Sibling purveyors of classic pop music Haim will return for two dates to Dublin as part of their Sister Sister Sister European tour this year.
They play the Olympia Theatre on Tuesday June 12th and Wednesday June 13th. Tickets will go on sale from February 23rd on Ticketmaster with a pre-sale from February 21st.
Fri 1st June Barcelona, Spain Primavera Sound Sun 3rd June Milan, Italy Fabrique Mon 4th June Zurich, Switzerland X-tra Tues 5th June Cologne, Germany E Werk Thurs 7th June Warsaw, Poland Stodola Fri 8th June Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle Sun 10th June Glasgow, UK O2 Academy Mon 11th June Manchester, UK O2 Apollo Tues 12th June Dublin, Ireland Olympia Fri 15th June London, UK Alexandra Palace Mon 18th June Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso Tues 19th June Copenhagen, Denmark Tap1 Weds 20th June Stockholm, Sweden Annexet Thurs 21st June Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene Sat 23rd June Lisbon, Portugal Rock in Rio
Fri 1st June Barcelona, Spain Primavera Sound Sun 3rd June Milan, Italy Fabrique Mon 4th June Zurich, Switzerland X-tra Tues 5th June Cologne, Germany E Werk Thurs 7th June Warsaw, Poland Stodola Fri 8th June Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle Sun 10th June Glasgow, UK O2 Academy Mon 11th June Manchester, UK O2 Apollo Tues 12th June Dublin, Ireland Olympia Fri 15th June London, UK Alexandra Palace Mon 18th June Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso Tues 19th June Copenhagen, Denmark Tap1 Weds 20th June Stockholm, Sweden Annexet Thurs 21st June Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene Sat 23rd June Lisbon, Portugal Rock in Rio
Time to look into the internet crystal ball and see who may (and who may not) release an album for our ears in 2018. Will Robyn finally release another album? Before we answer that, here’s some we know are on the way…
Tune-Yards have announced that their fourth album I can feel you creep into my private life will be released on January 19th. They will be touring the US and Europe from February. Surely, an Irish date is imminent.
It’s been nearly a year and a half since the release of Frank Ocean’s album Blonde (add another week for Endless too). In November, he posted on Tumblr that he had finished a new album writing – “’Well I️ made the album before 30. I️ JUST AINT PUT THAT BITCH OUT!’ -quotes from an interview I️ haven’t given haha”. He also posted a picture on his Tumblr wearing a hat saying ‘If you likes 2017 you’ll love 2018. Frank was practically prolific in 2017 by previous standards with songs like ‘Provider’, ‘Chanel’ and ‘Biking’ released and first premiered on his Apple Music radio show Blonded.
Grimes
Possible Date: 2018
Grimes’ followup to Art Angels was reportedly halfway there in April 2017. Claire Boucher posted on Instagram in August 2017 that she needed two more months before finishing the new tracks. Last month she replied to a fan on Twitter regarding the new album saying ‘just played label new music they rly dig it so hopefully smthn soon’. Two days later on Instagram she said that she has all the tracks but needs to vox and drums on pretty much all of them. Signs are good.
When asked by Pitchfork about a new album release for 2018 Kevin Shields from the band said “Oh, we one hundred percent will,” he also gave details on the album stating “Basically, the record started off as an EP, and I realized it has to be, like, a mini-album, because it’s going to be at least 40 minutes long. So it’s going to be an album, but I don’t really know how many tracks it’s going to be. It’ll probably be seven or eight, by the looks of it.” He also stated that they will be touring this summer. This album will mark five years since the release of their third studio album MBV in 2013.
Franz Ferdinand
Date: February 9th
The Scottish indie rock band will release Always Ascending on February 9th a follow up from their fourth album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action which was released in 2013. The title track and some Galway/Dublin dates were previously announced.
Chromeo
Date: Spring/Summer 2018
The fourth album Head Over Heels from Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo is on its way this year, a follow up from White Women which came out in 2014. They released a tralier for the album back in November as well as new track ‘Juice’.
Jon Hopkins
Possible Date: Spring/Summer 2018
In a post on Facebook in May last year Jon thanked fans for being patient while he worked on his new album and left us with a cover of Laura Palmer’s Theme tune for Twin Peaks. He later stated that the album is nearly finished, or to be more accurate – “nearly fucking finished.”.
The Dublin electro band’s third album is done and set for release this year and former Fight Like Apes’ singer May Kay, who joined the band full-time, is set to feature on six tracks.. They released the first track off the new album ‘Pleasure’ in May last year but the album was delayed as the band signed a US deal for its release in late 2017.
The follow up to the Artic Monkey’s 2013 release AM is on the way. According to an interview with motorcycling magazine bassist Nick O’Malley said if the album isn’t out by 2018 ‘We’ve got problems’. Let’s hope that means the new album is on the way soon.
