Covering the indie scene, we’ve become accustomed to artists having extended hiatuses for whatever reason. A couple years, even five years or so, but a decade? That’s how long it’s been since instrumental Hip-Hop pioneers Coldcut blessed us with Sound Mirrors, their 2006 studio album. Perhaps they’ve been too busy running their thriving Ninjatune records, but they’re finally back today with “Only Heaven,” a record that Matt Black has called “dissentertainment.”
The moody, atmospheric track is the perfect springboard for Roots Manuva to unleash potent bars about spirituality, systemic racism, and his place as a Black person amidst it. Manuva matches the eerie soundscape – featuring evocative bass play from Thundercat – with piercing observations such as, “the devil works from each and every angle, and as the anger sets it entangles.” After Manuva delivers his testimony, the song leads out with instrumental play and hi-hats scattering, something like your brain synapses must be doing after taking in his message.
You can stream “Only Heaven” below.
