Fat Dog are playing Visions festival this weekend in Hackney. Are you heading over for it?
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New Music Releases Thread
- Thread starter James
- Start date
A bit late this week but my one line reviews of new stuff I've been listening to:
Bodega: offcuts from the last album. You can tell why some tracks didn't make the cut and particular versions of some songs did. Interesting for fans.
Cheri Knight: an intriguing one. She was a member of alt country band Blood Ranges (me neither) and disappeared from the music industry a good while back. This is a set of home recordings from before then, involving kind of electronic almost post punk stuff. Reminds me of Laurie Anderson.
Superorganism: very poppy. Enjoyable but I think I might get sick of this if I was forced to listen to it for 8 hours a day.
Olver Ray: Patti Smith's former guitarist. This is, I guess, guitar soundscapes with his vocals over. It's very good!
Stephen Mallinder: electronic/post-punk mash up. Doesn't deviate far from his usual solo stuff or, indeed, Cabaret Voltaire.
Gordon McIntyre: the Ballboy main man solo. I loved Ballboy. Not sure this is quite up to their best but still a good collection of songs.
Jaywood: much loved by someone at Rough Trade shops. This is on the interface of R&B and indie guitar stuff. Pretty good.
Beabadoobee: her second album. More engaging alt-pop. Some good songs. Not much too different from her debut or early EPs.
Working Men's Club: more of their post-New Order tunes. Essentially hard electronic songs that somehow have a warmth to them. Very, very good!
Black Midi: utterly bonkers but tremendous fun. They've evolved into something pretty much indescribable. Covers a lot of genres.
Arlo McKinley: alt-country/Americana singer-songwriter. Sounds pretty good if that's your thing.
Interpol: sounds a bit tired, if I'm honest. I think they're past their best now.
Elf Power: this takes me back a bit. I remember listening to and enjoying one of their albums in the 90s but never really followed on. Anyway, they're kind of post-Pavement/Flaming Lips. Good fun, although the drum sound gets a little monotonous.
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: this has come as a big surprise to me. I always had them down as Sonic Youth acolytes. This, however is magnificent! It's overblown and a bit daft but totally awesome. Reminds me a lot of Crippled Black Phoenix.
Nightlands: The War on Drugs' bassist's opther band. Quite a nice album. Has a bit of an MOR production sheen to it.
Album of the week: And You will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. I may have to revisit/visit their back catalogue. Very good albums from Working Men's Club, Black Midi, Olver Ray and Cheri Knight also.
Bodega: offcuts from the last album. You can tell why some tracks didn't make the cut and particular versions of some songs did. Interesting for fans.
Cheri Knight: an intriguing one. She was a member of alt country band Blood Ranges (me neither) and disappeared from the music industry a good while back. This is a set of home recordings from before then, involving kind of electronic almost post punk stuff. Reminds me of Laurie Anderson.
Superorganism: very poppy. Enjoyable but I think I might get sick of this if I was forced to listen to it for 8 hours a day.
Olver Ray: Patti Smith's former guitarist. This is, I guess, guitar soundscapes with his vocals over. It's very good!
Stephen Mallinder: electronic/post-punk mash up. Doesn't deviate far from his usual solo stuff or, indeed, Cabaret Voltaire.
Gordon McIntyre: the Ballboy main man solo. I loved Ballboy. Not sure this is quite up to their best but still a good collection of songs.
Jaywood: much loved by someone at Rough Trade shops. This is on the interface of R&B and indie guitar stuff. Pretty good.
Beabadoobee: her second album. More engaging alt-pop. Some good songs. Not much too different from her debut or early EPs.
Working Men's Club: more of their post-New Order tunes. Essentially hard electronic songs that somehow have a warmth to them. Very, very good!
Black Midi: utterly bonkers but tremendous fun. They've evolved into something pretty much indescribable. Covers a lot of genres.
Arlo McKinley: alt-country/Americana singer-songwriter. Sounds pretty good if that's your thing.
Interpol: sounds a bit tired, if I'm honest. I think they're past their best now.
