HMLTD – West of Eden
After a stint signed to Sony that failed, the London band fronted by the declamatory Henry Spychalski, happily return with a new release via the Lucky Number label. And hopefully that is a good omen, as their live shows are a true forte. A theatrical mixture of camp goth, electro and glam, with a image and music that harks heavily 80s, somewhere between Depeche Mode, Duran Duran and even Frankie Goes to Hollywood with those moustaches. Political to sexual, humorous and passionate, it's certainly worth a visit To the Door, being tempted by Satan, or Luella and I, Where’s Joanna? as well Mikey's Song. They look as if they are now making very sellable, fun, entertaining pop. Out on Lucky Number.
HMLTD – The West Is Dead
Isobel Campbell - There Is No Other
The Scottish singer-songwriter, cellist and composer who was formerly a member of Belle & Sebastian before she released three albums with Mark Lanegan, makes a welcome return with a new solo album of intimate, almost whispery folk pop, from Hey World to Ant Life, and the particularly lovely The National Bird of India, with its gentle, exotic orchestration. Out on Cooking Vinyl.
Isobel Campbell – The National Bird of India
La Roux – Supervision
Elly Jackson returns, this time in solo guise but under the same moniker best known for the song Bulletproof, with a series of not dissimilar, head-nodding fairly simple tunes with her particular falsetto style that echoes a little bit of Scritti Politti and Prince. So whether it's really 21st century is open to question, but it's a tight, catchy mix of breakbeat, funky pop material from Automatic Driver to Do You Feel. Out on Supercolour Records.
La Roux - 21st Century
Oh Wonder – No One Else Can Wear Your Crown
Third album from the London-based alt-pop duo of Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht, who have quietly gone from Soundcloud self-release to selling more than a million. This is quiet, lushly orchestrated love song pop, based from piano and keyboard with just enough Autotune to not be annoying but but be en vogue, and could certainly have more mainstream success. Tracks to explore include Drunk On You, Hallelujah, Nothing But You and In And Out Of Love. Out on Island.
Oh Wonder – In And Out Of Love
Cerrone – DNA
The veteran French electronica wizmeister Marc Cerrone, now 67, returns with a new album, this time more disco than some of his previous releases and in many ways a return to his roots. He has been a strong influence on Daft Punk, Bob Sinclair and Massive Attack among others, very much an alterantive Giorgio Moroder, so is always worth a listen. Check out tracks such as Resolution, or the title track. They start slowly, evoking some kind of past/futuristic film landscape, then pick up pace and draw you in by clever, stealthy rhythms, melody and build. Out on Because Music.
Cerrone – Resolution
Shopping – All Or Nothing
Consistent, enjoyable funky pop postpunk from the British trio with their fourth album, in a sound that owes something to Gang of Four (RIP Andy Gill), Talking Heads and Gossip. Staccato guitar and shouty punk vocals also echo much of the past, such as on No Apologies, or For Your Pleasure, but it's a formula that works. Out on Fat Cat Records.
Shopping – Initiative
Beatrice Dillon – Workaround
Wondrously odd electronica, dubby, jazz-tinged house and techno experimentalism by the British DJ and artist who mixes samples, sometimes at breathtaking pace, with tabla, kora, pedal steel guitar and cello, and a whole assortment of synth sounds in an album that shows presents itself as notes and workings and yet also works as a complete release. Purist and minimalist in sound and more, all but three of the 14 tracks are simply titled Workaround with a number. Out on PAN.
Beatrice Dillon – Square Fifths
Khruangbin and Leon Bridges – Texas Sun
A journey through homesick reminiscences, backseat romances, and late-night contemplations inspired by driving through the vast state of Texas, a easy-paced, evocative four-song EP country-soul collaboration by the psych trio from Houston and the soul singer from Fort Worth, made for listening with the windows down and the road humming softly beneath you. Out on Dead Oceans.
Khruangbin and Leon Bridges – Texas Sun
Soakie – Soakie
With an evocative name, this is the debut seven-track mini album from half Melbourne-half NYC band. Blisteringly fast and energetic hardcore with a vocalist that sounds like she has been chewing on glass everyday since birth. Raspy, real anger, a bit like Amyl and the Sniffers. Watch out, boys. Out on La Vida Es Un Mus.
Soakie – Boys On Stage
Don’t forget to also check out our favourite albums of 2019:
Aldous Harding to Richard Dawson to Michael Kiwanuka: favourite albums of 2019 – part 1
Billie Eilish to FKA twigs to Weyes Blood: favourite albums of 2019 – part 2
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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