David Byrne – American Utopia
The world may be going to hell in a handcart, but not if David Byrne can help it. This is an album brimming with optimism, and follows the his curated ongoing Reasons To Be Cheerful series of inspiring, positive society writings, photos, music, and lectures. The music itself has echoes echoes of Once In A Lifetime from the Talking Heads era, but as ever Bryne pushes the creative envelope, and working with Brian Eno, much promise comes from an artist with his first solo album since 2004. Out on Todomundo/Nonesuch Records.
David Byrne - Everybody's Coming To My House
Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar
The Edinburgh trio’s highly anticipated return with their third album after the Mercury winning debut Dead (2014) and 2015’’s acclaimed White Men Are Black Too. Again they bring further innovative trip hop – intimate, angry, tender and clever. Out on Ninja Tune.
Young Fathers – In My View
Whyte Horses – Empty Words
The Mancunian psychedelic pop band return with their second album after Pop or Not, with eclectic and uplifting 16 tracks. A cheerful wistful melancholy threads through that now characteristically big sound put together by Dom Thomas and unison female vocals. Out on CRC Music.
Whyte Horses – Empty Words
Ady Suleiman - Memories
A collection of sensitive, fragile, personal and soulful, acoustic material on the experiences of British adolescence from this engaging singer-songwriter. He has Michael Kiwanuka, Leon Bridges, Laura Mvula and Lianne Le Havas among his fans. Out on Pemba.
Ady Suleiman - Need Somebody To Love
Judas Priest - Firepower
Looking at the cover of Firepower takes me back to 1982's commercial breakthrough Screaming For Vengeance. Flip over the cover and it's much the same with Tom Allom producing and some pleasing Hellion-based cod-mythology. This is a pretty good sounding record which is some going by Halford who has clocked up almost 50 years in music! Out on Columbia.
Judas Priest - Spectre
Editors - Violence
Editors nearly packed it in a few years ago, but they return with a new line-up, soft electronica and a more danceable beat to enhance those guitars to produce a stadium shaking sound. Indie shops have a two-LP vinyl version which has a couple of bonus tracks. Out on PIAS.
Editors - Violence
This week's selection is by The Landlord, with two addition choices Michael Moloney, aka llamalpaca from the vinyl-only record and design store, Chameleon.
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This is only a selection, not a catalogue of releases. Feel free to recommend more and comment below.