UKNY for January 23
Cleo Sol (photo courtesy of Forever Living Originals, PR)
West Londoner Cleo Sol is not only part of Sault, the mysterious collective that has dropped five extraordinary albums since 2019 (with Unititled (Rise) nominated for a 2021 Mercury Prize), but she's a solo artist in her own right. Sol released her debut album, Rose in the Dark, in 2020 and last year her second, Mother, produced by producer and fellow Sault member Inflo (Sol frequently collaborates with friends like Little Simz and Michael Kiwanuka, who have also guested on Sault albums).
There's a old school vibe to Sol's songs, many reflecting on new motherhood and maternal legacies — think of lushly arranged albums by Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. But she brings a wistful, uneasy '20s tension to her lyrics that correlates with these unsteady times. On tonight's "UKNY," one of Sol's beautiful songs.
And speaking of beautiful music about mothers — Lima-born, Berlin-based Sofia Kourtesis released one of the loveliest and surprising EPs about grief and love last year, Fresia Magdelena, very much inspired by her parents. Kourtesis's brand new single, out this week and featuring Manu Chau, also reflects on her mother — and I'll get to that tonight as well.
New releases from London's Ibibio Sound Machine and Tigercats too, plus more from two extremely exciting bands from Leeds: English Teacher and Yard Act. And violinist Georgia Ellery is a member of two terrific bands — the adventurous septet Black Country, New Road and the quirky duo Jockstrap — and we'll hear new tracks from both of those groups.
That and much more on "UKNY," Sunday nights from 11 p.m.-midnight on 90.7, streaming online, and in the Weekend Archives after broadcast.
Songs played:
1. Ibibio Sound Machine, “All That You Want,” Electricity
2. Tigercats, “New Work,” New Works EP
3. Yard Act, “Payday,” The Overload
4. (Dublin, IE) Fontaines D.C., “Jackie Down the Line,” Skinty Fia
5. (Tamanrasset, DZ) Imarhan feat. Gruff Rhys, “Adar Newlan,” Aboogi
6. Cleo Sol, “Spirit,” Mother
7. English Teacher, “A55,” Polyawkward EP
8. Jockstrap, “50/50,” single
9. Black Country, New Road, “Snow Globes,” Ants From Up There
10. (BE-MQ-UK) Nala Sinephro, “Space 2,” Space 1.8
11. (Lima, PE-Berlin, DE) Sofia Kourtesis feat. Manu Chao, “Estación Esperanza,” single
12. Art School Girlfriend feat. Marika Hackman, “I Would Die 4 U (Prince cover)”
