Shuffle: Zayn ditches the cleancut image and Rihanna gets to work

Zayn -  Pillowtalk
★★

In time honoured tradition, on his debut solo single, ex-boyband member Zayn Malik has ditched the old cleancut image in favour of something a little raunchier. The self-proclaimed Bradford bad boy's new video is all about one thing: S.E.X.

The ex-One Direction star told the Sunday Times: "Everyone has sex. It's part of everybody's life. You can't brush it under the carpet." That's right, ladies and gentlemen. He didn't brush it under the carpet. In 2016, someone has finally written a pop song about sex. All we need now is a rap song about how some guy who thinks he's the best rapper, and a country song about pick-up trucks, and we are golden.

Rihanna ft. Drake - Work
★★★

The lead single from RiRi's Anti album is a considered meditation on the dignity of manual labour. No, of course it isn't. Like every other pop song ever, it's also about sex. Apparently, she isn't getting any. Which rather begs the question, if Rihanna isn't getting any, what hope have I?

Purling Hiss - Fumble Tumble
★★★

This spanking new track from Purling Hiss (no? me neither) opens with an exhilarating Hendrix riff, before quickly descending into 1990s alt-rock sludge. It's not terribly innovative in other words, but neither is it what you might call a cile of prap.

Nathanial Ratecliff and the Night Sweats - I Need Never Get Old
★★★★

From his slick Memphis soul sound, to his Movember jean commercial aesthetic, Nathaniel Rateliff is a nailed-on four-star Mojo review made flesh. In the music press, Rateliff is most often compared to Van Morrison. But on the opening track from his debut album with the Night Sweats, the Denver native is clearly channelling the old "Jewish Elvis" himself, Neil DIamond. The band play two sold out shows at the Olympia on March 12th and 13th.