Elvis Costello – Hey Clockface
Musically innovative, and of course caustically clever in lyrics, Costello returns with an album on which, due to Covid restrictions, he has played many of the instruments and the record is given an extra twist by Argentine-born American producer Sebastian Krys. There is a dynamic range here, from the musical hall ragtime of the title track Hey Clockface / How Can You Face Me?, to the brilliantly rhythmic Hetty O'Hara Confidential, the atmospherically smoky Newspaper Pane, standout political track No Flag, which recalls some of his finest postpunk material of the early 80s, the slower, but just as powerful We Are All Cowards Now, and the talky opener Revolution #49. One of his very best for years. Out on Concord.
Elvis Costello – Hetty O'Hara Confidential
Dizzie Rascal – E3 AF
The original British grime pioneer and Boy In Da Corner returns with a cross between his two careers, the mainstream and the tru-skool, but heading back towards his earlier roots, with reference to his old postcode in the title, and even some African influences. But while Body Loose is at more the Bonkers-era pop end of things, his considerable freestyle rapping skills, as well as trap, garage and dubstep, reappear too on far fiercer numbers Act Like You Know, You Don’t Know, and the self-affirming LLLL. Out on Island / Dirty Stank.
Dizzee Rascal – Act Like You Know
Sun Ra Arkestra – Swirling
First release for 20 years by the jazz band that accompanied the late Sun Ra, who died in 1993, and since his death became far more lauded than during his lifetime as a pioneer pioneer of Afrofuturism, space funk and jazz, influencing Funkadelic and many others. So this, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, is a tribute the great man, revisiting celebrated pieces like Satellites Are Spinning sung beautifully by violinist Tara Middleton, the rich brass band of an epic version of Seductive Fantasy, the fabulous jazz swing of the title track, the exotic Afro-Latin feel of Angels and Demons At Play, the gospel vocal harmonies of Sky Is A Sea of Darkness, the talky avant-garde jazz of Rocket #9, the sheer fun soundtrack interpretation of Unmask The Batman, the anarchy of Queer Notions, the brilliant bare upright bass and bluesy piano of Space Loneliness, leading right into the wonderful conclusion of Door Of The Cosmos/ Say. A joyful, fitting, sophisticated, life-affirmation of inventive, musical skill and escapism. Out on Strut.
Sun Ra Arkestra – Angels and Demons at Play
Eels – Earth To Dora
A 13th studio album for Mark Oliver Everett a.k.a. E, and this is consistently contains all the elements you'd expect - simple, catchy songs, melancholy, romanticism, end-of-world wry humour and irony, urban and wildlife images, and that characteristic vocal delivery that jumps between the gravelly, spoken, and fuzzily screamed. There's no real standout tracks, but then again there are no poor ones, as the album contains classic Eels, from Are We Alright Again, Earth To Dora, The Gentle Souls, Baby Let's Make It Real, Anything For Boo, Who You Say You Are, while OK is slow, talky, brass number that feels like a parody. Out on E Works.
Eels – Are We Alright Again
Oneohtrix Point Never – Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
The alias for experimental electronic artist Daniel Lopatin, who among many previous albums also did the soundtrack for the acclaimed 2019 film Uncut Gems, releases a bizarre but mesmerising concoction of sounds, swirls, tinkles, voices, harpsichord and offbeat oddness, the title is a reference to a misheard play on words of Boston’s radio station Magic 106.7. There's a theme of dreamlike filmic, nightmare going towards inner peace and bliss here, set out with opener Cross Talk I to the otherworldly Auto & Allo, the melty rock baroque of Long Road Home, the electro pop of I Don't Me Anymore, the plinky The Weather Channel, the trickling Answering Machine and more. A strange, slow, late-night, but worthwhile subconscious journey. Out on Warp.
Oneohtrix Point Never – Long Road Home
Action Bronson – Only For Dolphins
The freeflowing American, aka Ariyan Arslani, distinctive rapper, chef and talkshow and variety show TV presenter, returns amid a backdrop of mixtures of jazz, reggae, classical, soul and even a dash of folk and Arabic styles, and working with old friends, rappers and producers The Alchemist, Harry Fraud, Budgie, DJ Muggs, Samiyam, Daringer, and Tommy Mas. It's a psychedelic mishmash that's evocative and narrative. Standouts include Capoeira, Golden Eye, Mongolia, Marcus Aurelius, and Latin Grammys. Out on Loma Vista.
Action Bronson – Latin Grammys
Jim White – Misfit's Jubilee
Welcome return, the first since 2017, by the American singer-songwriter with a catalogue of rockin' country, dark ruminations on all things southern, and a good companion to also the 2020's Eels release, especially with the song Smart Ass Reply. This features a nonstop parade of manic, blue-collar conflagrations exploring realms dark and light, mystic and mundane, cynical and heartfelt; all presented within a buoyant, hook-laden sonic framework, sometimes turning to the gentle and smoky, such as The Mystery Of You, the ghostly talky Highway of Lost Hats, the catchy, sun-kiseed folk-country of Sum Of What We've Been, the very upbeat but double-edged Wonders Never Cease, the darker rock of Where Would I Be, or the quirky, Latinesque and indeed Eels-esque Monkey In A Silo. But perhaps most apposite during the week of release is the caustic closer, The Divided States of America. Out on Loose Music.
Jim White – The Divided States of America
Adrianne Lenker – songs and instrumentals
Two distinct and rather lovely solo collections released together, and both written and recorded in April by the lead vocalist and guitarist of Big Thief after the American indie band's March tour was cut short due to coronavirus. She decamped to a one room cabin in the mountains of western Massachusetts, and these works reflect a remote beauty an fragility, mostly with acoustic guitar and entirely recorded and produced in 100% analogue, non-digital process. Standout tracks include Anything, Heavy Focus, Indygar, Two Reverse, and Forwards Beckon Rebound, while on the purely instrumental side, Music For Indigo. Artwork for the album are watercolour paintings by Adrianne’s grandmother, Diane Lee. Overall, an exquisitely gentle, delicate escape. Out on 4AD.
Adrianne Lenker – Anything
Keaton Henson – Monument
More than appropriate for 2020, intense feelings under musical microscope in this viscerally melancholy album by the London-born singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, showing in candid detail, about about love, ageing, recovery, life, all seen through the prism of grief. This is especially in the very moving, piano-led song Prayer. There's also the low-key electronica of Ontario, the bittersweet guitar of Ambulance, or the more soaring, swing tempo of Husk that sometimes moves into a low hush. Powerfully emotions harnessed in restrained stillness. "Must you be leaving so soon?" Out on Play It Again Sam.
Keaton Henson – Ambulance
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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