F&M playlist

Prince Future Soul Song Prince's giveaway album 20Ten isn't a classic, but contains enough to remind long-suffering fans why they love him. This FX-laden slow jam wouldn't sound out of place on any of his 80s run of essential long players. Dave Simpson Josephine I Think It Was Love The lead track of the first EP by a young Mancunian songwriter who's been endorsed by Guy Garvey, this gorgeous song reflects a childhood spent listening to her mother's Odetta and Fela Kuti records. Caroline Sullivan Eliza Carthy and Norma Waterson Bunch of Thyme For weeks I couldn't get K'Naan's Wavin' Flag out of my head, but now it's been replaced by this thoughtful, unashamed weepie. It's on the new album from the British folk scene's best-known daughter-and-mother duo. Robin Denselow Cat Power The Greatest The slow-burning title track from the wonderful 2006 album by Chan Marshall (pictured) came on the radio the other day and knocked me squarely sideways with its brittle and bruised beauty. An astonishingly lovely song. Chris Salmon Big Boi ft Janelle Monáe Be Still Big Boi's album is endlessly likeable but his easy charisma isn't the focus here. Rising star Janelle Monáe, best known for twinkly eclecticism, steals the song with a simple chorus that's brimful of sympathy and kindness. Tom Ewing Minutemen History Lesson Part II San Pedro's immortal, beloved corndogs at their heartbreaking best. A highlight of their bottomless masterpiece, Double Nickels on the Dime, this elegaic little music box of a song is a beautiful treatise on punk, priorities and posterity. "Our band could be your life" indeed. Tom Hughes Herbie Hancock The Imagine Project The unquenchable pianist celebrates his 70th with a series of duets recorded around the world with artists and songs way out of the jazz loop, including Seal, Pink, Oumou Sangare and Tinariwen. Saxophonist Wayne Shorter reminds Hancock of his rich jazz past in collaboration with Indian musicians, including Ravi Shankar's sitarist daughter, Anoushka. John Fordham Yu(c)k Daughter The London indie band Yuck – lots of glorious fuzz – have a side project, Yu(c)k, dealing largely in beautiful, spectral piano ballads. This one takes the central melodic line of Glasvegas's Josephine, creating from it this vulnerable, hopeful piece of loveliness. Michael Hann