Here’s a rundown of new albums and releases, including new albums and EPs on DSPs and physical releases in record shops this week.
Nialler9 keeps a rolling list of Irish album releases for 2025.
New Albums and Releases
New Albums
Brìghde Chaimbeul – Sunwise
The Scottish piper drones on beautifully on her experimentally-minded third album as the music explores tradition, folklore and mystery.
The album comes after recent collaborations with Caroline Polachek and Canadian composer/saxophonist Colin Stetson (who also features here), along with Chaimbeul’s occasional vocal, her brother Eòsaph and a spoken word contribution from her father Aonghas Phàdraig.
This record follows the embrace of winter time; the closing in of darkness, the cold, the pull to turn inward. But also, the customs of the season, and gathering for the ceilidh: songs and stories told round the fire; where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.’
Frankie Cosmos – Different Talking
New York indie-rock four-piece Frankie Cosmos’ sixth album Different Talking, released on Sub Pop.
The band lead by singer, songwriter and guitarist Greta Kline are announced for a Dublin show at Button Factory on Saturday November 15th.
I adore the bright and propulsive lead single ‘Vanity’.
Gelli Haha – Switcheroo
LA alt-pop artist Gelli Haha (Jelly Haha) revels in the kind of dayglow electronic pop music that I find hard to resist. Recent track ‘Spit’ comes on like early Confidence Man, while ‘Bounce House’ and ‘Funny Music’ sounds like 2010s indie blog pop and bands like Yacht. New song ‘Normalise’ was influenced by “80s Nigerian soul boogie” (I’m gueasing the Doing It Lagos compilation has a far-reaching influence) and channels a similar vibe to the synth pop of Blood Orange, Washed Out and Nite Jewel.
The debut album is out today via Innovative Leisure.
Kevin Abstract – Blush
Former Brockhampton star releases his fifth studio album, an ensemble piece – with the artist ceding the spotlight and at times not appearing on tracks, with guests like Danny Brown, JPEGMAFIA, Dominic Fike, Sekouand Abstract’s former bandmates Ameer Vann, Romil Hemnani, and Kiko Merley.
The album was executive produced by Abstract and Quadeca and features a collective of Houston musicians who perform on the record – Love Spells, Roro, E Bleu, Makana XO, Truly Young, Diego, Drigo, Derby, and Devan Manley.
![GEEZER - Kevin Abstract & Dominic Fike [ the Blush cut ]](https://nialler9.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/ef7fbb02443f8aef0d9cba1402494503.jpg)
Lorde – Virgin
The New Zealand pop star returns with a fourth album course correction after the soft acoustic psychedelia of Solar Power.
Virgin is an electronic synth-pop record co-produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack.
Lorde’s Ultrasound tour comes to Dublin in November.
Lizzo – My Face Hurts From Smiling
Lizzo’s rise has faltered somewhat in recent years, 2022’s Special album didn’t match some of the previous work despite the hit ‘About Damn Time’ and a superb live show, but Lizzo made headlines for the wrong reasons through a coterie of controversies, public decries and accusations that have destabilised the artist’s core message of self-love and empowerment somewhat.
As the wait continues for album five Love in Real Life, this third mixtape fills the void with immediate trap and pop tracks, featuring Doja Cat and SZA.
Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill – Clay
Matthew Herbert and drummer/ vocalist Momoko Gill’s soulful, elastic collaboration, Clay treads nimbly between the dancefloor and the more introspective moods of the early hours, both reminiscent of Herbert’s iconic album Around The House.
Various Artists – The Alien Territory Archives
4 CD boxset of Radical, Experimental and Irrelevant Music from 1970’s San Diego on Leitrim’s Nyahh Records.
Features work by Pauline Oliveros, Harry Partch, Diamanda Galas, Warren Burt, David Dunn, Robert Turman, Joji Yuasa, KIVA, Ernie Morgan, Peter Gordon, Kathy Acker, Alexina Louie, Kenneth Gaburo and more.
This compilation came about from a meeting between Nyahh Records boss Willie Stewart and Bill Perrine, author of Alien Territory: Radical, Experimental and Irrelevant Music From 1970’s San Diego. The two were chatting over email when Bill happened to mention that he had access to the archive at the University of California, San Diego. Which contained a large collection of unreleased work by many of the artists and musicians mentioned in his book. They decided to collaborate on a compilation album, which soon turned into a 4 disc set.
Coolgirl – interim EP
Five-track EP from Lizzie Fitzpatrick’s electronic side project features retro futuristic cinematic ’80s summer bops.
Also released today
- BC Camplight – A Sober Conversation
- Blonde Redhead – The Shadow of The Guest
- Bruce Springsteen – Tracks II: The Lost Albums
- Durand Jones & The Indications – Flowers
- Smut – Waste Me
- Various Artists – F1 The Album
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
