

Londoner Eska Mtungwazi has clocked up a decade of writing and session work for artists as varied as Tony Allen, Zero 7 and Grace Jones, which could explain the strikingly accomplished songcraft on her debut. That diversity bleeds into songs that warp folk tradition into new shapes and decorate the results with soul (“So Long Eddy”), reggae (“Heroes & Villains”) and gentle psychedelics (“Dear Evelyn”). Throughout, the versatility of Mtungwazi’s voice is as stunning as its emotional power.