I think it’s fair to say at this point in 2012 that Broke With Expensive Taste, the forthcoming debut from Azealia Banks, who I have featured on here several times, is one of the releases I am most looking forward to this year.

Having been voted the coolest person in music at the end of 2011 by NME (Which can be a poisoned chalice), she has been hanging around the UK charts with ‘212’ seemingly pretty much since then, and her new EP 1991, is due soon.

Before the album comes out (due in September), there will be a mixtape entitled Fantastic. Taken from it is this rather fine track called ‘Jumanji’ which is another fine example of why listening to her is -in the finest way possible – like being on the receiving end of quickfire. It’s co-produced by Glaswegian Hudson Mohawke, friend and associate of Rustie, who I championed on this blog back in 2008.

play it loud…

This week, the NME has published its’ annual cool list. Now, I’ve no issue with the inclusion with the likes of PJ Harvey, Dave Grohl and Jarvis Cocker, though I’m puzzled at the high ranking of Hurts’ Theo Hutchcraft (wake up, hipsters! They sound like a Shit Go West), and both Gallagher brothers.

But the no.1 on the list is not the frontperson of some indie-by-numbers band, beloved by the Hoxton mafia. Instead, it’s one Azealia Banks, a mere twenty years old, and resident of New York. She was trying to break into acting. Her cover of Interpol’s ‘Slow Hands’ has been doing the rounds for a while (it’s quite impressive) and ‘212’ is an impressive track (big in the clubs, apparently, which you can’t even buy yet).

That Interpol cover:

Slow Hands by Azealia Banks

I love the cover and think ‘212’ is pretty cool (although it’s pretty blue). She’s working with Paul Epworth who made Florence a massive star – but will she build on this (considerable) promise or be well away from the music scene this time next year?