Rolling In The Deep [Free mp3]

Between breakbeat, dubstep and chiptune, music's getting awfully complicated these days, so allow me for just a minute to pay tribute to a truly great American vocal. Soul provocateur John Legend has lent his honey-coated pipes to countless soul classics over the years, but his treatment of Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep' is something really special. Although lacking in any instrumentation, the Ohio man's version is every bit as potent as the record-smashing original. Pumped up with triumphant gospel-tinged backing vocals, Legend's aching performance is one of the most astounding man-made sounds we've heard all year. Listen here.