Petite Noir – “Till We Ghosts” (Feat. Yasiin Bey)
Petite Noir’s King Of Anxiety EP already gave us one splendid single in “Chess.” Now here’s another excellent track from Cape Town “noirwave” king Yannick Ilunga with an assist from Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def. “Till We Ghosts” actually premiered two years ago in a different form, but this new version with Bey is as fresh as can be. It’s one of those songs that could have been utterly corny, with Bey rapping over what amounts to driving rock music with an ethereal touch. Instead, this particular rap/rock hybrid turns out to be as electrifying as Yeezus, but with the elegant poise of peak TV On The Radio. Run The Jewels’ collaboration with Until The Ribbon Breaks comes to mind as well, though this trades out sharp-edged aggression for a dreamier kind of forward motion. Listen below.
The King of Anxiety is out 1/19 in the UK and 1/20 in the US via Domino.