Darq E Freaker - "2C-I"

From grime producer Darq E Freaker's forthcoming ADHD EP, out April 1 via Big Dada.

Dream Wife - "Hey Heartbreaker"

Digging this latest track by English/Icelandic indie pop trio Dream Wife. From their debut EP01, out March 11.

Ash Koosha - "I Feel That" (Video)

This new video from London-based producer Ash Koosha features stunning animation from Hirad Sab.  From the album GUUD, out now via Olde English Spelling Bee. We love it:

Cut Hands - Festival of the Dead

As is the case with most African rhythmic music, it usually serves some sort of spiritual purpose, the ritualistic quality of many different beats and melodies designed to inspire, enlighten and heal--such as the one-two rhythm of the Rastafarians, mimicking the heartbeat, said to bring calmness, love and understanding.

Considering these quite heavy connotations that are attached to African rhythmic music, as a modern commercial performer in the genre, it’s quite easy to come across as a sell-out or a wannabe. Cut Hands DJ, William Bennet, has managed to surpass this accusation by instead creating soundscapes that are attributed to, but not based on, the aforementioned ancient rhythms. The dystopian measures wash over the listener in cadent waves, incorporating modern sounds but staying true to its origin, usually utilizing a single hollow bass drum beat, scratching taps and shuffles of snares and hats, and the occasional futuristic grind or drop.

It’s surprising how much originality can stem from such a simple formula, but Cut Hands’ new album, Festival of the Dead, has born some pretty crazy and original tracks. The intro song “The Claw” sets an appropriate mood for the next 45 minutes of gnashing, wailing, trapping and jamming. Preceded by the rather overrated Damballah 58, Festival of the Dead is a suitable progression for Bennet in his study of rhythm. Although his sound is certainly remarkable and unique, it would have been interesting to see a slight break in the conspicuous formula he’s built up, like the incorporation of a subtle melody, but perhaps that would defy the whole point of his music. Anyway, I’m confident he’ll find his way forward on his own time.

- Fin Worrall

Kate Tempest - "Circles"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-fE7jpE3T8 Kate Tempest is a spoken word artist and playwright hailing from South London, who last year won the Ted Hughes Award for her epic poem Brand New Ancients. But her talents also extend to rap music. She put out her Dan Carey-produced full-length debut Everybody Down last month via Big Dada. You can stream the album in full on the label's YouTube channel; above we've linked one of its highlights, the catchy "Circles." Happy listening!

Dea Marica - Curse of the Haunted

A lot of death/doom heaviness packed into this debut album from London metal trio Dea Marica. Throughout Curse of the Haunted, frontman Riccardo Veronese's voice is exceptionally powerful, whether it be clean and operatic or coarse and growled, and multi-instrumentalist Roberto Mura and drummer Marco craft some weighty, emotional arrangements. Give it a listen in full via the above widget through the group's Bandcamp.

Natasha Khan & Jon Hopkins - "Garden's Heart"

London electronic music producer Jon Hopkins has been hard at work on the score for the upcoming film How I Live Now. At one point, he decided to team up with Natasha Khan, a.k.a. Bats for Lashes, for a one-off single to be featured in the movie's soundtrack. The result is a beautifully-sung ballad that manages to be lush despite of its sparse bassline foundation.

The song  is accompanied by a gritty, yet fantastical music video helmed by Khan, starring Saoirse Ronan, the film's lead actress. It will also be made available for digital download on October 7 via Parlophone.

Dean Blunt - "King James"

Dean Blunt, best known as one half of London duo Hype Williams, has dropped a new single titled "King James." The track continues the decidedly reserved and introspective lyrical themes of the LP he put out earlier this year, The Redeemer; but the warm orchestral arrangements on that album are forwent in favor of a minimalist composition of a distant vocal sample enveloped by a cold comb filter effect.

"King James" appears as the third track on Blunt's new album Stone Island, abruptly self-released for free stream and download earlier this week on the Russian site Афиша.