Elf Power: this takes me back a bit. I remember listening to and enjoying one of their albums in the 90s but never really followed on. Anyway, they're kind of post-Pavement/Flaming Lips. Good fun, although the drum sound gets a little monotonous.
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: this has come as a big surprise to me. I always had them down as Sonic Youth acolytes. This, however is magnificent! It's overblown and a bit daft but totally awesome. Reminds me a lot of Crippled Black Phoenix.
Nightlands: The War on Drugs' bassist's opther band. Quite a nice album. Has a bit of an MOR production sheen to it.
Album of the week: And You will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. I may have to revisit/visit their back catalogue. Very good albums from Working Men's Club, Black Midi, Olver Ray and Cheri Knight also.
For anyone who likes their retro psych-pop, give The Heavy Heavy ep a spin, it's magnificent.
There are new releases tomorrow from Cuco, Jack White, Joey Bada$$, Odesza, Sam Prekop & John McEntire, Sean Nicholas Savage, She & Him, Sports Team, The Sadies, Ty Segall, Tumi Mogorosi, Nick Zinner, Vero, Nina Nastasia and John Moreland.
Slim pickings
D
Deleted member 22162
Guest
I don’t think I’ll be able to. Might end up working with them though.
Mercury prize shortlist announced next Tuesday. Who’s everyone tipping?
Done their classic and moved release date - by a whole month this time. Wont have sold enough, not had any Radio 1 this time, hardly any mainstream press
I got offered to work on them, liked it a lot personally but didn’t see it having mass appeal. Same label as the excellent Black Pumas and Brittany Howard who I work with.
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FlyingLotus
Midfield
Enjoyed Working Men’s Club on first listen, will be putting it on again.
It’s grown on me but I definitely think it’s a step back on the debut.
timeforheroes1
Striker
New Jamie t album tomorrow
New Beach Bunny also
It's been a sketchy week and a bit of a rush job with the new releases post, added to which, the new issue of Uncut didn't arrive until today (cracking Wilco cover CD) and there are new albums listed in their reviews that are out tomorrow - Dawes and, bizarrely, Gilbert O'Sullivan amongst them.
Good job as ever getting any list up - impossible to do an exhaustive one in this day and age
Saw them a couple of months back and aside from the 3-4 new tracks, which you'd expect, it was very telling that half the set was from the first 2 albums (most from Bright Lights). They were very good, to be fair, but they obviously know which side their bread is buttered
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Old Prestonian
Striker
I don't know if it had a mention on here and it is about six weeks since release date now but Elvis Costello released a re-working of something which IIRC was a cassette demo done by him and a mate under the original band name of Rusty. The title of the re-recordings is 'The Resurrection of Rust' and is rather enjoyable.
Space Hopper
Winger
TRAAMS have a new one out as well. Seem to remember their debut and the follow up being very good.
Still never seen them. Was meant to see them the night of the OT semi final, and ended up getting pissed in that West Brom pub
Ah the Albion. I miss that place.
Really enjoyed that record on first listen. Not quite what I was expecting.
Slightly late with my weekly brief review again but, on this occasion, that's because there's a lot to get through.
The Heavy Heavy: as mentioned above by @ned_werby, this is unashamedly retro, joyous psych pop. Summer/festival soundtrack type thing. I'd alomst say it was a mini-album rather than an EP. Very good, for the debut, they seem very fully formed.
TRAAMS: again, mentioned on the thread already, this time by @James. It's their first album in 7 years. A lot more psychedelic than I remember them being. Excellent!
Nimbus Sextet: jazz, quite pretty but not spectacular.
Jamie T: has his own thread here. It's a pretty good Jamie T album, possibly his best since the first two. If you like him, you'll enjoy this.
Simon Joyner: an old school singer-songwriter (also owner of a record store in wherever in the US he lives). Lyrically excellent. Reminds me of Loudon Wainwright III or, maybe, Violent Femmes, if they only did quiet songs. One of those names I've seen get good reviews but never investigated further and may now have to do so.
