We’ve heard a lot from Phonte and Nicolay in recent years, with the two popping up with their own solo projects and on collaborations with several artists (including those on the ever-growing roster of their +FE Music collective). However, we haven’t heard from the duo as The Foreign Exchange since they released their sublime single “June” all the way back in 2018. They bring it back to basics to celebrate their 20th anniversary with the release of their new double single “The Grey/I Couldn’t Love You More (Dub).”
“The Grey” offers up atmospheric production thanks to wavy synths and percolating programmed drums. It’s a sound bed fit for the lyrical Phonte to go off with his rhymes. And that he does with a fully loaded verse that’s packed with insightful references and clever wordplay. It’s topped off with a chorus sung by +FE fam BeMyFiasco. “I’m on the other side / Walkin’ into the light / I wanna be your guide / So won’t you follow me / In the grey,” she sings while giving the song a bit of reverence.
“I Couldn’t Love You More (Dub)” is exactly what the title suggests, a dub-flavored cover of Sade’s Love Deluxe slow burner. Phonte returns on vocal duty, this time flexing his singing skill as he taps into his higher register to deliver the cut’s lovestruck lyrics. The song’s romantic leanings are obvious, but we can’t help but think that the song could easily describe our feelings about the duo that’s been delivering amazing music to us for two decades.
You can listen to the stream of “The Grey” and “I Couldn’t Love You More (Dub)” below. After that, you can pre-order the double single on vinyl via Pour House Pressing now. We’d suggest you hurry, though, as there will only be 300 pressings made.
