paving their way with gorgeous brass-infused blues/funk. No doubt this will draw well-deserved attention to them, considering that it features guest vocals from the award-winning beard that is Chet Faker. The slinky, bluesy track fits a late-night-smoky-dive-bar feel. Faker’s voice is fucking awesome on this one, too. It’s smooth, emotive, and so much more relaxed than what we’re usually privy to. Those falsetto phrases with the trumpets behind him? Wow.
The Cactus Channel – Kill The Doubt ft. Chet Faker
Judging by the above review, I think it’s obvious as to why I’m devoting 20% of this playlist to this brilliant joint effort. The second collaborative track between The Cactus Channel and Chet Faker, this one is swifter and full of motion, but somehow darker and denser than Sleeping Alone. I can only hope that these tracks spawn something more – this is one hell of a sound. Not only is it seductively cool, but there’s nothing else quite like it around right now.
SG Lewis – Shivers (HONNE remix)
Continuing in a similar vein comes this soulful electro-R&B SG Lewis remix, courtesy of the enigmatic HONNE. It’s an interesting blend – raw, emotional vocal crooning, atop bulging, smoke-machine synths and muffled vocals. Once the beat starts to form, the atmosphere brightens. I’m not usually one for this kind of house blend, but I couldn’t help but have a little chair-dance to the rhythm and gorgeous melodies throughout.
Roots Manuva – Don’t Breathe Out
Roots Manuva has returned – and this time he means business. Don’t Breathe Out is genuinely one of the best tracks we’ve ever heard from the UK MC (it’s no Witness The Fitness, sure, but it’s close). Understated, with a smooth, comfortable flow and no need to rely on whoops, sirens and huge beats, it’s a clear sign that his musical journey is far from over.
Med, Blu, Madlib – Knock Knock ft. MF DOOM
I don’t really know if I need to even write much about this track. I mean, it’s a track that’s not only filled with super weird and awesome samples, but it has both Madlib and DOOM on it. Like….. enough said.
Lemon – Your Friends (interlude)
This is a deep, dark and entirely sexy track from Toronto artist Lemon. The beat. It’s slow and it’s deep, leaving the perfect amount of space between each layer – you can really feel enveloped, you can really focus on every single layer at once, from the vocals to the bass and everything in between. We hear A LOT of female-fronted electro tracks like this, but this one immediately, obviously, stands out from the pack.
CVIRO & GXNXVS – Sober (Jerome Price Remix) (Radio Edit)
I heard the original of this track a couple months ago, and it didn’t really grab me. But there’s something about Jerome Price’s remix that’s crawled under my skin – whether it’s that bouncy beat or those funked up vocals, the UK producer has taken the track, originally by Aussies CVIRO and GXNXVS (before you ask I have no fucking clue how to pronounce either of them) and put me in the mood for the weekend.
GUM – Anesthetized Lesson
GUM is the latest project from Perth’s Jay Watson (Tame Impala/POND). The instrumental layers are super cool – funky, crunchy synths with a catchy rhythm, supported by a simple beat and a myriad expectedly pscyhedelic space sounds and synth trickles. Admittedly I’m not huge on the faint falsetto vocals, but the rhythm makes up for it. Keep an eye out for Watson’s new album Glamorous Damage, out Nov 13.
Big news for fans of British master lyricist Roots Manuva today, with the announcement of his ninth album and his first since 2011’s 4everevolution. Titled Bleeds, it’s cleared for landing just a mere two months from now at the end of October. The first single from it, One Thing was released last week, a minimalistic groove track that features Roots Manuva at his lyrical best.
Having been on the scene for years, Roots, real name Rodney Smith, has been a staple of dancefloor-ready hip hop for more than a decade. Bringing styles like dub and dancehall to the hip hop fore in a way that really paved the way for many to come, his ever-innovative, ever-changing sounds and styles have kept him relevant for more than two decades.
Having been so long between drinks for the London rapper, you can expect Bleeds to be an event of an album release, with phrases like ‘tricky rhythms’, ’emotional showstoppers’ and ‘hard-hitting social comment’ already being used to describe it. One Thing was preceded by the Four Tet produced mind-bender Facety 2:11 in late March of this year.
No word on whether any further singles are set to drop but we’ll keep you up to date right here in anticipation.
Bleeds is out October 30th via Big Dada. You can preorder Bleeds via iTunes right now.
Roots Manuva and Four Tet have teamed up for a new song, Facety 2:11. The track is an official Roots Manuva song produced by Four Tet. It’s a pretty unlikely combo, but who doesn’t love that? Furthermore, who doesn’t love RM or Four Tet?
The legendary UK-based MC, aka Rodney Smith, has been largely unheard from since his 2013 EP Stolen Youth. Until now that is.
Of the track, Smith had this to say: “The saga goes from tangent to tangent here in the primal decibel of infinite tribal dub-wise mutation show me your skank face, let’s get feisty.”
It’s got a pretty classic Manuva vibe to it, which is an interesting direction for Four Tet! Somehow managing to be both highly charged and somehow lazily hazy, I’m curious to hear what’s to come throughout the next few months for good ol’ Rootsy.
You can purchase the track here, along with B-side Like A Drum (prod. Machinedrum.)