With so many releases flying at you, here are 6 vetted listens from Nialler9 for you this week, as collated in the Nialler9 New Albums Spotify playlist, updated weekly.
1.
Bonobo – Migration
My album of the week. Bonobo’s sixth album is nomadic & intimate, open-minded and expansive drawing on his ambient chill trademark and tougher almost clubbier sounds with guest vocals from Hundred Waters, Nick Murphy, Rhye and Morrocco’s Innov Gnawa.
Favourite tracks: ‘Outlier’, ‘Surface’
2.
Austra – Future Politics
Katie Stelmanis’ third album as Austra feels looser than her previous work, and despite the title, more human. The operatic synth-pop is still very much there and the politics of the title feels rooted in the personal.
Favourite tracks: ‘Utopia’, ‘I Love You More Than You Love Yourself’
3.
Julie Byrne – Not Even Happiness
The New-York singer-songwriter Julie Byrne is known for ethereal folk music and her new second album Not Even Happiness is a calming listen of gentle folk and ambient textures.
Favourite tracks: ‘Natural Blue’, ‘I Live Now As A Singer’
4.
SOHN – Rennen
Since the release of his 2014 debut, SOHN has moved continents, got married and is this week, expecting his first child. In the same time he’s also managed to hugely improve his songcraft which to this point always worked best writing for others. Rennen is an album of alt-synth singer-songwriter music with touches of spacious R&B and orchestral atmospherics.
Favourite tracks: ‘Harbour’, ‘Conrad’
5.
Loyle Carner – Yesterday’s Gone
Upcoming London rapper with a relaxed vocal style, Carner’s debut album dropped today and his Uber driver is a fan. This is a lyrical-focused largely drawing on laidback jazz and hip-hop beats. Carner plays The Workman’s Club on February 2nd.
Favourite tracks: ‘The Isle Of Arran’, ‘No CD’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H39Q02EkNNA
The latest release on Awesome Tapes From Africa features singer Awa Poulo of Peulh origin from Dilly commune in Mali on the border of Mauritania features eight new tracks of folk-pop of the region with Poulo singing atop loose guitar, flute, n’goni (lute), calabash gourd hand percussion.
Favourite tracks: ‘Djulau’, ‘Noumou Foli’.
