Future Islands – As Long As You Are
One of the most distinctive sounds in pop – the gentle, low-key percussion, the strong thrum of bass, the soaring keyboards, little or no guitar, and of course the emotive, delivery of Samuel T Herring with those distinctive moves. As Long As You Are is the Baltimore band's sixth LP, and it's strong, consistent and their best since 2014's non-compilation Singles with the classic Seasons (Waiting on You). Standout tracks include For Sure, Moonlight, which has echoes of Joy Division, the intimate Thrill, Born In A War, the upbeat Waking, and the optimist Hit The Coast. Out on 4AD.
Future Islands – For Sure
Black Thought – Streams of Thought Vol. 3: Cane & Able
"We need to change the narrative." Essential listening release by the rapper also known as Tariq Trotter from the brilliant Philadelphia-based hip hop band The Roots who regularly perform on Saturday Night Live. This is his third in a series of releases after two preceding shorter EPs, and "Cane" refers to mainstream producer Sean C. No surprises then that this is politically charged, and direct topical issues. But as well as key track Thought vs Everybody which comes with a short film by Rodney Passé, punctuated by recordings of key figures in the black struggle, other key tracks include We Should Be Good, which addresses men in personal relationships, Good Morning featuring Swizz Beats, Pusha T and Killer Mike, as well as State Prisoner, Fuel, a painfully autobiographical number, and Ghetto Boyz N Girls with CS Armstrong. Black Thought's key quality. as well as punching some home truths, is his seamless delivery, clarity and economy of style. Out on Republica.
Black Thought – Thought vs Everybody
Public Enemy – What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
Yes, so what would happen? “Folks might have to pick up a book, pick up a pen,” Chuck D raps on opening track Grid, where "digital mental health clinics" are "worse than a pandemic". WIth a welcome return to Def Jam Records since 1998's He Got Game, and having revealed Flavor Flav's sacking was just publicity stunt, though clearly not without a history of difficulties with the joker band member, Chuck and co's latest is as much remix releases from the past as a new album, but 2020 needs them like never before. And this 15th album, which came out in September, is also as much a marshalling of some of hip hop's finest into one release, including Cypress Hill, George Clinton, Ice-T, and Black Thought of The Roots, anti-Trump number State Of The Union (STFU) featuring DJ Premier, and Public Enemy Number Won, which features former Beastie Boys Mike D and Ad-Rock, and Run-DMC. Updated classic Fight The Power 2020 is full of new reference to police killings of unarmed black men and much more, and also includes guests Rapsody (outstanding), Black Thought (always great – see his latest this week also), Jahi, YG and QuestLove in a powerful sequence. Not entirely new material, and also partly remix album of material previously released in 2017, but still a potent restart by Chuck D and friends. He remains possibly hip hop's most important and outstanding voice. Out on Def Jam.
Public Enemy – GRID ft. Cypress Hill, George Clinton
Emmy The Great – April / 月音
First album in four years by Emma-Lee Moss, influenced by, after living in the US, but with the election of Donald Trump, she felt compelled to spend time and be more defined by the place of her upbringing, Hong Kong. This is where the songs were written, alive with samples neon buzz, caught between a tumultuous past, present and future from temples to high risess. There is a constant interplay between Chinese and American cultures. Dandelions/Liminal is American protest seen through the lens of Chinese Buddhism, Chang-E explores Chinese-American connections through the myth of the beautiful queen who stole the elixir of youth and fled to the moon with a white rabbit – a reference to the moon landings, while Heart Sutra addresses the issue of belonging. Personal, affectionate and melancholy, the album's strength is how it also brings in Asian-influenced strings, percussion and Cantonese-style vocals to enhance the duality of place. Out on Bella Union.
Emmy The Great – Dandelions/Liminal
Sylvan Esso – Free Love
Third album by the American electronic pop duo of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn from Durham, North Carolina. There are echoes of Laurie Anderson's O Superman on opening track What If, and other elements are reminiscent of Fiona Apple and Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards, so overall is a thrillingly inventive album of clicks, distorted vocal harmonies, quirky changing rhythms and much more. Standout tracks include Ferris Wheel, Ring, Numb, Frequency and Runaway, and Rooftop Dancing. Delightful, original and full of deft turns. Out on Loma Vista.
Sylan Esso – Ferris Wheel
Hen Ogledd – Free Humans
Wondrously oddball return following 2018's Mogic by Dawn Bothwell, Rhodri Davies, Sally Pilkington and Richard Dawson, the band formed by the latter who released one of the last year's greatest albums, 2020, where he in particular is that distinctive bass player and and occasional lead singer who takes his high falsetto range to ever greater highs. Their style is a cross between folk and prog into a catchy pop. The lyrics are full of wry humour, such as Crimson Star, the cat-inspired Trouble, the psychedelic Space Golf, the stompy Bwganod, and Skinny Dippers. Eccentric, experimental and very out there. Out on Domino.
Hen Ogledd – Crimson Star
Kronos Quartet – Long Time Passing: Kronos Quartet and Friends Celebrate Pete Seeger
The acclaimed San Francisco string quartet, who have worked with many artists outside the classical genre, this time make a carefully crafted neo-classical / bluegrass tribute album to the late great folk and protest singer, aided by a variety of nicely complementary guest vocalists including Sam Amidon, Maria Arnal, Brian Carpenter, Meklit, Lee Knight, and Aoife O'Donovan. It's a timely release just a few week's before the presidential election to honour a man who would have stood up to any values associated with Donald Trump. Key tracks include If I Had A Hammer, Which Side Are You On, Turn, Turn, Turn, Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, the the lesser known eco-song Garbage and Vietnam War-based Waist Deep in the Big Muddy. Out on Smithsonian Folkways.
Kronos Quartet (with Lee Knight) - Which Side Are You On?
Blake Scott – Niscitam
The lead singer of blokey, Australian satirical punk band The Peep Tempel takes time out to release a solo album with a couple of other mates and muse on becoming a father. The title means "confidently” in Sanskrit, and this album is ripe with his earthy, distinctive, blokey, visceral talky delivery, twangy guitars, fat bass lines and memorable lines, he coms across as the Australian equivalent of Baxter Dury. “I’m like a pig in shit, the land of the living sun … and I just can't get it done," he opines on Fever, or "“Where have I crashed? Some strange land without language," is the album's first line, coming across like a man who has just awoken with a confused, massive hangover. It's probably no pretence. Funny, clanky, catchy and caustic. Out on Wing Sing Records.
Blake Scott – Fever
Slow Pulp - Moveys
Splendid debut by the Chicago-based indie band features silky, layered vocals, blistering energy and emotional catharsis and a style reminiscent of Cocteau Twins, Tame Impala, Teenage Fanclub and a lower volume My Bloody Valentine. The made-up title word has different meanings – an invitation to dance, a wink at the cross-country nature of the album’s songwriting process, being constantly move touring, and going through major life changes. Standout tracks include New Horse, Idaho, At It Again, the piano-led Whispers (In The Outfield), Falling Apart, and the funky closer Movey. Out on Winspear.
Slow Pulp – Falling Apart
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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