10 songs you need in your life this week

"'Pokke Koebês's foundation rests on an infectious lick from South African guest guitarist Kara Snethlage, who connected the band with Jitsvinger — a Cape Town poet, educator, and musical multi-hyphenate. Rapping in Afrikaaps (a local dialect of Afrikaans) over the aforementioned groove and reinforced by a veritable army of percussion, bass, and brass, Jits delivers a searing condemnation of Dutch and British imperialism in his homeland." – RH

"'Selfish Soul' is a song that is at once an expression of severe haircut anxiety and a celebration of all shapes, lengths, and styles of Black hair." — RH

"Dazegxd’s vKiSS, the latest release on emerging internet music label deadAir, is a thrilling mix of dance music genres. The New York-based producer and DJ’s playful approach prioritizes fluidity and vibrancy — there isn’t a single moment that isn’t trying to nudge hesitant listeners into the center of the dancefloor." — BC

"Finding both Madge and Sickick adding new vocals, “Frozen On Fire” plays more like a pop song that samples the original "Frozen", an eerie piece of trap-pop that, somehow, is the platonic ideal of a 2022 Madonna update. It’s alien and icy and kind of intoxicating." – SD

"Each song on Lucy's new EP highlights a different production style in Cooper B Handy's expansive palette, but it’s “Radiation” that takes the boldest approach, centering a stadium guitar sample I feel so close to placing it’s driving me nuts!" – RH

'“Looking At Your Pager' is one of the tracks Kieran Hebden says he’s fielded the most questions about since he started playing it in DJ sets. You can understand why: Fast, dirty, and deeply weird, it’s a perfect mix of both sides of his electronic sensibilities." – SD

"'(Herman's) House' is packed full of sleazy guitar riffs, grinding bass, and the kind of piano normally reserved for a house rave. Beneath the thrills of a life-affirming punk rock song, however, lies the story of Herman Wallace, a Black revolutionary held in solitary confinement for decades while imprisoned at Louisiana State Penitentiary." – DR

"'Tell The Truth' is built on top of a prowling string loop and lurching bassline that veer toward some kind of G-Funk lullaby, but when the kick drums land with a pummeling thump-thump-thump, the beat jumps out, practically begging for someone to flinch." – BC

"The last, and best, song on Harry Styles' third album Harry's House is a left-turn from the chic weightlessness of the rest of the album. This is Styles doing The Weeknd, all smolder and no release, an R&B song whose minor-key synth underpinnings add an intriguing, chaotic darkness to proceedings. If this is how album four is gonna sound, sign me up." – SD

“Told you before this year is the year of the real,” could well be the banner under which Legxacy shares all of his genre-blurring music." – DR