Pye Corner Audio: at the juncture of electronica and post-rock, entertaining instrumentals. Their first album on Sonic Cathedral, having previously been on the excellent Ghost Box Records. Enjoyable. Features thread hero Andy Bell guesting on guitar on some tracks (I think Pye Corner Audio have worked with him before).
Jack White: his second album of the year. Contains a fair bit of the psych/blues rock he usually records but also some more whimsical songs, akin to some White Stripes stuff.
Tumi Mugorosi: South African jazz. This is large scale instrumental stuff with kind of choral pieces. Reminds me of Kamasi Washington or the latest Sault album. Excellent!
Sean Nicholas Savage: he's a very prolific singer-songwriter who spans many genres. This is kind of easy listening synthy pop, almost verging on yacht rock. Stylish!
Nina Nastasia: the first album in over a decade from one of my favourite artists. This is heavy duty, moving stuff. The circumstances behind the writing and recording are detailed in a whole load of articles and reviews about it. Anyway, in spite of the circumstances (or maybe because of them), it's a triumph.
Mat Ball: instrumental guitar pieces from the guitarist of BIG|BRAVE. This reminds me a lot of some of Thurston Moore's more out there instrumental pieces.
Spiral Stairs: the one from Pavement who isn't Malkmus. This is his sixth solo album. It follows the pattern of fun, slacker indie-rock. Good, as always.
Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters: Americana/roots rock, new to me. Good fun, hooks a plenty.
Ty Segall: a compact album for Ty, as it's only 35 mins long. Quiet, whimsical psychedelia, rather than the noisier garage rock he often does. Exceptionally good.
John Moreland: the Americana/folk rock singer-songwriter continues to broaden his palate. There's a restfulness to this and a very high quality of songwriting.
The Sadies: potentially the final album from the Canadian veterans (founder member Dallas Good died unexpectedly early this year). This is uplifting 60s influenced power pop (they're normally a bit more country). Very good!
VERO: indie rock from Stockholm. I like this a lot TBH. File alongside Hater, whose recent album was also very good and ran along similar lines.
Sunday Driver: Cambridge/London based band who, according to the blurb, merge folk-rock with classical Indian influences. To me, they sound like Dengue Fever and other Cambodian psych rock bands. Not sure if that's the intention but enjoyable anyway.
Blue Orchids: they formed from an early line up of The Fall but have done much of their best recording in this millennium. Spiky, very British indie post-punk.
The Gabbard Brothers: bearded brothers from the US who do what bearded brothers do, making rocking country flecked records. Sound like they'll be good live. Were both members of Buffalo Killers previously.
Dawes: mellow Californian vibes aplenty, as they've reunited with Jonathan Wilson. Good songs and a good album.
Many Voices Speak: this has been out for a while. Quiet, esoteric, indiepop. Reminds me a bit of Stina Nordenstam.
Sam Prekop & John McEntire: two of the gods of Chicago post-rock. They've recorded together in The Sea & Cake but first time, I think, as a duo. Instrumental, gentle post-rock. Long tracks (4 of them lasting 56 minutes) but this never gets tiring. Really good!
Beach Bunny: also from Chicago but with a distinctly Californian sounds. Punkish, indie rock/pop with female vocals. A little Best Coast-esque, maybe? Teens can't get enough of them, according to Thrillist. It's fun anyway.
Album of the week: tricky this, as there are maybe 5 or 6 albums there which would be worthy of it most week but Nina Nastasia's album is going to be high on my end of year list so takes it. Ty Segall, Sam Prekop & John McEntire, TRAAMS, The Heavy Heavy, Tumi Mugorosi and others can consider themselves unlucky.
The Heavy Heavy: as mentioned above by @ned_werby, this is unashamedly retro, joyous psych pop. Summer/festival soundtrack type thing. I'd alomst say it was a mini-album rather than an EP. Very good, for the debut, they seem very fully formed.
TRAAMS: again, mentioned on the thread already, this time by @James. It's their first album in 7 years. A lot more psychedelic than I remember them being. Excellent!
Nimbus Sextet: jazz, quite pretty but not spectacular.
