For a band that only had an EP and a couple of singles to their name at the start of the year, it comes as a shock that ‘Could We Be More’ is the debut LP for Kokoroko. Their bubbling, enticing sound that takes in Afrobeat, Jazz, Highlife, Funk and more feels so instantly familiar on first listen that it’s easy to assume they’ve been crafting their sound for years.

Paradoxically, it may be the immediacy of the music that the octet creates that breeds this sense of familiarity, as each track contributes to the overall vibe but stands alone, with each track successively demanding full attention while further drawing the listener in. Filled with joy throughout, Could We Be More is as good a debut as you’ll hear all year.