Album: Malakai, Ugly Side of Love, (Invada)

Loved by Lily Allen, signed to Geoff (Portishead) Barrow’s record label and described as “the b-boy Syd Barrett”, the debut album by Bristol two-piece Malakai would be irritating if it wasn’t such a work of wonder.

While unmistakably post trip-hop, ‘Ugly Side of Love’ actually sounds like nothing less than a lost 1960s classic by David Axelrod and Shuggie Otis. It’s superb stuff; think a less tricky Tricky. Shame it’s destined to soundtrack a million outings to Urban Outfitters.

Pick of the album: The Malakai sound crystallises on ‘Snowflake’

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