UKNY For July 9

We've experienced another week of chaos, heartbreak, tragedy and gun violence—a far too common refrain in the States. In years gone by, American artists like Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield offered solace and a sociopolitical perspective. In 2016, the London-born, New York-based producer, singer and songwriter Devonté Hynes, who records as Blood Orange, falls into that empathetic category via his brilliant third album, Freetown Sounds, released a week ago. Almost a concept album,  Freetown Sounds is a collage of voices and viewpoints reflecting those who feels marginalized by racism, misogyny, or LGBTQ bias; Hynes' deeply personal perspective masterfully reflects these troubled times.

So on UKNY at 11, we'll hear from Blood Orange, plus new releases from Mono Club, Alice Jemima, and the amusingly named Beyond the Wizards Sleeve, which is the duo of Erol Alkan and Richard Norris.

And twenty years ago yesterday, on July 8, 1996, the Spice Girls backflipped into Britain's cultural consciousness with the release of "Wannabe." The group's iconic video for that single has been reconfigured and remade for the U.N.'s Project Everyone, part of the Global Goals campaign, to reflect 21st century "girl power" goals, like gender equality, quality education, an end to violence against women, and more. The cast includes dancers and singers from India, Canada, Nigeria, Britain, and the States. Check out the upbeat video below—a bright spot in a harsh week.

Missed the show? You can catch up to UKNY in the FUV Weekend Archives for two weeks after broadcast.

Songs played:

1. Mono Club, “Sky High and Submarine,” single
2. Boxed In, “Jist,” Melt
3. Public Service Broadcasting feat. Smoke Fairies, “Valentina (Boxed In Remix),” The Race for Space: Remixes
4. Blood Orange feat. Zuri Marley, “Love Ya,” Freetown Sound
5. Alice Jemima, “So,” Liquorice EP
6. Mabel, “Thinking of You,” single
7. Blood Orange, “Desirée,” Freetown Sound
8. Spice Girls, “Wannabe,” Spice
9. Beyond the Wizards Sleeve, “Diagram Girl,” The Soft Bounce
10. Slow Club, “In Waves,” One Day All Of This Won’t Matter Anymore
11. Beck and Bat For Lashes, “Let’s Get Lost,” The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
12. Commonwealth Cut (Sydney, Australia) Set Mo feat. Fractures, “Comfort You,” single
13. Sarathy Korwar, “Indefinite Leave to Remain,” Day to Day
14. Reuben Hollebon, “Common Table,” Terminal Nostalgia