“Peacemaker” – Jesca Hoop

Massive.

That’s the word that pops into my head each time I listen to this song. It is huge, punching you in the mouth and demanding your attention. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t turn it off or skip to the next track. But why would you? It’s freaking brilliant.

Hoop’s genius is combing vaguely Siouxsie & The Banshees-esque music with those killer, tribal drums and then putting her modern spin on an ancient Greek tale of women withholding sex from their men in order to end war. The music sucks you in. Her lyrics make sure you can’t, won’t ignore it.

She pulls no punches, either, making it the dirtiest song of the year, too. So listen cautiously.