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
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
The long-awaited return of Clipse, 15 years on from their disbandment the brothers Clipse, Pusha T and Malice release fourth album on July 11th.
Pharrell is on the boards as is custom, and features come from Kendrick, Tyler, The Creator; The Dream, John Legend and Nas.
The album opens with a song about their dad and mam who passed four months apart, and ‘So Be It’ is a Pharrell-produced track uses a sample from a 70s Saudi Arabian artist Talah Madah.
Wet Leg – Moisturiser
Wet Leg founding members Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers are joined by Ellis Durand (bass), Henry Holmes (drums), and Joshua Mobaraki (guitar, synth) on their second studio album which dispenses with the more meme-able hooks of their debut in favour of channelling a more refined alt-rock vibe. Not bad for a band who started as a joke.
Barry Can’t Swim – Loner
Scottish electronic pop producer Barry Can’t Swim (real name Joshua Mainnie) drops a new album in relatively quick succession from his debut record When Will We Land? in 2023, and this one feels aimed at summer nights.
Loner stretches his core sound in different directions, trying on new styles and rhythms. Track two ‘Different’ reminds me ’90s acts Propellerheads and Bentley Rhythm Ace, and there’s the trademark lite electronic euphoria present on the record among clubbier workouts like the Kali Uchis-sampling ‘Still Tiding’.
Ólafur Arnalds, Talos – A Dawning
A beautiful and fitting collaborative full album tribute between Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Eoin French of Talos who sadly passed away last summer.
Arnalds talked to me for the podcast earlier this year about his friendship with Eoin.
“We made this album together,” Arnalds says. “Even after, while I was there working on some arrangements, I never felt like I was truly alone. Near the end, where we were saying how grateful we were to have met each other, he told me, ‘You know, I’m still gonna be there.’”
Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight
If Lankum successfully merge the worlds of drone, black-metal and Irish folk then Poor Creature do the same with folk music with psych and sludge-rock sounds.
Featuring Lankum’s Cormac MacDiarmada along with John Dermody and vocals from Landless’ Ruth Clinton, the recent singles have had a nebulous otherworldly atmosphere, with rising organs, skittering drums and unnerving howl-like sounds.
Africa Express presents…Bahidorá
A one-off collection of 21 songs showcasing an large line-up of talent from across Mexico, South America, Africa, the US and UK, encompassing a rich list of musical traditions from Latín to Urban; reggaeton to rap; Kuduro to Cumbia; Oaxacan mixe brass to Salsa; as well as folk, hip hop and pop.
The Africa Express project is spearheaded by Damon Albarn who sings on these songs recorded in Mexico (not Africa then) and featuring musicians from four continents:
- Abou Diarra
- Baba Sissoko
- Bonobo
- Bootie Brown
- Damon Albarn
- Django Django
- Eme Malafe
- Fatoumata Diawara
- Hak Baker
- Imarhan
- Joan As Police Woman
- Jupiter & Okwess
- La Bruja de Texcoco
- Los Pream
- Luisa Almaguer
- M.anifest
- Mare Advertencia
- Mexican Institute of Sound
- Moonchild Sanelly
- Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
- Onipa
- Otim Alpha
- Poté
- Son Rompe Pera
- Tayhana
Africa Express headlined Mexico’s Bahidorá Festival which is where this collection came about.
Africa Express was founded in 2006 with a trip to Mali connecting local stars Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyaté and Amadou & Mariam with artists including co-founder Damon Albarn, Martha Wainwright and Fatboy Slim.
Gwenno – Utopia
The disaffected Cardiff schoolgirl; the teenage Las Vegas dancer; the singer in indie pop group The Pipettes. There was a turn in a Bollywood film, a nightclub tour, a stint cleaning floors in an East London pub. Long before she would become an acclaimed solo songwriter in both Welsh and Cornish, a winner of the Welsh Music Prize, a nominee for the Mercury, a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, there were the days of Nevada, London, Brighton; of Irish dancing, techno clubs, messiness and chaos. Gwenno Saunders’ 4th solo album, is an extraordinary exploration of all of these selves. These are songs of discovery, of the years between being someone’s daughter and becoming someone’s wife and someone’s mother. They range from floor-fillers to piano ballads, via contributions from Cate Le Bon and H. Hawkline, and encompass William Blake, a favourite Edrica Huws poem, and the Number 73 bus.
Jehnova, Luthorist, Visionali – Dangerous Currents
A joint album between luthorist, Jehnova, and VISIONALI, speaks on themes of transformation, resilience, and creative maturity.
The album was made over 5 months, with production, mixing and mastering by luthorist, and guest verses from Osaka-born Dublin transplant Zimback and Dublin rapper Beano too. If you know the back catalogue of these guys, you know you’re getting quality.
Skull The Pierre – 2 Months to Change A Life
Dublin-based Swedish gay rapper channels the early ’90s DIY hip-hop style and this latest release is a 26-minute 7-track mini album.
Gilles Peterson Presents International Anthem
Legendary London-based radio broadcaster and DJ Gilles Peterson curates 29 track compilation of music from Chicago-born record label international anthem.
Also released today
- Allo Darlin’ – Bright Nights
- Chris Lake – Chemistry
- Justin Bieber – SWAG
- Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
- Larry June & Cardo – Until Night Comes
- Lebanon Hanover – Asylum Lullabies
- Mark Stewart – The Fateful Symmetry
- Open Mike Eagle – Neighborhood Gods Unlimited
- The Swell Season – Forward
- Tony Njoku – All Our Knives Are Always Sharp
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.
