Still only twenty five, Fana Hughes- who records as Fana Hues- grew up as one of nine kids in a musical household in Pasadena where eclecticism was the inspiration for all. “It’s all I’ve ever known”, she recently said in an interview.
It’s this patchwork of genres that feeds into Icarus, surely one of the best singles of the year already. With its sample from John Barry’s classic Midnight Cowboy, harpsichord, sighs and Hues’ gorgeous wistful vocals, it’s redolent of the sweet psychedelic soul of Marlene Shaw and Minnie Ripperton: the sound of summer and flowers bursting open.
It’s absolutely beautiful- a major new talent is among us. Wide-eyed soul rarely lets us down, and this is at once timeless, and completely of the moment. Perfect pop as resistance to difficult times, nothing feels better than that right now.
thetempohouse 