Two British artists with ambitions overseas combine for “Cuckoo,” a delightfully offbeat song that sees the production, vocals, and subject matter in perfect alignment. The production, from Stefan Ponce (Childish Gambino’s “3005,” Vic Mensa’s “Down On My Luck”), takes a number of surprising twists and turns, moving from bassy, snapping minimalism to distant cuckoos and Eastern-inspired sections, then suddenly flipping into a rush of jazzy drums that Flying Lotus would surely appreciate.
Ritchie delivers lines like, “Who needs friends when you’ve got drugs?” and, “What’s the point in fun if it’s not forbidden?” with a knowing smile and sly wink, letting his personality shine through. Little Simz comes through for a verse towards the end, helping the song finish off as strongly as it started. Check it out below.
