Kicking off Friday’s incredibly short round up of singles with the latest Gramophonedzie’s cut ‘Why Don’t You’ out on Feb 28th through Virgin/Positva. Now on paper this is one of those tracks that you might think shouldn’t work, it fuses a swing laden sample of Peggy Lee’s ‘Why Don’t You Do Right? (which dates back to 1942) yet it is dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century with a dry uptempo house backdrop that cuts and tears at the vocal and gives you one of those unavoidable “We’re all shitfaced, shall we have a little dance?” moments. The remixes come courtesy of Bingo Player who gets a little bit more minimal and twitchy before dropping a couple of wide screen synth stabs to keep the track fresh. Trevor Lovey meanwhile toughens up the backline and quickens the pace a little with a serious contender of a mix. His cut work on the samples is a lot finer and this is a whole lot moodier. GreenMoney goes down skanking two step territory (doesn’t everyone these days) while DJ Sneak delivers a mix that taking the original’s house vibe into slightly darker territory. All in all it is as catchy as nits and while the dance purists will undeniably stick their noses in the air for regular people who know how to have a laugh when they go out this should do the business.
Next up is Beverley Knight with her latest track ‘Soul Survivor’ out on March 8th, now sometimes I think her singles live under my doormat and breed when I’m not looking, because in all honesty I feel like I’m reviewing her stuff every other week. As is always the case Beverley remains an also ran contender delivering another slickly polished slab of soul, this time with a strident Motown style beat. Yet I remain unconvinced, Bev can sing but will someone please give her something that justifies her releasing a single every five bleeding minutes.
Jason Derulo closes my short but sweet reviews today with a track called ‘In My Head’ out on Feb 22nd. Jason is apparently a “hot new R & B sensation” (what another one?). Its another mid tempo synth laden chunk of disposable pop that just misses the mark with the all important hook. Sorry lad, try harder or don’t try at all.
