Tag: Inflo

Posted in Album of the Month, New Albums, podcast

Podcast EP.59 | Little Simz | Lotus

Posted on by misterstory

EP. 63 | Our Top 10 Albums of 2025 – This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Festive Greetings from This Is Not Happening and welcome to our year-end, 2025 wrap-up episode. As always we split the pod into Part 1 and Part 2.Part 1 features our Top 10 favourite albums of 2025. We use a proprietary algorithm to create our list our collective favourite albums, we're talking nascent data-science excellence! Every year it throws up some surprises as our tastes are so different (and in some ways so similar.Part 2 features a festive Spin It or Bin It. We each bring a candidate for track of the year and ask the age old question 'Spin It or Bin It' … will anyone really bin anyone elses Track of the Year? Probably.To retain the tension, I won't share any spoilers here … other than to share a 40 track playlist of some of our favourite 2025 tracks … here.Whatever you do at this time of year, who ever you do it with … have a good one.Please join us in January where we will go back to the usual format of Album of the Month + Spin It or Bin It.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. EP. 63 | Our Top 10 Albums of 2025
  2. EP. 62 | Juniper | Joy Crookes
  3. EP.61 | Blood Orange | Essex Honey
  4. EP.60 | Wet Leg | Moisturizer
  5. EP.59 | Little Simz | Lotus

Welcome to Episode 59 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast. We’re missing a team-member this month as Davide is on an Anglo-French diplomatic mission. 

In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’.  We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?

In Part 1, Nolan is in the seat. He brings Little Sim’z new album, Lotus. This was a reluctant choice when he made it. He thought it was an interesting album but he was far from loving it. Has that changed in a month?

In Part 2, we celebrate New Music. What are our favourite new tracks from the last couple of months?

                            —– Part 1 | Little Simz | ‘Lotus’ —–

This is the 2nd Little Simz album we’re reviewed as our little Album of the Month collective. Last time round was here debut album Grey Area which would all pretty much loved. I think our experience of her work since then has varied significantly. This album has been launched in a quite dramatic and controversial environment following the collapse of Simz’ relationship with former collaborator Inflo. What does Simz sound like without Inflo? Let’s find out.

Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think. Here are some links that we mention on the pod or think could be useful to explore;

  • Listen to the album … HERE.
  • We mention the great Louis Theroux podcast interview … HERE.
  • Watch the video for ‘Young’ … HERE.
  • Buy some stuff … HERE.  

                          —– Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | ‘New Music’ —–

The theme this month is New Music. Simple. What new tunes are we loving? There’s LOADS of amazing music out but we also need to pick something that we think the rest of us will vote ‘spin it’ to.

We all chose 4 tracks as a shortlist which we combine into a belter of a 16 track playlist, listen to that bad boy HERE.

Posted in Uncategorized

AOTM | Little Simz | Lotus

Posted on by nolankane706

It’s tough to believe that this is Simz’s 9th album (4th on a major label). Maybe it’s a sign of my age, but she seems like new artist to me in some ways. Perhaps because unlike the rest of the This Is Not Happen pod members I’ve never clicked with her albums, akin to drop in and out and champion the singles that click with me (note I think Boss from Simz’s Grey Area album is one of the best British songs in the last ten years). So why am I not a huge fan of her albums? Largely as a hip hop fan I’ve found her delivery lacking substance and emotion often. So why have a picked this album? In short I think she’s turned a corner for me. All niggles I’ve had previously have been pushed away with the release for Lotus.

Although I may have had issues with previous albums I’m never doubted the talent of Simz’s. Both musically and also her acting has made her a household name throughout the UK and a shining light within the UK music scene. Very much a veteran artist that continues to collect global momentum with each release, Simz delivers a versatile, well curated 49 minute end to end. Filled with emotion and confidence each song is an adventure.

Many reviews of Lotus have focussed on her public fallout with long time friend and collaborator Inflo, Friends since she was 9 years old, their came to a hard stop over publicly disputed loan of £2m that Simz lent Inflo which wasn’t paid back. The frustration, hurt and betrayal of this is weaved throughout the album starting off with the first track Thief and finished with Blue (featuring Info collaborator Michael Kiwanuka). Although this is a standout theme on a handful of songs, it’s not the only theme of the album. There is so much more to the album to go at and focus on as she touches on everything in her world.

