Tchami - Damaged Heart (ft. Todd Edwards)

As mentioned in last week's Enlightened Listening, Tchami released his long-awaited debut LP Year Zero this past Friday. With teaser singles featuring Marlena Shaw and Gunna, among a few other fabulous house tracks in "Born Again" and "Buenos Aires," it was clear this was going to be a diverse and indeed divine debut. After having the chance to let all of Year Zero sink in over the weekend, I've come to the conclusion that the album's finale, "Damaged Heart" is my favourite of the bunch. 

Featuring the legendary Todd Edwards, the captivating conclusion strikes a sombre tone as it sends Year Zero into the next realm. Starting with a crisp, tight and groovy drum bed, the track is immediately infectious with an undeniable toe-tapping quality. This gripping energy explodes in gorgeous fashion as the sublime synths hit, delivering a deep and soulful wave for our ears (and heart) to ride. The way these two elements (drums and synths) play together is beautiful and rousing, but what makes "Damaged Heart" so clearly calm and confident is the inspirative vocals. Putting into words what the music itself exudes, "Damaged Heart" struts with an incredible surety as though bounding weightlessly through the heavens.

Leaving you feeling lighter and stronger, "Damaged Heart" is as good a credit roll as it gets sending Year Zero off in a reincarnating revelry. Stream the uber-cool collab below and get the album now here.

Tchami · Damaged Hearts (feat. Todd Edwards)

FOLLOW TCHAMI: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

FOLLOW TODD EDWARDS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Throwback Thursday: Marlena Shaw - Touch Me In The Morning

Nothing like a little disco diversion especially after all the egregious Halloween heat. But why take the time to showcase this 1979 song from Marlena Shaw? One, it's quite simply stunning and two, it's become clear that Skream has been rinsing it out during his latest tour. He played it last month at CODA, and a video appeared on my Twitter today, incorrectly credited as an edit, before Skream corrected it as the original mix. I can honestly say I have not been in a club environment like that night.

I struggled to describe the kind of set Skream played, one because its contents spanned nearly half a century, and two because maybe more than anyone I've seen, he played tracks and artists with whom I was entirely unfamiliar. That said it was not just a treat to take in sonically, but visually as well. His work on the decks was clearly competent and focused, but it was more about his crowd interaction, and I'm not talking about being on the mic or jumping on the decks throwing cake or anything like that. He was obviously leading through his selections, but with such a wide swath of genres and sounds you might think it difficult for people to keep up, stay engaged and entertained. No matter, he succeeded in that sense incredibly, especially as he worked into the final throws of the night with tracks like this.

"Touch Me In The Morning" was the most memorable of the extended disco dance section, when more than anything he was leading the party through his own obvious enjoyment of the tunes he was selecting. Sure the crowd had thinned since the peak hours, but the strength of Marlena Shaw was unavoidable. Pure power in the piano and her vocals leave your heart palpitating, swooning and swinging in ecstasy, blood pulsing through your veins to the rhythm of the bass, as the intensity rises towards the title line. The first few minutes are fantastic and cannot be discounted in the beautiful build, but when she reaches fever pitch after the 3 minute mark and the triumphant trumpet enters you're helpless but to melt into the club, becoming one with the world, taking you "to a place where no one's ever been." It's safe to say not only was everyone in CODA touched early in that morning by Skream's sublime Shaw selection, but I for one left the club to that cold morning light a satisfied soul.