Live Review: Jodie Abacus' 'Keep Your Head Down' is as political as it is poppy

'Keep Your Head Down' is the latest release from South London singer-songwriter JODIE ABACUS. And it is as political as it is poppy.

A well-constructed groove and with soulful lyrics sung masterfully by Jodie Abacus himself, 'Keep Your Head Down' makes for easy listening. The lyrical content however, tells a whole other tale of responsibility and struggle. Thematically, the track is a profound assertion of a Westerner's perspective on the refugee crisis. Opening with, "I wash my hands in the blood filled stream," the very beginning of the song establishes the message.

Sparked by watching a television segment on the matter, Abacus headed straight to the studio to make a statement in the way he knows best: through his striking music. "We are all your family, and we are all your sons and daughters. That's your baby in the sea, that you have let onto the slaughter," Jodie Abacus is blatant in his disdain for the treatment of refugees. The lyrics grow increasingly impassioned as the track cleverly continues its cruisey atmosphere.

Set for official release in February of 2017, 'Keep Your Head Down' details Jodie Abacus' pioneering of 'future soul', a sound that we will hopefully see him pursue upon the release of his debut album early next year.

Words by ABBEY LENTON

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