Today is New Music Friday, which means there’s loads of new songs in the world.
Here are the 10 single best songs released today I loved.
See the New Music section for all the of tracks and albums featured this week.
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1.
Björk
Atopos
There’s nothing quite like hearing a new Björk song in the modern age. An artist that straddles the world of pop music, performance and fine art with ease.
‘Atopos’ is our first listen from the forthcoming album fossora, and the song establishes the possible sound palette we may expect, with bass clarinets and low-end beats overlapping under her discombobulating inquisitive vocals, that take lyrical inspiration from the French cultural theorist Roland Barthes thoughts on collective optimism.
Are these not just excuses to not connect?
Our differences are irrelevant
To insist on absolute justice at all times
It blocks connection
DJ Kasimyn of Indonesian experimental duo Gabber Modus Operandi contributes production and the title “atopos” comes from the Latin word meaning “the other” both loving and in opposition. The video is directed by Viðar Logi.
I find that Björk songs these days are stunning objects, that I can quite relate to in a personal way, and that’s OK. The Icelandic artist genuinely feels like she’s broadcasting from another plane in the future.
2.
Sudan Archives
Selfish Soul
Cincinnati Ohio rapper/singer/violinist’s Brittany Parks aka Sudan Archives’ new album of alt-R&B is getting great notices with its release last Friday.
Parks is a unique artist and ‘Selfish Soul’ is a succinct example of her artistry.
I would recommend getting yourself to her debut Dublin show this year at Whelans on 21st November.
3.
Clive From Accounts
You Understand
The Future Disco label has a compilation out soon called Mirrorball Motel featuring Róisín Murphy, Breakbot, Italoconnection, Elder Island, Digitalism and this song, a finely-spun synth track from Clive From Accounts, who featured in this column recently, with the classy ‘Pearls’.
4.
Daithí, Uly
Like The Water
From Daithí’s superb third album I’m Here Now, comes this rolling electronic beauty with vocals from the Dublin singer-songwriter Uly. The six minute running time lets the rhythm really seep in, like water in the limestone of the Burren, near where a lot of this album was recorded in Daithī’s native Clare.
The album Strange Brew Records also features Ailbhe Reddy, Sinéad White, David Tapley of Tandem Felix and Neil Dexter.
5.
Bibio
Off Goes The Light
A firm Nialler9 favourite, Bibio has announced his 10th album on Warp will be released on October 21st 2022.
BIB10 will see the multi-faceted artist return to an electronic sound after the woodsy folk vibe of 2019’s Ribbons, which means synths, drum machines and particularly electric guitars, as heard on ‘ Off Goes The Light’.
“I wanted this album to sound more polished and slick, but not ‘software perfect’. My influences for studio production mostly come from the 60s, 70s, and 80s where the craft was very different – getting a more polished sound, without ironing the humanity out of it, was part of the ethos.”
I wanted it to be more of a party album. It also has its dreamy and melancholy moments, but there’s a lot of fun and playfulness in this album. I hope people get up and dance to some of these songs.”
6.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Be With You
It’s quite a trip to think it’s been 10 years since Orlando Higginbottom first released his debut Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs album, and 13 years since we first introduced the artist’s buoyant electronic pop.
On Friday, a second album was released, featuring this anthemic-leaning open-hearted track.
7.
Biig Piig
Kerosene
I’m loving the trajectory that Biig Piig has made for herself. Eschewing traditional album routes in favour of loosies and a wide ranger of collaborations, it’s got to the point where you never really know what’s coming next.
One thing that is constant from the Irish-born artist, is the quality is always hight and ‘Kerosene’ is another fine bop, made with Zach Nahome and Maverick Sabre, who also co-produced ‘Feels Right’, her best song to date.
Biig Piig says ‘Kerosene’ is “the first track off a wider project I’m working on. It’s about wanting someone to rip my clothes off, and the tension of that relationship…my own hot girl summer anthem, tbh.”
Biig Piig has two shows at The Sound House in Dublin on November 9th and 10th.
8
Blood Orange
Jesus Freak Lighter
The return of Dev Hynes. Blood Orange has a new EP, simply called Four Songs EP on September 16th, and he doesn’t really ever miss does he?
9.
Gabe Gurnsey
Higher Estates
Gabe Gurnsey’s Diablo, his second album of electro body music on Phantasy Sound doesn’t deviate too far from the established sound that dominated 2018’s excellent Physical.
Gurnsey’s partner, Tilly Morris has a main vocal role all over the record too, and it was ‘Higher Estates’ that stood out on early listens.
10.
Fever Ray
Mama’s Head (Radio Slave remix)
Apropos of nothing, a brand new 11 and a half minute Fever Ray remix by Radio Slave. Delightful.
Nialler9 Weekly Playlist
Nialler9 New Music Playlist
For more extensive Irish and new music coverage, hit up the Irish section for individual track features
For this and more Irish songs, follow the Nialler9 New Irish Spotify playlist.
