Another day, another clutch of singles (aren’t we spoiling you) and today’s batch kicks off with the latest offering from Robin Thicke a name that I have come across before now and to be honest one that didn’t particularly inspire me the first time around (consider it a conflict of interests when it comes to genres).

However…

This time round his new single ‘Magic’ did make me raise my eyebrows somewhat. Tipping his hat to any number of soul legends there is no doubt that Mr Thicke (cough) has a decent voice and in this instance he doesn’t over egg the pudding with loads of showboating and histrionics which temptation could quite easily have left in his path. The production has more sweet spots than a bag of sugar with clean strings sweeping in a grandiose manner all over the track giving it a real authenticity. You might have encountered this one already if you have seen the advert for the new Samsung phones. If you haven’t, it’s actually worth your time. Out on the 27th October.

Next up is the latest single ‘Dangeous’ from Kardinal Offishall, with a guest spot from the now familiar falsetto talents of Akon this is a by the numbers hip hop effort with Kardinal turning in a sprightly enough lyrical delivery (complete with a cameo from Sean Paul). it’s all set over a fashionably leaden eighties backdrop (cheap synths and ponderously heavy bass kicks). I’ve heard worse but frankly if you are looking for something to inspire you, then this doesn’t quite do the trick (the remix peps things up a bit though). it’s out on November 3rd.

Next up we see the return of Lemar, five years after he was introduced to the world courtesy of Fame Academy he has since become one of the most successful British soul artists we have produced in years shifting over two million albums and he’s all set to release his fourth ‘The Reason’ on the 24th November to be preceded by the lead single ‘If She Knew’ on the 10th. This kind of thing is not normally my cup of tea, but I’ll confess as singles go this isn’t half bad. Thoroughly modern production frames his vocal talents which in fairness have never been in doubt. There’s plenty of remix potential here and I don’t doubt that this will be all over the radio like a rash. Commendable effort.

Finally Alesha Dixon returns from her musical exile with new single ‘The Boy Does Nothing’, for those who don’t recall, Alesha she was the one who delivered the ‘ruff and tuff’ rhyming bits in Mysteeq records and then went on to win Strictly Come Dancing after marrying a philanderer (underdog vote anyone?). I wouldn’t be surprised if this did well but in truth there is little more to it than a rip off of ‘Mambo No.5’ and it doesn’t have any of her trademark growly vocals in it either. Maybe the album will divulge more. Harmless enough…