Ben Devlin

England

Editor at musicOMH

Editor @MusicOMH, amateur archivist

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Articles

Sherelle - With A Vengeance

1 week ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The genre-bending British producer displays her singular style on this bassy, pummelling debutDrum ‘n’ bass has found itself very much in vogue recently, from the kawaii sound design of Kenya Grace’s Strangers to Chase & Status’ recent spurt of collaborations. Sherelle is adjacent to the scene, as her 160 BPM beats are slower and owe more to jungle’s tumbling rhythms, but the high-octane vocal samples and intense basslines on With A Vengeance would surely be welcome at any club night.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco - I Said I Love You First

4 weeks ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The engaged power couple struggle to strike the right balance on their collaborative recordOf all the millennial Disney Channel popstars, Selena Gomez’s trajectory is perhaps the most erratic – she had a rebellious, wild phase which was dwarfed by Miley Cyrus, she scored two sizeable hits that aren’t well remembered today, then she featured on one of the biggest songs of the decade so far.
Playboi Carti - Music

1 month ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The Atlanta rapper delivers a lot of music on his third album, with Travis Scott, Skepta, Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd along for the rideSuspicion, resentment, flickers of hope, waves of disappointment: life for Playboi Carti fans has been tough since Whole Lotta Red propelled the Atlanta rapper to a kind of superstardom some four years ago.
M.anifest - New Road And Guava Trees

1 month ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The Ghanaian rapper brings a variety of sounds on his sixth studio album, with a turn of phrase that is fresh and novelAs the international profile of afrobeats has grown over the past few years, various upcoming artists have seized the opportunity for a viral hit. M.anifest is certainly good enough to be in that number, but has a more nuanced relationship to genre, utilising trap and R&B elements as well as the traditional rhythmic metre.
John Glacier - Like A Ribbon

2 months ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The British rapper takes the listener on a tour of the underground scene on one of the most accomplished debuts of recent timesHaving made her name in the early 2020s with an independent mixtape and a collaborative project accompanying SURF GANG, the thoughtful, low-key lyricism of John Glacier has created much anticipation for her debut album.
Olly Alexander - Polari

2 months ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The British singer sounds reinvigorated on his sonically inventive solo debutThere is a certain thrill in watching pop stars roll the dice – experimenting with confidence and glee, upending expectations that have formed over their careers. Until recently Olly Alexander has been the frontman of Years & Years, which started life as a distinctive synth-pop outfit and became more and more faceless until it was just Olly and some big songwriters.
Central Cee - CAN'T RUSH GREATNESS | Album Reviews | musicOMH

2 months ago | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The UK rapper’s debut album definitely wasn’t rushed, but how great is it? In the summer of 2022, during UK drill’s halcyon days, Central Cee was fighting to keep the spotlight – he’d had a hit single and a feature with D-Block Europe, but plenty of artists in this competitive scene would come and go. The real reason he still commands media attention around the world in 2025 is Doja and its decidedly Brentian opening lyric: “How can I be homophobic?
Rose Gray - Louder, Please

Jan 24, 2025 | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The up-and-coming British artist shines on her vibrant, hedonistic debut albumAs 2025 kicks off, the British pop industry is generally in a bad way: new artists are struggling to break through amidst a sea of American hits, while the careers of various established artists are either cooling down or stalling completely.
Kendrick Lamar - GNX

Nov 29, 2024 | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

Things get crazy, scary, spooky and hilarious on the Compton rapper’s triumphant new recordThere are multiple aspects to the Kendrick Lamar/Drake beef of late-spring that were unpredictable (the sheer force of hostility towards one of the 21st century’s most successful artists, the disproportionate role played by Taylor Swift) but perhaps the most improbable was Kendrick being willing to spark all this in the first place.
Murcof - Twin Color Vol 1

Nov 15, 2024 | musicomh.com | Ben Devlin

The Mexican producer dazzles with this odyssean collection of soundscapesLost futures have been an object of fascination for many artists recently, particularly in the electronic sphere. Music made with a machine was strange and novel when the synth-based pioneers were creating these worlds (A Clockwork Orange, Blade Runner et al), whereas now it has the potential to be as commonplace as a grey paving slab.