February: 7 urban releases you need to hear this month

Kadhja Bonet 'Honeycomb' (Fat Possum)

LA-based artist Kadhja Bonet won widespread critical acclaim for her mini-album ‘The Visitor’, which was released last November. She’s got plenty of alternative spirit (her Facebook biography claims she “was born in 1784 in the backseat of a sea-foam green Pinto”) but, on new release ‘Honeycomb’, also offers majestic arrangements which sound as if they belong to yesteryear yet also feel firmly rooted in the here-and-now. She’s a talent to cherish.

9/10

Sadevillain 'Sadevillain' EP (White Label)

Portsmouth-based producer Seanh2k11 takes his favourite Sade tracks and then refixes, remixes and laces them with some of MF Doom’s dopest lyrics on this eight-track EP. Sade purists may choose to avoid but this is pure gold for Doom fans and, if you’ve got any love for hip hop, you should investigate. ‘Air’ and ‘Silver Spoon’, in particular, get top marks.

8/10

Liv Dawson 'Open Your Eyes' (Method Records)

Eighteen-year-old singer Liv Dawson is included in Apple Music’s New For 2017 list, and it’s easy to see why: this beautifully melancholic r’n’b cut is produced by Disclosure’s Guy Lawrence and showcases the same warm tone of her debut release ‘Tapestry’ and follow-up single ‘Open Your Eyes’. She’s laying a strong foundtation for what’s certain to be a sterling debut album.

8/10

Lindsey Webster 'Back To Your Heart' (Shanachie Ent. Corp.)

A Mariah Carey Christmas classic this is not, but nonetheless, Lindsey Webster has managed to achieve something that’s seemingly hard these days: she’s delivered a really, really nice song. If you have a penchant for uplifting jazz with a positive message then look no further than this heartwarming sing-a-long that comes complete with a sax solo long enough to soundtrack you twirling in the snow (should the opportunity present itself).

8/10

Astronomyy 'Things I’d Do For You' (Lunar Surf)

Astronomyy is pushing his own strain of guitar’n’b on ‘Things I’d Do For You’ by bridging the gap between acoustic music and r’n’b. Co-producer on MNEK and Zara Larsson’s smash ‘Never Forget You’, the 26-year-old artist’s own music is a far cry from all-out pop hits, but this follow up to his single ‘Hypnotized’ should have his growing online fanbase swooning.

7/10

G Eazy feat Danny Seth 'Bone Marrow' (RCA Records)

Longtime transatlantic collaborators G Eazy and Danny Seth team up again on this grime-tinged offering produced by Danny’s mate MD$. The odd, lazy lyrics of ‘Bone Marrow’ will satisfy the fans G Eazy gained off the back of ‘Me, Myself & I’, while ‘Still’ is a mellower track featuring Ashley Rose.

7/10

New Gen feat TE dness 'Rather Get Money' (XL Recordings)

The work of an in-house production team, ‘Rather Get Money’ is one of the results from the New Gen ‘project’ (according to the accompanying press release it’s neither a collective or a comp, so go work it out). TE dness’ stellar contribution to the track, meanwhile, encapsulates the raw energy and hunger of a young MC wanting to mark his place on the map. Check the album out for more like this.

7/10

Zak Abel 'Unstable' (Maleek Berry remix) (Atlantic Records)

North London’s s Zak Abel previews his debut album, which is due in February, with this remix courtesy of Maleek Berry. Twisting the soulful pop of his original version into an Afrobeat-flavoured track, it’ll inspire you to take your partner’s hand and make the most of the summer sounds in the blitz of winter.

7/10