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New Music Releases Thread

Just had that Black Country, New Road album on for the first time and there's bits of it that sound quite like American Football.

Not that there's been too much out this year so far but probably my favourite based off one listen.
Might give it a go tomorrow- I do like American Football
 

Just had that Black Country, New Road album on for the first time and there's bits of it that sound quite like American Football.

Not that there's been too much out this year so far but probably my favourite based off one listen.
Really!? I’ll definitely listen to that on my walk home then. American Football one of my all time favourites.

Listening to the Staves on my snowy walk to work this morning and it’s very good IMO
 
My take on this week's new and newish releases (that I've listened to):

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - really good. Obviously influenced by King Gizzard but they have a softer, more Beatlesy side.
Gabriels - the EP came out in December but I've only just got round to listening to it. Very familiar with the title track already. It's all good.
Aaron Lee Tasjan - he's developing into someone well worth checking out. Quirky, poppy, witty Americana. Excellent.
John Carpenter - he's pretty much retired from film making but is still doing themes. As with his previous two albums, this is noirish, analogue synth based. All good fun.
Black Country, New Road - I'm assuming the couple of re-recordings are for record company reasons (although thew band reckon it's down to refining the songs through touring). As most of us know, they're excellent and this is excellent. The only minor gripe is that it's a 6 track album and 2 are previously released.
Modern Hinterland - sort of folky rock type thing. Quite earnest. They remind me of Augustines. Decent.
TV Priest - indie rock type thing. It's good but I have a feeling I've heard this before. They sound heavily endebted to Girls Against Boys, as a starter, and they were doing this kind of thing in the early 90s.
Azmari - Ethiopian sounding jazz that's actually form Turkey. Really good.
The Weather Station - critically acclaimed etc. It sounds nice but quite coffee table. She has a lovely voice. It may grow on me but I probably prefer her earlier quirkier albums.
Elori Saxl - hypnotic, neo-classical, analogue synth based loveliness. Recommended.
Femi Kuti/Made Kuti - Fela's son and grandson. Their albums were recorded separately but are released as a double album. Both Afrobeatish, I probably mariginal prefer Made's (which is maybe less directly influenced by Fela). Both very good though.
The Staves - lovely voices, like The Weather Station, but again very coffee table and chattering classes. A bit "clean" for me.
Tele Novella - excellent. Sort of quirky Americana endebted indiepop. Highly recommended.

AoTW: I'll give it to BCNR, although Tele Novella, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Aaron Lee Tasjan and Azmari run them close.
 
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - really good. Obviously influenced by King Gizzard but they have a softer, more Beatlesy side.
This is album of the week for me. As you say, it definitely has a Gizzard vibe but I’m picking up a big Janes Addiction influence as well. Agree with you on the Beatlesy bits - Claypool Lennon Delirium comes to mind with the Beatlesy psychadelic bits.
 
Off topic, but having listened to the Steven Wilson LP and reading some of his earlier reviews I've delved into his back catalogue. Some tremendous stuff in there and he's definitely non-categorisable. Reet up my strasse. Will check out Aaron Lee Tasjan & Psychedelic Porn Crumpets on @Arkle recommendation. Liking The Weather Station, not fussed about Made/Femi Kuti - which surprises me, and BC, NR - still a resounding 'can't see what the fuss is all about' from me
 
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Off topic, but having listened to the Steven Wilson LP and reading some of his earlier reviews I've delved into his back catalogue. Some tremendous stuff in there and he's definitely non-categorisable. Reet up my strasse. Will check out Aaron Lee Tasjan & Psychedelic Porn Crumpets on @Arkle recommendation. Liking The Weather Station, not fussed about Made/Femi Kuti - which surprises me, and BC, NR - still a resounding 'can't see what the fuss is all about' from me
I am also in that camp.
 
