Track Of The Day: Witch Prophet ft. Stas THEE Boss – ‘MUSA’ (Remix)

“’MUSA’ Remix produced by SUN SUN is a reflection on the current state of the world,” explains Ethio jazz-hip hip fusion artist Witch Prophet. Taken from the deluxe edition of her Polaris Music Prize nominated album DNA Activation, which is set for release on 23rd July, the track is a smooth rumination on how the voices of black artists and their communities are constantly undermined or overlooked.

“[The song is] named after my grandfather. It’s a critique on culture vultures, police, and those that do not recognize the influence of Black people within their lives.” Through her steady, distinctive vocals and hazy beats, Witch Prophet pays homage to her past and explores the issues that continue to affect her future, accompanied by the slick rapping of Stas THEE Boss.

“I’ve been a friend and a fan of Stas THEE Boss for over a decade and decided to reach out to her to see if she would bless the track,” Witch Prophet explains. “She said yes and within a day had the verse written, recorded and sent back to me. I literally screamed with amazement when I played it and heard her confidently rap ‘You drink the juice up / I Black up / you blue hug’. It was perfect.”

Listen to the ‘MUSA’ remix below.

Follow Witch Prophet on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Francesca Nocera

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Tropical Fuck Storm – ‘New Romeo Agent’

Following recent single ‘G.A.F.F’, Australian band Tropical Fuck Storm have now announced their upcoming new album, Deep States, set for release next month. And, ahead of the album’s release, they have now shared another characteristically kooky new single.

A reflection on human-alien relationships, as inspired by Octavia Butler’s short story Amnesty, ‘New Romeo Agent’ oozes a mystical, other-worldly allure as glitchy beats pulse alongside the sweeping, sultry vocals of Erica Dunn. Offering a whirring cacophony fuelled by a quirky, colourful charisma, it flows with a sparkling, ethereal splendour, creating a welcome break from reality. A swirling, spellbinding sonic tonic.

Of the track, the band Dunn expands:

“Our love & death tragedy-ballad kicks off in the aftermath of Octavia Butler’s short story Amnesty where a translator for the human race infiltrates an alien community Cold War Romeo agent style. Sent to collect secrets and glean intelligence, against all odds, the undercover spy falls in love. As our human/alien inamorates connect in an intimate new language, they decide to make a run for it. We glimpse an oasis of hope in defiance of the violence and backstabbery of their masters. We imagine a tropical island of romance in an icy sea devoid of solar warmth. We look back on the spinning wheel of progress and feel that all the desperation, despair and heartache of the past could finally be worth it for this moment, a conquest of love! A clock striking for a new age! But, they get murdered. The end.” 

‘New Romeo Agent’ is accompanied by a wonderfully trippy new video directed by Oscar O’Shea which sees the band performing in an alien dive bar. Oozing a perfect fusion of eccentric energy and enticing psychedelic charm, you can watch it here:

Deep States, the upcoming album from Tropical Fuck Storm, is set for release on 20th August via Joyful Noise. Pre-order here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Oscar O’Shea

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WATCH: Lingua Ignota – ‘PERPETUAL FLAME OF CENTRALIA’

A sombre, affecting lament that centres on a lyrical motif underscoring her upcoming album SINNER GET READY, Lingua Ignota aka Kristin Hayter has shared her latest single ‘PERPETUAL FLAME OF CENTRALIA’. Accompanied by an elegant set of visuals that show the multi-instrumentalist wearing exquisite couture pieces created by artist & Sargent House label mate Ashley Rose, the track & video focus on the iconography of the blood of Jesus and how it can “wash and cleanse every stain,” as disgraced American Evangelist TV Preacher Jimmy Swaggart once tearfully confessed.

Shot by Alena Kostromina, Ashley Rose’s beautiful bespoke costumes in the footage serve to heighten the majestic, yet morbid nature of Hayter’s voice and vision. “Working collaboratively with Alena has been a dream,” Hayter explains. “I have been able to explore the ideas of my record with wearable art. I chose to wear her mask on the cover of SINNER GET READY because it held the sharp dichotomy of my music; it was chaste and erotic, exquisite and grotesque. For the ‘PERPETUAL FLAME OF CENTRALIA’ video, the expressive capacity of her garments are meditated upon in juxtaposition to the stark, desolate quality of my song. It is the material vs. the immaterial, and the result is languid and dreamy and wonderfully claustrophobic.”

With her new record, Lingua Ignota has made a distinct departure from the furious, visceral sounds of previous offering CALIGULA, but her sensational vocals are still the lifeblood of the album. On ‘PERPETUAL FLAME OF CENTRALIA’, they tentatively unravel over sparse, melancholy keys so that even without a full understanding of the track’s biblical context, Hayter’s song still provides a profound emotional release.

Watch the video for ‘PERPETUAL FLAME OF CENTRALIA’ below.

Pre-order SINNER GET READY here (released on 6th August via Sargent House)

Follow Lingua Ignota on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Lisa Birds

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: th’sheridans – ‘Awesome Summers & Kate’


Following a decade on the scene, indie pop duo th’sheridans have now announced the release of an epic, career-spanning compilation – Piece Of General – combining both old favourites and some newer treats. Accompanying this announcement, they have shared an uplifting new single.

Propelled by scuzzy hooks, jangly drum-machine induced beats and a swirling, danceable energy, ‘Awesome Summers & Kate‘ reflects on the tentative anticipation of possibilities as restrictions start to lift. With shades of the stripped-back hype-pop/dance-punk of Le Tigre, it offers a perfect smattering of effervescent euphoria – something that is much needed in these uncertain times. Oozing a shimmering sense of nostalgia and quirky colourful spirit, ‘Awesome Summers & Kate’ leaves me harking back to certain ‘awesome summers’ I’ve had – floating around the fields of Derbyshire in an enraptured haze, accompanied by the dreamiest of tunes from my favourite bands (at Indietracks Festival).

Of the upcoming release of Pieces Of General, the band comment:

“We never expected to be able to give these tracks this kind of treatment. We’re proud of our output to date, but the chance to remaster these songs and put them together as a compilation that works as an album has really been wonderful. This album is who we are, who we’ve been, and a glimpse of who we’re gonna be.” 

Pieces Of General is set for release on 10th September via Reckless Yes. Listen to more th’sheridans on their bandcamp in the meantime.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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