While not specifically about “love”, the February playlist has unintentionally ended up as a bit of a romantic one. The hymnal, celebratory Ghosts from our sublime cover stars Ibeyi means we open with an ethereal, soft reminder of memories – “My ghosts are not gone”, the sisters sing in those strikingly pure vocals. From there we visit the Fifty Shades soundtrack (because let’s be real: we had to), with Jessie Ware getting all smoky and sultry and, later, Beyoncé getting more seductive still with that version of Crazy In Love. There’s the sparkly, Christmassy pop of Kali Uchis (with vocals that semi-recall Amy Winehouse), and the in-your-face, glitter bomb punch of Charli XCX and Rita Ora’s Doing It. KAYTRANADA and Vic Mensa are going crazy with desire in their tantalising collaboration while Big Sean and co are getting a bit more aggro and melancholy but, ultimately, feeling blessed. Kid Ink retains that trademark cartoony bounce as he and his beau (played by Dej Loaf) try and forego the drama in Be Real, and Nicki gets a bit of a house vibe going with Drake and Lil Wayne (a pair with whom she has mad sexual tension, hence this tenuous romantic connection). Dawn Richard’s third album gets a nod with the weird, incredibly produced Billie Jean (those harmonies!), and Purity Ring’s album got leaked so we give you another taster of that intense, ‘80s-infused sound. Dublin’s own Jape follows this up perfectly with the glimmering brightness of Seance of Light, before things take a bit of an angrier turn with Australia’s perfectly deadpan, sprechgesang singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett. Jam City’s Unhappy is all clashing, wavy dissonance while Unknown Mortal Orchestra pick up the sweet melodies with their swoony Multi-Love. We finish with one of the new Aphex Twin tracks because sometimes romance is brash, odd and confusing…but also because we love Aphex Twin. Happy February:
