Songs of the week: Hot new tracks from Erny Bell, L.A.B and Drake

By Erny Belle

Erny Belle heads towards her sophomore album with another strangely sultry, weird hip-swaying swoon of a song. Its striking video has the singer letting her dress do all the heavy lifting, and the clip comes complete with Tahitian dancers and extra cowbell. – Russell Baillie

By L.A.B

Having not released anything all year and about to head to Britain and Europe, the once-prolific L.A.B make a curious return with their cover of a song that was a big hit in 1987 for US New Jack Swing trio Le Vert. The roots-pop outfit have certainly made it their own with a lyrical edit that leaves just enough for the song to retain the title. Gone is the marriage proposal vibe of the original, seemingly overpainted by the band’s need to get those trademark stacked-harmony hooks in the mix. – Russell Baillie

By Drake ft SZA

Decoding rap lyrics can often be more interesting than the music itself, and that’s the case with this in which Drake and SZA diss former flames and a few others along the way over a backdrop of synths and a glitching beat. More spoken word and shapeless Autotuned R&B than rap, but bound to exercise those weaselling out who might be referred to here and needing “someone to micromanage you” (that’s Drake speaking about some “bitches”) and as “you dirty hos” (that’s among SZA’s contributions). Interest alights on Drake and SZA having been former lovers and just how gentle this sounds despite the insults and coded references. – Graham Reid

By Office Dog