The Nicholas: Call Me Back

Relaxed but purposeful, “Call Me Back” by The Nicholas (aka Amsterdam/LA-based Rutger van Woudenberg) is dreamy but tactile. “Your heart’s like a star / I saw you from afar / Maybe it’s time for you / to call me back,” he rings out on the track, which is from Woudenberg’s Lighthead EP. It’s altogether sonically pleasing and reminiscent of bygone eras, though influenced by psych-stars …

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Classic hip-hop, experimental soundscapes, sample-heavy tunes and more in our musical round-up

Rapsody: Ibtihaj Named for Ibtihaj Muhammad (the first American to wear a hijab when competing for the USA in the Olympics), new single “Ibtihaj,” from North Carolina rapper Rapsody, heavily samples GZA’s “Liquid Swords” and also features the Wu Tang member. Unlike the 1995 track, this release includes the immediately recognizable vocals of D’Angelo. The infectious groove will appear on Rapsody’s upcoming album EVE, which …

Chinatown Slalom: Where U At?

Off Liverpool-based Chinatown Slalom’s debut album, Who Wants to Be a Millionare? comes “Where U At?,” a collage-like highlight reel of the band’s sound. The four-piece (Liam Nolan, Jake Brettell, Mikey Woods and Ricky Crawford) leans into the madness of their psych influences and displays an uncanny ability to create a dynamic sound. “Where U At?” features strange samples, filtered-until-unintelligible vocals, stunning harmonies and plenty of …