Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah feat. Saul Williams: Ancestral Recall

One listen to jazz artist Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s “Ancestral Recall,” which features poet and songwriter Saul Williams, reveals a mission beyond music. The track, and forthcoming album of the same name, were “built as a map to decolonize sound; to challenge previously held misconceptions about some cultures of music; to codify a new folkloric tradition and begin the work of creating a national set of …

Listen Up

Duets and covers define our week in music

Perfume Genius + Empress Of: When I’m With Him Reworking her original version of “When I’m With Him,” Empress Of (aka Lorely Rodriguez) has teamed up with Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) for this dreamy and dramatic version, where Hadreas takes lead vocals. While it’s technically billed as a cover by Perfume Genius, it’s a duet—aided by production from Jim-E Stack, who also worked on the original. Moving away …

Micropixie: The Universal (Blur Cover)

One of seminal English act Blur’s most beloved tunes, “The Universal” gets a fresh take from Micropixie, aka Neshma Friend. The cover carries the pressing intention of the original, but layers vocals and instrumentation in a refreshing, albeit loyal way. Friend has an album, Dark Sight of the Moon, coming out 8 March.