August: 18 albums you need to hear this month

Honne 'Warm On A Cold Night' (Atlantic Records)

Big on stirring chords and high on emotion, Honne’s delicate, pristine electronic soul is made to soundtrack late-night drives and, er, bedroom romps. Its two creators, James Hatche and Andy Clutterbuck, met on their first day at uni and bonded over r’n’b and MJ. Their music mixes the breezy West Coast-rock vibes of Phoenix and perfect pop of Years And Years with the jaded, lovelorn moods of The xx and James Blake. Their breakthrough single, ‘Warm On A Cold Night’, was an introduction to Clutterbuck’s distinctive vocals – like a deeper, more langorous version of Blake (usually recorded, admits Clutterbuck, while sitting down). Comfortingly soporific, they lull you into deep reverie. ‘The Night’ is a sultry, slow jam drenched in sweat and the supper-club jazz of ‘One At A Time Please’ is enlivened by explosions of slap bass and grand chords, while ‘Someone That Loves You’ is that rarest of things these days: a proper duet. With Clutterbuck and Izzy Bizu trading lines on four minutes of fuzzy, house-flavoured euphoria, they’re in serious danger of making them cool again. Outstanding musicianship, an uncanny knack for melody and a disarmingly seductive sound are what sets Honne apart – that, and the power to spark a baby boom.

8/10