Pocket Guides 2023 - Part 1: Arctic Monkeys, Ezra Collective, Fred again.. and J Hus

In the first part of three pocket guides, Matt Everitt profiles four of this year’s Mercury Award nominated albums, with bespoke & archive interviews as well as deep cuts.

The first album he covers is by Arctic Monkeys. The Car is their first new music in nearly 5 years, and although their recent tour illustrated they have no desire to distance themselves from their past. this is much more louche and laid back affair that creatively allows the band to keep evolving.

Ezra Collective's Where I'm Meant to Be is the second album by the British jazz quintet who've benefitted from the luxury of having more time after Lockdown to play together and capture the essence of their fluid, exquisite sound.

Next is the currently ubiquitous Fred Again.. who's album Actual Life 3 has the ability to create sometimes euphoric, sometime thoughtful, always interesting electronic music that taps into house and trance and pop and ambient music and emotive piano and reallys seems to speak to people.

Finally, Matt profiles East London rapper J Hus' second album Beautiful And Brutal Yard which is an invigorating blend of dancehall, UK rap, grime, afroswing and drill and features an amazing lineup of collaborators including Burna Boy, Popcaan, Jorja Smith, CB, Naira Marley, Villz and Boss Belly.