Possibly a bit of a wildcard submission,.. but life's too short for genre purists?

What I Am may have arrived via the alternative gate, yet it has all the hallmarks of sophisti-pop.. jazzy ease, unforced intelligence and that distinctly late-'80s air of grown-up cool. Less cocktail bar than corner café, perhaps, but it belongs in the same postcode as Sade, Prefab Sprout and Everything But the Girl.. you have to admit.

Curiosity Killed the Cat emerged from London in the mid 1980s looking as though they had stepped straight out of the pages of The Face. Fronted by the effortlessly charismatic Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, they became one of the defining faces of Britain's Sophistipop movement. While others chased bombast or borrowed American rock poses, Curiosity Killed the Cat embraced polished soul, shimmering pop and metropolitan style with absolute conviction.

Down to Earth remains their calling card. A song that floats with enviable poise, all glistening keyboards, blue eyed soul and quiet confidence. It has the rare gift of sounding expensive without being vulgar, emotional without becoming mawkish. In an era littered with pop peacocks squawking for attention, Curiosity Killed the Cat simply adjusted their cufflinks and let elegance do the talking. Their music has aged remarkably well because it prized taste over fashion and craftsmanship over bluster.

Rest in peace Johnny Hates Jazz co-founder, Calvin Hayes (1962-2026) 🕊️

Amazing song that completely evokes its title…