Doncaster-raised, Johannesburg-born artist Skinny Pelembe returns with daydreaming new single ‘My Love Is Burning, Up’, a kaleidoscope whorl of hypnotically-looped vocals and muffled guitar riffs. Delivered with an off-hand, dextrous cadence, Skinny’s lyrics amble between talk of DNA fixes and soul stitches. The talk of stitches and re-fixes is appropriate: the song is a re-work of ‘My Love is Burning, Down’ from Skinny’s lauded debut album, the original featuring as a b-side on the single. It’s another slice of a unique artist’s shapeshifting, enthralling style.
The single follows debut album, “Dreaming Is Dead Now, released earlier this year. Since releasing his debut single in 2017, Skinny has been tipped by The Observer, The Quietus and Huck. Singles “I Just Wanna Be Your Prisoner” and “Spit / Swallow” were both picked for BBC 6 Music’s A-List. He’s been in session for COLORS Berlin, guested with Lauren Laverne, Mary Ann Hobbes and Tom Ravenscroft on 6 Music, with Jamz Supernova on BBC 1xtra, and recorded live sessions for The Vinyl Factory and Worldwide FM. He sold out a headline UK tour last year, was booked for 6 Music’s 2018 showcase at The Great Escape, and has supported Nightmares on Wax and Maribou State on tour.
Tour dates
14 October, Metronome, Nottingham
15 October, The Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
16 October, Moth Club, London
17 October, Patterns, Brighton
19 October, Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
20 October, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
23 October, Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh
24 October, Whelans, Dublin
26 October, Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
"Born in Johannesburg, growing up in Doncaster, Skinny Pelembe poses a quadruple threat – he produces, plays guitar, sings and MCs, tapping into a unique, influence-weaving sound." - Brownswood Future Bubblers
The multi-instrumentalist presents a vast, hallucinogenic concept album about failed relationships, interwoven with folk & funk. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 4, 2023
supported by 6 fans who also own “My Love is Burning, Up”
Like so many others, this came like a bolt out of the blue and, even though it's well before payday, I had to have this astonishing album on vinyl to prove it exists. The feel of the tunes makes me feel like the Impressions do, Curtis Mayfield, the big spaces and instinctive horns and stuff drifting in and out. Great grooves and I can see lots of ghosts nodding along to this with big smiles on their faces. At last! Anthony Cottrell