Five tracks for your winter playlist

It’s time to snuggle down at home and embrace the ‘hygge’. And what better way to do that than with some inspiring new tunes?

5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayake has teamed up with Radio X DJ Issy Panayis and music agent and promoter Rob Smith to bring you five new releases for your winter playlist.

Get the rug out and snuggle under - or dance around your kitchen - you choose!

Issy says: “This is the first of Loyle that we have heard this year - and the first we’ve heard since his second album Not Waving, But Drowning.

“The change in topic, for this tune in particular, is very reflective of this year. It is Loyle speaking out against political and social discrimination, and particularly what it is to be black or white in a world where you pretty much have to be one or the other. Loyle himself is mixed race, so there’s conflict there. And I just love what Loyle is doing for London rap in particular.

“This song is laid-back funk beats over a heavy message. He said that he hopes that eventually this song is going to be a reminder of a different time, moving towards respect, acceptance and understanding.”

Nihal adds: “It was only a matter of time before Loyle Career would work with Madlib, who’s a legendary hip hop producer and a master of these kinds of samples - of digging in the crates and finding these extraordinary soul records and putting them together. Brilliant.”

Rob says: “The kitchen disco stuff is stripping back any pretension. She’s got kids crawling round her ankles while she’s performing. It’s absolutely brilliant.

“This is a big pop track, and a disco cover [of the original]. It’s a great tune, but also [check out] the video. Sophie has gone round various London music venues that are closed at the moment because of the situation, and recorded herself performing the song there to raise awareness.

“There are these venues out there that are really struggling. There is a possibility that when this finishes, they won’t be there and we won’t have those venues to go to. I thought it was great that she used her platform to highlight that.”

Nihal adds: “Since March [2020], there are famous people who have read the room and there are famous people who have not read the room well at all. Sophie Ellis Bextor is definitely the former. She has read the room so well, and become a bit of a national treasure. I wonder how many people have bought disco balls for their living rooms after seeing Sophie Ellis Bextor?!”

Issy says: “They’ve been celebrating 25 years together as a band in 2020. That’s a huge accolade for them - along with announcing their tenth album that’s going to be called Medicine at Midnight. This track is the very first cut that we’ve heard from the record, which should be out in February. Dave Grohl has said [this song is] not a representation of what the rest of the album’s going to be, sound-wise.

“What I love particularly about this song is you can just tell it comes from Dave Grohl’s drummer’s brain, obviously from Nirvana. It’s really rhythmically led and stripped back as well for Foo Fighters, even down to lyrics and the refrain. It’s something a little bit different and I think this is the starting point of what could be one of their most followed records to date.”

“And it’s a whirlwind album as well. I don’t have it down to the exact minute, but it’s really short, less than an hour. So it is going to be fast-paced, I think.

Rob says: “They’re a young band from Brixton, out of the scene that spawned bands Shame and Fat White Family. There are a few bands that have all originated there, and I’m a bit of a fan boy.

“It’s all centred around Brixton and the venue The Windmill. It’s kind of set back a bit, behind the Telegraph. It’s quite well known because it’s got ‘roof dog’ - the owner’s dog has got a walkout on the roof, so when you’re a band or a promoter unloading the gear, this dog runs on the roof and starts barking. It’s different!

“Their debut album came out on Rough Trade [in 2018]. This track is part of an album [On All Fours] that’s coming out in January.”

5 Live listener Chris in Bristol says: “I’m constantly playing Gwenifer Raymond’s album on repeat. I’m a guitar fanatic and this young woman is probably the UK’s best-kept secret, even though America has already found her.

“Her guitar playing is mind-blowing and heart-breaking. She puts Clapton, Richards and Page to shame. Shout out for her new album, which is called Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain.”

This single Gwaed am Gwaed has had glowing reviews in British newspapers and the music press. See what you think!

Nihal Arthanayake is on air on BBC Radio 5 Live Mondays to Thursdays 13:00 - 16:00. Listen live on BBC Sounds.

The Monthly Music Review is at 15:00 on the last Thursday of the month.

Nihal chats through the latest music news, recommendations for new releases and the tracks you just need to hear.