Songs of the year, Number 8: Ibeyi - Lavender and Red Roses feat. Jorja Smith (Official Music Video)

Afro-French-Cuban twin sister duo Ibeyi released their third album Spell 31 back in May. The title is a reference to a passage in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which is quoted within the album's soundscape. 

On 'Lavender and Red Roses' they perform three part harmonies with Walsall superstar Jorja Smith and the effect is stunningly good. Minimal beats and subtle instrumentation serve to provide a bed for the vocals, which are very much the star of the show here. Lyrically, it seems to be about the anguish and powerlessness that comes from trying (and failing) to save a loved one from an indeterminate darkness while knowing that, sooner or later, you will have to cut the chord. 

That Smith's vocals blend and weave so seamlessly with those of Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz is at the heart of the tracks success. It would be nice to hear future collaborations between the three of them in the future, either as an Ibeyi release or as a Jorja Smith release, but independently and together, all three artists are always worth a listen. 

Ibeyi - Away Away (Official Video)

The Diaz sisters at their harmonic best, 'Away Away' features on Ibeyi's 2017 album, Ash. I really love the way that this video captures the energy of their live peformances. 

Ibeyi - Me Voy (Live on KEXP)

This is a song taken from a lovely intimate set by Ibeyi for KEXP. You can watch the full set here.

Fantasy Festival number 3: The Lineup

Julia Bardo: This young musician moved from Brescia in Italy to Manchester three years ago and after playing as part of Working Men's Club for a bit, is now pursuing a solo career. You can read a really good interview with Julia over on the Fred Perry website, and find out more about her here. 

Biig Piig: One of The Guardian's 'One To Watch' from late last year, and a favourite of 6Music, Biig Piig is the pseudonym of Irish musician Jess Smyth. You can find her on Insta and listen to her on Soundcloud.  

Mint Field: 2020 sees Mexican band Mint Field return with a changed lineup as they begin the build up to their much anticipated second album. You can find out more at their Bandcamp page. 

Sui Zhen: Electronic artist Sui Zhen began her career in Japan in 2016 but is now based in Melbourne, Australia. Last years album Losing, Linda was a understated classic. You can find out more over at her website. 

Jenny Hval: Experimental Norwegian artist Jenny Hval has built up a cult following over the past five years or so, and has collaborated with a number of other artists, including Kelly Lee Owens. You can access her website here. 

Ibeyi: French-Cuban sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz make sophisticated and intricate music in English and Yoruba, a Nigerian dialect. As well as featuring in Amy Raphael's recent excellent book of interviews with female musicians, A Seat At The Table, there's also a good introductory interview with them here. 

Rosalía: Catalan global popstar Rosalia Vila Tobella has only been with us a few years, but she is going from strength to strength, steadily climbing the live circuit and performing in bigger and bigger venues, turning in stirring performances at every award ceremony going, and generally bossing it. Now is her moment. 

Spooky (but not in a Halloween sense) playlist compiling

This month's F-Word Music blog post is now up on the site. Because we are well into the period I like to think of as Peak Touring (new university term, end of year lists pending, Christmas wish lists being compiled...) there has been an awful lot of stuff to cram in this time. 

By comparison, the playlist was pretty easy and came together almost immediately. I think I had to move, maybe, two songs around and that was it, it was done.

It was when I was listening to it back that I realised how very apt a lot of the songs are in terms of the past year. A lot are very pertinent to the #MeToo era and, most recently, the Kavanagh appointment in the US. I feel as though I've been stockpiling these songs in my mind, and in my Spotify lists, just waiting for the right moment to put them all together. 

Some are from new artists, some are from established artists. Some were recorded for major labels, some were self released. But what they all seem to share is a kind of conscious or unconscious commentary on the state of womanhood and the world in 2018. 

I'm really pleased that so many artists have tapped into their inner rage this year. It would be nice to live in a utopian world, or at least a more restful one, but that seems remote and, as with all art, music reflects that. And provides a source of inspiration and solace in a fucked up world.

Image is the cover image for Laura Gibson's new album Goners. It is out now.