On the subject of American Football, been meaning to post about an interesting album I've listened to a few times the past 2-3 weeks. It's a compilation by Polyvinyl Records called Exquisite Corpse. It was out in the autumn but I guess came out physically recently. Don't think I'd have happened across it normally but got a notification (I follow the label because they have a bunch of artists I like, incl American Football, Laura Jane Grace, Tancred, Beach Slang, Rainer Maria, Get Up Kids, Owen, Vivian Girls, Alvvays, Jeff Rosenstock, Anna Burch to name a few). Anyhoo, unlike most label comps, it's not just the bands on the roster offering up tracks, live versions, demos, outtakes, etc as a money for old rope exercise - instead, a lot (around 50) of the artists were broken up randomly into separate "new" bands during lockdown, many hadn't met or worked together before, with the idea of working on original songs. Thought it was quite an interesting/challenging idea. I'd say the general vibe is, unsurprisingly indie, maybe more synth based, not for everyone, but imho I think there's some pretty decent stuff on there - maybe better than I would expect to come from the description of the idea. It's on Spotify and Bandcamp.

With regards to BC,NR, I don't know if this is just me, but even though I like it (mind, only 6 songs...?) , I feel like my ears are getting fatigue for acts with this spoken vocal delivery - I feel like there are so many bands over the past year or two doing it, especially anything labeled post-punk, which I would usually go for. I can think of 9-10 bands (4-5 that I've just listened to for the first time in the past couple of weeks) that use it or a stylized talky/sing-y thing to varying degrees and it's starting to turn me off when I put on something "new" and find it's yet another band doing it - I'm almost expecting it at this point. I like it for a couple of songs and then need to go onto something else.
 
There are new albums this week from Bodies of Water, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Claud, Django Django, Florida Georgia Line, Sports, The Pretty Reckless, Virginia Wing, slowthai (delayed from last week), Mush and Aerial East.
Nothing massively exciting, but will listen to CYHSY!, Musg, Django Django, Virginia Wing and Sports
 
There are new albums this week from Bodies of Water, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Claud, Django Django, Florida Georgia Line, Sports, The Pretty Reckless, Virginia Wing, slowthai (delayed from last week), Mush and Aerial East.

Slowthai and might give Django Django a listen, depending on reviews.
 
I’m in the “not convinced by BCNR” camp too. Really like the instrumental track, but finding the rest a bit boring. Agree with Crayola Kid on the spoken vocal delivery.

There’s a No Use For A Name rarities comp out tomorrow, which will be my first port of call, will probably check out CYHASY and Django as well.
 
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On the subject of American Football, been meaning to post about an interesting album I've listened to a few times the past 2-3 weeks. It's a compilation by Polyvinyl Records called Exquisite Corpse. It was out in the autumn but I guess came out physically recently. Don't think I'd have happened across it normally but got a notification (I follow the label because they have a bunch of artists I like, incl American Football, Laura Jane Grace, Tancred, Beach Slang, Rainer Maria, Get Up Kids, Owen, Vivian Girls, Alvvays, Jeff Rosenstock, Anna Burch to name a few). Anyhoo, unlike most label comps, it's not just the bands on the roster offering up tracks, live versions, demos, outtakes, etc as a money for old rope exercise - instead, a lot (around 50) of the artists were broken up randomly into separate "new" bands during lockdown, many hadn't met or worked together before, with the idea of working on original songs. Thought it was quite an interesting/challenging idea. I'd say the general vibe is, unsurprisingly indie, maybe more synth based, not for everyone, but imho I think there's some pretty decent stuff on there - maybe better than I would expect to come from the description of the idea. It's on Spotify and Bandcamp.

With regards to BC,NR, I don't know if this is just me, but even though I like it (mind, only 6 songs...?) , I feel like my ears are getting fatigue for acts with this spoken vocal delivery - I feel like there are so many bands over the past year or two doing it, especially anything labeled post-punk, which I would usually go for. I can think of 9-10 bands (4-5 that I've just listened to for the first time in the past couple of weeks) that use it or a stylized talky/sing-y thing to varying degrees and it's starting to turn me off when I put on something "new" and find it's yet another band doing it - I'm almost expecting it at this point. I like it for a couple of songs and then need to go onto something else.

Polyvinyl a very good label with diverse acts. Will definitely give that a go at your call.

Totally agree RE: BCNR. Just didn’t find myself interested enough. I might be nit picking but the songs I had already heard (2 of them) were fine but then they only added 4 more songs after that to this record. I don’t think their sound goes anywhere and the lyricism borders on genius and then pretentious.

Anyway, Slowthai for me this week.
 
Jockstrap, the main project of Georgia Ellery from BC,NR is worth a listen. EDM, Debussy, PC Music, Dean Blunt influenced. Signed to Warp last year and have two EPs out along with some remixes.

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