Jamie T: has his own thread here. It's a pretty good Jamie T album, possibly his best since the first two. If you like him, you'll enjoy this.
Simon Joyner: an old school singer-songwriter (also owner of a record store in wherever in the US he lives). Lyrically excellent. Reminds me of Loudon Wainwright III or, maybe, Violent Femmes, if they only did quiet songs. One of those names I've seen get good reviews but never investigated further and may now have to do so.
Pye Corner Audio: at the juncture of electronica and post-rock, entertaining instrumentals. Their first album on Sonic Cathedral, having previously been on the excellent Ghost Box Records. Enjoyable. Features thread hero Andy Bell guesting on guitar on some tracks (I think Pye Corner Audio have worked with him before).
Jack White: his second album of the year. Contains a fair bit of the psych/blues rock he usually records but also some more whimsical songs, akin to some White Stripes stuff.
Tumi Mugorosi: South African jazz. This is large scale instrumental stuff with kind of choral pieces. Reminds me of Kamasi Washington or the latest Sault album. Excellent!
Sean Nicholas Savage: he's a very prolific singer-songwriter who spans many genres. This is kind of easy listening synthy pop, almost verging on yacht rock. Stylish!
Nina Nastasia: the first album in over a decade from one of my favourite artists. This is heavy duty, moving stuff. The circumstances behind the writing and recording are detailed in a whole load of articles and reviews about it. Anyway, in spite of the circumstances (or maybe because of them), it's a triumph.
Mat Ball: instrumental guitar pieces from the guitarist of BIG|BRAVE. This reminds me a lot of some of Thurston Moore's more out there instrumental pieces.
Spiral Stairs: the one from Pavement who isn't Malkmus. This is his sixth solo album. It follows the pattern of fun, slacker indie-rock. Good, as always.
Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters: Americana/roots rock, new to me. Good fun, hooks a plenty.
Ty Segall: a compact album for Ty, as it's only 35 mins long. Quiet, whimsical psychedelia, rather than the noisier garage rock he often does. Exceptionally good.
John Moreland: the Americana/folk rock singer-songwriter continues to broaden his palate. There's a restfulness to this and a very high quality of songwriting.
The Sadies: potentially the final album from the Canadian veterans (founder member Dallas Good died unexpectedly early this year). This is uplifting 60s influenced power pop (they're normally a bit more country). Very good!
VERO: indie rock from Stockholm. I like this a lot TBH. File alongside Hater, whose recent album was also very good and ran along similar lines.
Sunday Driver: Cambridge/London based band who, according to the blurb, merge folk-rock with classical Indian influences. To me, they sound like Dengue Fever and other Cambodian psych rock bands. Not sure if that's the intention but enjoyable anyway.
Blue Orchids: they formed from an early line up of The Fall but have done much of their best recording in this millennium. Spiky, very British indie post-punk.
The Gabbard Brothers: bearded brothers from the US who do what bearded brothers do, making rocking country flecked records. Sound like they'll be good live. Were both members of Buffalo Killers previously.
Dawes: mellow Californian vibes aplenty, as they've reunited with Jonathan Wilson. Good songs and a good album.
Many Voices Speak: this has been out for a while. Quiet, esoteric, indiepop. Reminds me a bit of Stina Nordenstam.
Sam Prekop & John McEntire: two of the gods of Chicago post-rock. They've recorded together in The Sea & Cake but first time, I think, as a duo. Instrumental, gentle post-rock. Long tracks (4 of them lasting 56 minutes) but this never gets tiring. Really good!
Beach Bunny: also from Chicago but with a distinctly Californian sounds. Punkish, indie rock/pop with female vocals. A little Best Coast-esque, maybe? Teens can't get enough of them, according to Thrillist. It's fun anyway.
Album of the week: tricky this, as there are maybe 5 or 6 albums there which would be worthy of it most week but Nina Nastasia's album is going to be high on my end of year list so takes it. Ty Segall, Sam Prekop & John McEntire, TRAAMS, The Heavy Heavy, Tumi Mugorosi and others can consider themselves unlucky.
