My regular review of the week's new stuff. It's a wide open road...
The Afghan Whigs: their usual thing (post-grunge alt rock). They're an exceptionally good band. Not up to the mid-90s trilogy of Congregation, Gentlemen and Black Love but, TBH, very little is!
Tim Bernardes: Brazilian tropicalia flecked folk from a mate of Fleet Foxes (think he was involved in Shore). It's very nice, light and suimmery.
Crippled Black Phoenix: epic, bonkers, majestic, quite long. They've done it again! Probably a concept album.
Thee Sacred Souls: I like this a lot. Modern "retro" soul (think Durand Jones and others). I'd imagine they would be fine live.
Built to Spill: unpretentious, very good US alt-rock. Their first in a while (well, his as they're basically Doug Marsch and a revolving cast). Liking it. They're like an old friend. Again, should be good live (well, they are good live).
Sarah Davachi: organs, drones, analogue synths etc. Unsettlingly ambient. Probably a specialist concern but very good.
Daniel Romano('s Outfit): a psychedelic country album in two long tracks (with definite sub-parts). A corking album TBH.
GA-20: sturdy, fun, well played blues rock. One of them has a magnificent beard!
Parker Gispert: second solo album from the singer of The Whigs (not Afghan). This is another good solid alt-rock album with some very good songs hidden in the middle.
Son Little: likeable, soulful blues, essentially, Again, a good album.
Jockstrap: quirky, interesting, hypnotic, quite addictive. They're a bloody good band and this is an exceptional debut!
Gabe Gurnsey: dark but hook laden motorik dance music from the Factory Floor bloke. Again, really good.
Preoccupations: their fourth album (third as Preoccupations, I think). This is well made post-punk. The singer still has that slightly weird vocal thing that a lot of Canadian alt-rock vocalists have going on. Again, good.
Oliver Sim: him what was in The XX (have they split offically?). Solo debut. It's good, dark introverted pop.
Sudan Archives: it's a good week. This is another cracker. African influenced R&B with added violin. It's fun and has a lot of pop hooks. She's quite a talent!
Sampa the Great: probably the world's leading Australia based South African rapper. Another really good album. African influences again, goes along at a cracking pace. I'd be happy if it was 10 minutes longer than its 39 minute running time.
Marlon Williams: his voice is still magnificent. He's broadened his pallet from the countryish croon of his first couple of albums to something that almost borders on the mainstream (possibly due to touring with his country-mate Lorde). Another good album.
Album of the week: there are some really good releases there that in other weeks would be there but, really, it comes down to Crippled Black Phoenix vs Jockstrap vs Sudan Archives. Not sure I can split them, so, all three get gold medals (a bit like the Olympic high jump final but with one more competitor tied). If I listed those that just fall short, I'd list most of the above. Bloody good week!
The Afghan Whigs: their usual thing (post-grunge alt rock). They're an exceptionally good band. Not up to the mid-90s trilogy of Congregation, Gentlemen and Black Love but, TBH, very little is!
Tim Bernardes: Brazilian tropicalia flecked folk from a mate of Fleet Foxes (think he was involved in Shore). It's very nice, light and suimmery.
Crippled Black Phoenix: epic, bonkers, majestic, quite long. They've done it again! Probably a concept album.
Thee Sacred Souls: I like this a lot. Modern "retro" soul (think Durand Jones and others). I'd imagine they would be fine live.
Built to Spill: unpretentious, very good US alt-rock. Their first in a while (well, his as they're basically Doug Marsch and a revolving cast). Liking it. They're like an old friend. Again, should be good live (well, they are good live).
Sarah Davachi: organs, drones, analogue synths etc. Unsettlingly ambient. Probably a specialist concern but very good.
Daniel Romano('s Outfit): a psychedelic country album in two long tracks (with definite sub-parts). A corking album TBH.
GA-20: sturdy, fun, well played blues rock. One of them has a magnificent beard!
Parker Gispert: second solo album from the singer of The Whigs (not Afghan). This is another good solid alt-rock album with some very good songs hidden in the middle.
Son Little: likeable, soulful blues, essentially, Again, a good album.
Jockstrap: quirky, interesting, hypnotic, quite addictive. They're a bloody good band and this is an exceptional debut!
Gabe Gurnsey: dark but hook laden motorik dance music from the Factory Floor bloke. Again, really good.
Preoccupations: their fourth album (third as Preoccupations, I think). This is well made post-punk. The singer still has that slightly weird vocal thing that a lot of Canadian alt-rock vocalists have going on. Again, good.
Oliver Sim: him what was in The XX (have they split offically?). Solo debut. It's good, dark introverted pop.
Sudan Archives: it's a good week. This is another cracker. African influenced R&B with added violin. It's fun and has a lot of pop hooks. She's quite a talent!
Sampa the Great: probably the world's leading Australia based South African rapper. Another really good album. African influences again, goes along at a cracking pace. I'd be happy if it was 10 minutes longer than its 39 minute running time.
Marlon Williams: his voice is still magnificent. He's broadened his pallet from the countryish croon of his first couple of albums to something that almost borders on the mainstream (possibly due to touring with his country-mate Lorde). Another good album.
Album of the week: there are some really good releases there that in other weeks would be there but, really, it comes down to Crippled Black Phoenix vs Jockstrap vs Sudan Archives. Not sure I can split them, so, all three get gold medals (a bit like the Olympic high jump final but with one more competitor tied). If I listed those that just fall short, I'd list most of the above. Bloody good week!
