Beginning as the eponymous singer/rapper/producer’s solo project, Winston Surfshirt now rolls as a six-piece.
Surfshirt’s third album is bookended by sound collages – Panna and Cotta respectively – featuring samples of an old-school radio announcer (eg. “And now for some glorious pop music”).
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During the funky, Pharrell-flavoured There’s Only One, Genesis Owusu serves a sweet reminder: “There’s only one of you.” Then the wondrous Talib Kweli speaks our love language (“I’ll follow you across the seas and every great ocean/ The Outsider tellin’ Ponyboy to stay golden”) on Maybe I’m In Love With You, with its classy-brass hook and crisp finger-snap percussion. Those immaculate female pipes on All I’m Saying sound super-familiar so we check the credits – holy shit, it’s Kimbra! Stunning as always. Welcome back, girl!
Winston previously featured on Every Day Is A Holiday by Dope Lemon and Angus Stone’s psychedelic side project returns the feat. favour here on the sultry-smooth I Want You (To Be My Woman). With its irresistible piano-house hook and jazzy feel, we can immediately see why the man himself dubbed standout track Of Another Kind (feat. Milan Ring and Jerome Farah) “Winston Jazzhouse”.
As scrumptious as the dessert after which it’s named, Panna Cotta was whipped up with a wishlist of Surfshirt’s favourite artists and sounds like the album he’s always wanted to make. Your essential summer soundtrack for dancing, prancing and romancing.
Label: Sweat It Out/BMG
Release date: 11 November
