I don’t know why, but songs which open with a drum fill always catch my attention. Always have. Enter Stranger Still by Yuke, a five-piece band from Hackney, the birth ground of Marc Bolan, Mel & Kim, William Orbit and Paloma Faith. They like to blend different genres, from jazz to soul to French house. Their debut single however, is full-on funk-pop. Try it if you’re curious what it would sound like if Robert Smith would be joined on stage by Funkadelic!

Over the next six to eight months, Yuke plan to release six singles. If the very first of these is anything to go by, it’s going to be a fun-filled half year. Apart from some serious bass slapping, Stranger Still features plucked violins, a full brass section, catchy choruses and happy handclapping. Guaranteed to make you dance, this is the sound of a band full of ambition. That’s always a good thing to start with, but it’s even better to fulfil the promise at first listen.

This week, you’ll be able to listen to the single as often as you like. Stranger Still by Yuke is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll feature here prominently for seven full days!

Follow Yuke on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

In the Wildcards 2021 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.