Porridge Radio – Every Bad
The Brighton band fronted with undoubted presence and power by singer/guitarist Dana Margolin are certainly one watch with this second album that should break them into bigger things because of the particular mix of new and old. Margolin’s guitar and voice, particular on songs such as as Born Confused, or Lilac, have definite echoes of The Cure's Robert Smith, while Sweet, a visceral song about mental health and self-harm, clearly has a Pixies influence. Nevertheless the passion on show here also make them fresh and original. There’s a particular calling card of twisted, raw, but honest emotions expressed in repeated phrases. "I don't want to get bitter. I want us to get better. I want us to be kinder to ourselves and each other." Out on Secretly Canadian.
Porridge Radio – Sweet
CocoRosie – Put The Shine On
Welcome return by the idiosyncratic New York sisters Bianca and Sierra Casady who mix freaky folk, pop, electronica and throw in the the kitchen sink with no shortage of skill and panache. In fact they recorded their first album while drinking champagne in the bath. This, their seventh, is a tribute to their mother, who died during the period of recording. The album is full of quirky surprises from, beautiful, surreal vocals on openers High Road and Mercy, to the more upbeat pop indie of Restless, to the offbeat hip-hop, funk-pop of Lamb and the Wolf. Fabulously different, they never sit still. Out on Marathon Artists.
CocoRosie – Smash My Head
Ultraísta – Sister
Second album from acclaimed Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich's electro-pop project, and quite a wait since 2012's self-titled debut. This is an enthralling electronic landscape with endless twists, turns, loops and vocal gymnastics from singer Laura Bettinson and seasoned touring drummer Joey Waronker, whose work is outstanding throughout. Tracks to pick out include Tin King, Anybody, and Harmony. Out on Partisan Records.
Ultraísta - Harmony
Nadia Reid – Out Of My Province
Possessing a beautiful voice, the New Zealand-born singer, now based in Richmond, Virginia is a true gem of country-soul, all her guitar-based songs restrained musically, letting those sublime vocals shine out. A series of love and relationships songs include wonderful tracks Best Thing, Oh Canada, and the outstanding, pain-edged Get The Devil Out, which we previously highlighted on Song of the Day. Out on Spacebomb Records.
Nadia Reid – Best Thing
JFDR – New Dreams
Gentle, rather beautiful snow-droplet electro-folk from the Iceland artist Jófríður Ákadóttir in this second album after 2017’s LP Brazil. Hushed, whispery, and pure, her clean, soaring vocals intertwine with acoustic guitar, such as on My Work, and rippling, clicking electronica (Taking A Part of Me). With insightful, intelligent lyrics, these are shiny glints of gold from the rocky stream. Out on Krunk.
JFDR – My Work
Maria McKee – La Vita Nuova
The American singer and songwriter of undoubted pedigree from the 80s and 90s, returns with an album, as the title suggests, to mark, and celebrate major changes in her life – from being married to filmmaker Jim Akin to living in London as "pansexual, polyamorous, gender-fluid dyke”, raising support for the trans community. Her new songs are unashamedly dramatic, explanatory, theatrical, confessional, frank. Decorated with strings and piano, her soaring melodies could emanate from a quality stage musical, and echo some of Marc Almond's later work. Passionate throughout, titles such as Courage and I Never Asked, say it all. Out on AFAR.
Maria McKee - La Vita Nuova
Yumi Zouma – Truth or Consequences
Bright, upbeat, smooth 80s-style synth pop in this third album by the band, originally from New Zealand and fronted by singer Christie Simpson, with added New Yorker guitarist Josh Burgess. There are echoes of Depeche Mode, The Cars, Everything But The Girl, and for example on the track, Southwark that particular synth and drum sound (their first album with the live instrument) made by Future Islands. From Lonely After to Right Track/Wrong Man, to Lie Like You Want Me Back, this is music to feel the wind in your hair, a car journey from the past, breezing into the present. Out on Polyvinyl.
Yumi Zouma – Cool For A Second
Sam Gendel – Satin Doll
The Californian saxophonist and collaborator with Moses Sumney and bassist Sam Wilkes goes it alone on his new album takes on 13 jazz standards and pushes them, with true experimentation, completely in new, rather melting, woozy territory, sounding at times like a vocoder, flute, strings and electronic sounds, from Lester Young’s Stardust to Miles Davis’s Freddie Freeloader. Smooth and fascinating to shrill and swirling, this is avant-garde work in the true sense. Out on Nonesuch.
Sam Gendel - Afro Blue
The Wants – Container
Post-punk, synth pop, and minimal techno make up this debut from the New York four-piece, showing with a dark, gritty hue in lyrics and sound and a mixture of styles. Industrial noise infuses the songs Machine Room, Aluminium and Voltage, while Fear My Society and Nuclear Party, for example, are more political pop, with tinges of The The. Out on Council Records.
The Wants – The Motor
Honey Cutt – Coasting
Debut indie lo-fi surf rock from singer-songwriter Kaley Honeycutt is refreshing, summery and youthful. Even in songs about heartbreak she sounds upbeat and smiling in the sunlight, such as on the title track. Brightly nostalgic. Out on Kanine Records.
Honey Cutt – Vacation
The Boomtown Rats – Citizens of Boomtown
A 36-year gap since the last album must mean something of a record, and a mixed bag it is from Sir Bob and co, from embarrassing attempts to hip hop and, er, a disco-style track called, yes, The Boomtown Rats. But there are better moments when they hark fondly back to seventies days – Trash Glam Baby sounds like the era it describes, and there is also something authentic about Here’s a Postcard and Passing Through. So overall, Get A Grip is a title that should certainly be self-heeded. Out on BMG.
The Boomtown Rats – Trash Glam Baby
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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