Selections: Eddington Again

Eddington Again’s debut album, ‘Naomi9’ on !K7, was named DJ Mag’s album of the month in December 2023. In his review, Paul Clarke documented the evolution of the Berlin-via-LA vocalist and producer’s sound over the years, through their earliest explorations in psychedelic hip-hop as part of the Oddience trio, to their debut solo mixtape, which found them freestyling over beats that sampled the likes of Nujabes and Oneohtrix Point Never, all the way to their increasingly experimental ‘Damani’ EP series. It set a strong precedent, but as Clarke noted, “even Nostradamus and an AI supercomputer would’ve been unlikely to predict quite how good Eddington Again’s first solo full-length would be.”

He wasn’t wrong. ‘Naomi9’ is properly wonderful: a 12-track collection that finds them flexing their songwriting skills with deft fusions of shoegazey pop, luminous rap and skittering dance music, all bolstered by reflective lyricism and gorgeous vocals. Real tears in the club material. Berlin itself clearly made an impression too, with Boys Noize adding some extra dancefloor heft to ‘Cake Code’.

Most recently, their single ‘Petrify’ was remixed by Airynore, who transforms the tune from a velvety drum & bass rumination into a digitised alt-rock-meets-avant-pop hybrid. This flair for stylistic fusion and experimentation is reflected in Eddington Again’s Selections, in which they spotlight adventurous pop gems packed with emotion and playful experimentation. Dive in below.

“1010benja is my new favourite artist at the moment. Beautiful melodies, catchy cadence and innovative song structures. I also really love his tone and choice of lyrics here. He also has another one I really like called ‘High’. His style reminds me of Nirvana meets Micheal Jackson sprinkled with rap adlibs.”

“Another really beautiful track from WILLOW. You can really hear the evolution in this one. The way she travels with her vocals to so many unexpected places. Great songwriting and attention to detail.”

“Tia has always given me pure generator and effortless talent. The way she slides between different voices and vibes is something I admire and am impressed with on almost every track I hear from her. Really dope and inspiring. She has another sick one called ‘Bonnet’, produced by one of my favourite producers, Otxoa.”

“I’ve been a big fan of this next artist ever since someone sent me his album to say he reminded them of me lol. ‘Hell Of A Ride’ is just one of many bangers from Nourished By Time. It gives me a unique future yet nostalgic vibe. Totally here for it.”

“‘Sanctum’ by Saint Precious is one of those visuals you see for the first time that draws you in, welcoming you to a world of an artist that is refreshing and beautifully vibrant. She played at my album release party at Kantine am Berghain and the music was equally stunning live.”

“Otherworldly melodies meet R&B and gospel influence with lyrics that describe queer love and conflict. Pitched vocals and experimental song structures with fierce cadence throughout. My lord, annonXL is so talented and has so many strong songs it's hard for me to choose a favourite so I'll share her most recent release. ‘SO MOTE IT BE’ is also a big favourite.”

“I'm really excited about the current wave of music coming out of Berlin from the Black artists on the underground. There’s a scene here that doesn’t get much attention outside of the city but the pool of vibrance and inspiration is full with lots to absorb . One of my favourite drops from it is from Ayzon featuring the very talented Ish. I was recently in her music video just hanging out in a party scene. The song is set to release soon and is also a smooth banger.”

“John Keek is a really good friend of mine and also a savant when it comes to laying down bone chilling melodies and heartfelt breaths of emotion and longing. We’ve spent hours over FaceTime going back and forth with lyric and cadence ideas over the years. Really a natural when it comes to channelling, and is currently working on album that I'm really excited for the world to hear.”

“Kinda in love with the mediaeval world Hemlocke Springs built on the track. When I first heard it I think I listened to it a week continually on repeat in a rotation of songs. Really exciting dynamic vocal performance.”

“I'm in awe of Zsela’s voice. The depth, warmth and tone she delivers is so intoxicating to me. Almost every song I've heard from her sounds like a classic. Really mesmerising and original artist. Make sure you also check out ‘Noise’ from her first project. The whole EP is beautiful but ‘Noise’ is what really got me hooked.”