Feb 17, 2025 2 min read

CMU Selects - last week’s standout releases

From John Glacier’s introspective and amorphous new album to Kelela’s jazz-infused reworks, last week delivered everything from darksided club music to breathless pop. Here are some of last week’s releases you might have missed.

CMU Selects - last week’s standout releases

John Glacier’s new album ‘Like A Ribbon’

East London rapper, poet and producer John Glacier offered up her album ‘Like A Ribbon’ on 14 Feb -  a real Valentines Day gift. 

Co-produced by Vegyn, Kwes Darko and Flume, and featuring collaborations with Sampha and Eartheater, the album chronicles her personal journey through growing up in Hackney, navigating her rise, the struggles that coincide with it, and the existential growth that supersedes it.

Split into three parts that mirror the delicate movements of a ribbon - falling, flailing and reviving - the album defies easy categorisation, merging atmospheric avant-garde production with fluid UK rap flows and grungey undertones; placing Glacier at the forefront of the amorphous sound shaping our time.

🎧 Listen here

AJ Tracey’s new single ‘Crush’, featuring Jorja Smith

AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith get nostalgic about nights on MSN Messenger on new collab ‘Crush’, as a  sped up version of Brandy’s ‘Love Wouldn’t Count Me Out’ weaves through the instrumental’s trap loops and beats. Also note Jorja’s gorgeous Walsall accent.

Nancy June’s ‘Balamii’ mix with Novelist and Esso

Nancy June rolls through with Novelist and Esso for 60 minutes of UK funky, grime and bass. With mysterious darksided rhythms, as Novelist puts it, it’s getting all Scooby Doo - minus the meddling kids.

Kelela’s new album ‘In The Blue Light’

Composed of reimagined tracks from her discography, ‘In The Blue Light’ features twelve stripped-back, jazz-influenced versions recorded during Kelela’s Blue Note residency. It transforms her sleek, club-ready back catalogue into something softer, more grounded and earthy - transporting you to the intimate atmosphere of a jazz club.

Addison Rae’s new single ‘High Fashion’

Addison Rae has further cemented her place in music’s most compelling rebrands with this new single. As a song-and-video package, it’s her strongest release yet. 

One of Rae’s defining style signatures is her breathless, whispering vocals - it’s a sound that feels both effortless and intentional, a throwback to the pop sirens of the early 2000s. Not since Britney has a pop star embodied this distinct blend of all-American charm and glossy allure.

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