One interesting point is that Simz hasn’t pushed her sound in a different direction due to the split. Perhaps planting her flag to the sound we know Info for and that is as much hers as his, there are familiar sounds we have got to know both of them for highlighting their sound is much as Simz as Inflo.

Simz largely leans on collaboration throughout this album with 8 of the 13 songs featuring other artists. A theme common for hip hop albums, but interestingly the guests push this album away from hip hop and expands its accessibility through a versatile selection of guests. I’m not sure you would even call this a hip hop album? What is certain is that the additional help creates a rounded offering.

Currently Lion is my favourite track. The cross over friendly sounds comfort Simz in a close to perfect flow. It may be my song of the summer. The album sadly doesn’t go without a bump. I really struggle with Young…. But I’m trying to let it grow on me.

Simz delivers a rounded, mature and accomplished album with Lotus. For me her best release to date. I’m now in the Simz camp, and if you aren’t it’s time to take a step inside.

Posted in Music chat, New Tunes

Simz is BACK!

Posted on by GuyHornsby

ALL HAIL.

We are big big Little Simz fans here at TINH, and while we were mixed with our view of Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (S.I.M.B.I.) – for me, it was a brilliant record, somewhat let down by the strange skits from Emma Corrin / Lady Di in the Crown – we all adored Grey Area for its energy, power and sheer do-not-give-a-fuck attitude (not to mention amazing flow and vibe).

And as we all got to thinking about our 2022 Top Tens, here landed No Thank You, on 12 December, to land in that strange slot of after end of year lists, but not in 2023, hence a sort of hinterland. But my god, it doesn’t really matter, because it’s an amazing work. Much more personal, and pared back than the maximal feel of SIMBI, this sees Simz and her producer, Inflo, in perfect harmony. Gorilla may be one of my tracks of the year as a late entry, and if it came out in November, it would’ve likely been in my Top 5, straight in!

It’s great to have her back, but perhaps next time, release on 2nd Jan?

We love Simz.

Posted in Album of the Month, New Tunes

September AOTM: Sault – Untitled (Black Is)

Posted on by nolankane706

Throughout lockdown I searched high and low for new music and in general struggled to find something that blew my mind. This was until Sault released ‘Untitled (Black Is)’.  Over 3 months since the first listen it is still fresh as the first listen and I’m excited to present it to you as this month’s album of the month.

Who are Sault and where have they come from? In short, nobody really knows. It’s written that they’re a collective most likely from London and they’re on the Forever Living Origionals imprint. Cleo Sol is thought to be in the band, so is Kid Sister and Inflo. In the last 18 months they have released 3 full albums that are all thriller and no filler. Their sound in my humble opinion is incredible. It firmly falls into my wheelhouse. They cover a wide spectrum of sounds with soul firmly at the heart of everything they do. 

Like their first two releases, our album of the month Untitled (Black Is) came out of nowhere. The first time the world heard it was on the Giles Peterson show. He rated it so highly that he played the entire album on its’ first play in June. They posted on their social media upon the digital release “We present our first ‘Untitled’ album to mark a moment in time where we as Black People, and of Black Origin are fighting for our lives. RIP George Floyd and all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism. Change is happening…We are focused.”

Focused is an understatement. From the initial ‘Out the Lies’, followed by ‘Stop Dem’, ‘Hard Life’, and ‘Don’t Shoot Guns Down’ the scene is set for the majestic ‘Wildfires’; which exudes inspiration and determination amongst deep frustration as the first half of the album swiftly pulls you in. As Sault swerve through the multi genre effort you’re continually impressed with each new sound whilst purveying the consistent message of black unity. As the album nears it’s end the message moves from frustration to hope.

Sault have released an album of heart felt, thought provoking songs that inspire and for some hopefully educate. At face value I would wonder if an album that moves through psychedelic soul, dub, reggae and spoken word within minutes of each other would work? This album does this on numerous occasions without flinching. We often talk about albums and their programming. It is 56 minutes long, 20 tracks deep with a mixture of songs and interludes. I struggle to find a track that doesn’t belong.

This album was the first in months that I was truly blown away by. Since the pre-lockdown release of RTJ4. I write this on the day that Sault announced the follow up to Untitled is imminent. More of their musical magic is on the way and I for one can’t wait!