Mr Hudson
‘Straight No Chaser’
(G.O.O.D Music)

Being geeky, white, awkward and middle class is not usually the recipe for success in mainstream R’n’B but with an openly bleeding heart, a toolbox full of vocodas and some guidance – and, erm, publicity – from Kayne West, Mr Hudson somehow pulls it off. Ben Hudson is broken-hearted and communicates this very clearly and insistently through numerous songs such as the brain-raiding catchy singles ‘Supernova’ and ‘White Lies’. The hooks, the glamour, bleating pleas and icy electronic beats are all there – alongside some choice lyrics (“Oh no/I stubbed my toe” he sings in ‘There Will Be Tears’) – putting Mr Hudson right up there with fellow R’n’B dumpees Akon and Eamon. This has ‘hit’ written all over it.

Jessica Hazel