Another busy week of new releases with plenty of highlights.
Nadia Reid Enter Now Brightness
Reid was pregnant during the album’s creation and plagued by morning sickness — there are photos of her asleep on the studio sofa and memories of vomiting between takes. But she found impending motherhood, and, later, the intricate process of raising her daughter, brought a new focus for songwriting.
Rats On Rafts Deep Below
A darker, slower release from the Dutch post-punk group. Echoes of The Cure, Cocteau Twins and Slowdive while they question our relationships with religion and nature.
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Perfect Right NOW
A 2008-2010 compilation of Brooklyn indie band with a bright, distinctive sound that paid tribute to everything from C86 to early Slumberland, Sarah and Creation label pop, but with a distinct American flavour drawn from groups like Smashing Pumpkins and The Exploding Hearts. Pat Nevin once managed to sneak their name into a Premier League football discussion on the BBC.
Helen Ganya Share Your Care
Artist whose work has tended towards dark and artful rock and off-kilter sounds. Share Your Care marks a new era, building on Ganya’s past sonic worlds and interspersing them with traditional Thai instrumentation, resulting in a plush, luminous, psych-tinged affair.
Inhaler Open Wide
Listening to a wide range of genres during writing – from techno to Nick Cave – inspired them to experiment with a brighter, timeless sound, adding texture to the record.
Emergence Collective Chapel
Ten-person improvisational collective with influences including Steve Reich, Brian Eno, Max Richter and Pharoah Sanders.
Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983
A unique blend of Agbadja, Cuban fon, jerk, highlife, and other African rhythms sung in Fon, Mina, Yoruba, French, English, and even Spanish.
Biig Piig 11:11
Debut from the pop innovator is named after the angel number ‘11:11’ – symbolising true enlightenment and awakening.
Frank Viele The Trouble With Desire
The reigning New England Music Awards’ “Artist of The Year” who grew up singing Elvis and Sinatra at karaoke bars while aged under 10.
Honesty U R Here
The songs on U R HERE are a fluid, exhilarating, and uniquely introspective take on club music – sonically mapping the psychological impact of the modern age and harnessing the vitality and freedom that comes with new beginnings.
Kawala Kawala Collection
Nine song collection from a band who have been connected with the summer in sound and spirit.
The Ocelots Everything When Said Slowly
Building on the folk-rock essence of their debut, their album unveils a richer, more expansive sound.
Michigander Michigander
A 21st century troubadour with a deft balance of rock energy, alternative adventurousness, and heart-on-his-sleeve songcraft.
Olly Alexander Polari
Polari is a pop album for the ages, looking back on history as a means to learn more about yourself. Olly Alexander’s first album under his own name takes as its primary inspiration the (almost) lost art of Polari.
Avalanche Party Der Traum Uber Alles
Yorkshire punk garage rock’n’roll band whose album retains a raw, animalistic essence.
Midlife Crisis 45 Turns 33
Swedish ‘supergroup’ with a set of punk covers from the likes of UK Subs, Slaughter and the Dogs, and Avengers.
Sarah Klang Beautiful Woman
Her sound had previously touched upon a mix of influences (‘60 and ‘70s pop, Americana, an undercurrent of country), 2021’s acclaimed album VIRGO broadened her scope to include elements of ‘80s synth-pop (again winning a Grammis for Best Alternative Pop).
The Moles Composition Book
Outlet for Richard Davies who has had a revolving door supporting cast, including members of The Clean, Sugar, Sebadoh, Free Time, Woods, and The Flaming Lips.
James Brandon Lewis Trio Apple Core
Record heavily influenced by trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist, Don Cherry. Lewis designed each song title as a cryptogram of sorts, making subtle references to Cherry’s life and music.
Vashti Bunyan Lookaftering
Expanded 20th anniversary edition to mark her 80th birthday.
Lewis Watson Blue Skies Grey
A collection of folk-pop that unfolds like a travelogue of his journey through life’s twists and turns.
Fabiano Do Nascimento Solstice Concert
A specially assembled ensemble of contemporary A-list fusion players in the local scene – a one-night-only seated concert at a historic venue in Northeast Los Angeles. Do Nascimento and his band set out to perform a curated selection of original music and other favorites from cherished composers.
Adwaith Solas
Welsh trio whose 23-track double album will complete a coming-of-age trilogy chronicling their transformation from teenagers into empowered women, exploring themes of self-discovery, escape, and resilience.
FACS Wish Defense
Chicago trio with the last album engineered by Steve Albini.
Simon Grab & David Meier Porœs
Their hybrid sound is raw and volatile, defined by razor-sharp, erratic and fierce states. A soundworld balanced between Meier’s vibrant organic drumming and Grab’s pulsating bleeps and noises, duly enhanced by growling bass lines and dubwise feedback.
Ecce Shnak Shadows Grow Fangs EP
Five tracks running the gamut from slow-burning meditations on love’s indispensability to mockery of the web from the perspective of a time-traveling poet.
Daze of June Stages of Erosion
Danish metalcore act known for their emotionally charged soundscapes and unrelenting riffs, the band’s latest effort represents a profound and personal evolution in both their music and message.
Dead Air Elements EP
Riff-heavy, anthemic, and riotous South London alt-rock newcomers
Evgeny Grinko Winter Moonlight
Russian composer and multi-instrumentalist with a signature ability to blend intimate, piano-driven melodies with modern, experimental elements.
Noctambulist Noctambulist 2: De Droom
Blackgaze band diving deeper into post-punk and shoegaze influences while retaining the fierceness of their debut record Elegiëen.
Pit Pony Dead Stars
The album sees the band meld a myriad of influences from 50s doo-wop to heavy rock while vocalist Jackie Purver navigates the complexities of modern life.
Various Ambientale
From Hamburg’s Bureau B comes a journey into otherworldly sounds from the years 1983 – 2000. Drifting effortlessly between digital exoticism, mellow fusion, new age groove and library electronics.
Jinjer Duel
Technical grooves and heavy progressive passages, brutally clear vocals and skilful growls by vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk.
