by Mark Jackson, Philip Moss and Phil Scarisbrick
Jack White – Connected by Love/Respect Commander
Working in the music business can be gruelling. But, I don’t think anyone can lay claim to putting in more hours than Jack White. Since his last solo record, 2014’s Lazaretto, the former White Stripes’ frontman has opened a pressing plant (Third Man Pressing, Detroit), co-written and produced a hit single with Beyonce (Don’t Hurt Yourself), worked with Elton John and made a single for the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Now, after all this extra-curricular work, he’s back to the day job and ready to unload his new LP, Boarding House Reach – the first record he’s ever made outside of Nashville, with recording sessions taking place in New York and LA.
To promote the new album (release coming on 23rd March 2018 through Third Man/XL Recordings), White this week dropped a double A-Side single, Connected by Love/Respect Commander.
David Byrne – Everybody’s Coming To My House
David Byrne has also been a busy chap, working on a stage production for the Here Lies Love collaboration he did with Fat Boy Slim. He lent his vocals to the track, Speaking In Tongues, that appeared as part of Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs reissue, organised various cycling projects and even released his memoirs (How Music Works). And who can forget the outstanding Love This Giant project he released in 2012 with St Vincent. But, the former Talking Heads’ main man hasn’t released a record solely under his own name since 2004’s Grown Backwards.
After announcing his new album, American Utopia – due 9th March 2018 through Nonesuch Recordings, through his online mailing list direct to his fans – the chirpy new single, Everybody’s Coming To My House (written with long time collaborator, Brian Eno), was also posted online.
Rae Morris – Push Me to My Limit
Push Me to My Limit is the fourth preview from Morris’ upcoming album release, Someone Out There (due 2nd February 2018). With previous single Atletico reaching the Radio 1 A-List and her record label, Atlantic, pulling out the big guns in terms of production duties – Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM, Adele, Vampire Weekend), My Riot (London Grammar, Bloc Party), Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean), Starsmith (Ellie Goulding, Kylie Minogue, Cheryl Cole) and her partner, Fryars (Lily Allen, Mika) – 2018 is looking like it’s going to be a massive year for Blackpool’s finest.
Kendrick Lamar ft SZA – All The Stars
Given the cinematic scale of his previous work, it was only a matter of time before we saw Kendrick Lamar write the theme for a blockbuster. The soundtrack for the next instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther, sees K.DOT team up with one of 2017’s best new stars, SZA. Despite being far less hard-hitting than last year’s acerbic masterpiece, DAMN, any new material by Lamar (and for that matter SZA) will surely be lapped up by fans.
David Bowie – Let’s Dance (Demo)
To mark the 2nd anniversary of his passing, a previously unreleased demo version of one his best loved hits has been released for the first time. Recorded at the legendary Montreaux studio in Switzerland, the stripped back demo was recorded over two days by Bowie and Chic leader, Nile Rogers. Though the vocals and guitar feel familiar, the simple yet funky bassline and drums give this version a real charm. Another treat for Bowie fans new and old.
