Polydor's new soul star heads up this week's Playlist...

CELESTE

Strange (Polydor)

Quickly following the excellent She’s My Sunshine, Celeste pulls off the neat trick of conjuring euphoria from a slow, searching soul number. Her most impressive vocal performance so far.

SOFI TUKKER
Purple Hat (Ultra Music)

Sofi Tukker veer away from the sugary sound that turned them into streaming sensations to explore something altogether weirder. Catchy, but strange.

EZRO

Mad Sad (Powers Worldwide/Ezro)

Lewisham boy Ezro has made beats for AJ Tracey, now he’s going it alone with Mad Sad, delivering laid-back bars over trap-flavoured backing.

PROFESSOR GREEN (FEAT. ALICE CHATER)
Got It All (Gan Green Records)

Lifted from his new MOTH EP, this finds Pro Green picking his way through murky bars, while Alice Chater’s vocals lift things towards clubland territory.

JACK PEÑATE
Prayer (XL Recordings)

When Jack Peñate’s last LP came out, Barack Obama’s presidency was just a few months old. It’s been ages, and this return is imbued with freshness.

CIGARETTES AFTER SEX
Heavenly (Partisan)

CAS’ tendency to explore tenderness many would shy away from continues. This red raw return sets up new album Cry (October 25) perfectly.

MILES KANE

Blame It On The Summertime (AWAL)

Here’s Miles Kane to usher out the summer season with some trademark sun-dappled chords. What’s that on the artwork? A bucket hat of course.

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