Blood Orange
Possible Date: Spring 2018
Last summer Blood Orange or Dev Hynes announced that he was writing new material via a post on Instagram. Last month he posted a video on his Instagram showing off some of the new material. The album will be a follow up to his 2016 release Freetown Sound.
It’s been 11 years since Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen released an album under The Good, The Bad and The Queen name. According to NME, Damon Albarn reveled details on the new album hes’s been working on with Tony Visconti to radio DJ Zane Lowe: “We’ve got pretty much all the songs and recorded all the backing tracks but I’m just emoting over it at the moment. I can hear what I’m saying kind of, a bit, but it’s still a bit unintelligible.” He also stated that the album is “inspired by Brexit”.
David Byrne
Possible Date: March 2018
The former Talking Heads man has announced some live dates for this summer and that fact along with an apparent leak of the album title as American Utopiaby an online retailer and a March date, more than suggest an album is on the way. His last album was his collaborative album with St. Vincent.
FKA Twigs
Possible Date: 2018
Tahliah Barnett’s debut LP1 came out in 2014 and she’s been plenty busy with dancing, documentaries, stage shows, a once of single, and a 2015 EP and the release of new song ‘Good To Love’ in February 2017. Last year she confirmed that an album was on the way but would not be released in 2017 . According to NME she performed three new songs at Lastochka Festival in Moscow last summer. Could this mean that 2018 is the year for a new album release?
Flying Lotus
Possible Date: Spring/Summer 2018
A new album was promised in 2016 from the Brainfeeder boss but Stephen Ellison was working on his feature-length film debut Kuso (starring Hannibal Buress and Tim Heidecker), which premiered at Sundance in 2017. In November 2017 he released a video for new track ‘Post Requisite’ and on January 1st this year he tweeted a mix from Brainfeeder which includes a new track ‘Quarantine’. No date for the new album has been released but there are a few telling signs that its on the way soon.
Loreley Rodriguez’ debut Empress Of album Of Me was followed up with a killer once-off single and one of the best songs of 2016 collaboration with Blood Orange – ‘Best To You’. She released a new track ‘Go To Hell’ in July. In Demcember, she dropped a cover of Lana Del Rey produced by DJ Dodger Stadium. Hopefully, her new album is finally on the way.
I swear making another album is an emotional roller coaster:not so much making the music but playing it for other people
It’s been five years since the New York City band released Modern Vampires of the City and according to a tweet reply from frontman Ezra Koenig in September last year, 2018 could be the year of their long awaited return. Later in the year he explained to fans via Instagram that he spent 2017 working on the new album saying “we gotta take our time’. This album with be the bands first without Rostam Batmanglij.
It’s been almost eight years since Swedish singer Robyn has relesed an album. Last year her track ‘Honey’ featured on girls which she stated as being selected by Lena Dunham from music that she has been working on. In January last year she released a track with Mr Tophat but it may be nine years before she returns. 🙁
Daniel Avery
Possible Date: Autumn 2017
This time last year Daniel Avery was in studio hopefully that means a new release for 2018 is due to follow up from his superb 2013 album Drone Logic. It’s been too long already.
Three months in London. The studio door is locked from the outside
Haim have followed up their superb dance-lead video for ‘Want You Back’ with another dance-lead track for ‘Little Of Your Love’ swapping the streets for Oil Can Harry’s bar and a choreographed ensemble cast directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It’s recommended watching for people who like fun.
Anderson also made the studio-based short film ‘Valentine’ released last week.
Haim’s second album Something To Tell You is recommended.
Haim were on Triple J and did an actually-lovely cover of Shania Twain’s ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ that doesn’t replaces the song’s manic energy with some sweetness and light.
Haim’s debut album exceeded expectations for a new act. The Haim Sisters’ mix Fleetwood Mac-style soft rock, ’60s girl-group sways, early 90s pop/rock and pristine pop. Their second album isn’t a radical departure but nor should it be. Haim are so good at recalling vintage pop music while creating music of the now in a glossy but human fashion. As singles ‘Little Of Your Love’, “Want You Back’ and ‘Right Now’ have already revealed, Something to Tell You revels in heartbreak. But those aren’t the only highlights – ‘Ready For You’ plucks up an ’90s rhythm in the style of George Michael, the title song’s bass and drum combo keep things rolling in the Peach Pit, ‘You Never Knew’ might well be a Fleetwood Mac song (produced by Dev Hynes) and ‘Walking away’ has ’90s R&B tones. Haim should be too sickly sweet but their pop conjuring act is too good to dismiss.
Broken Social Scene still make albums. Nevermind making albums but a group of 17 members actually talking and organising regularly enough to do more than jam is the most impressive feat. Their fifth album may have taken seven years to arrive but the best thing about it is while it holds on to the Broken Social Scene pattern of bombastic indie-rock (which will likely be anywhere Kevin Drew and 16 other people may be) but Hug Of Thunder has a slightly different slant. Production by Joe Chiccarelli makes it sound enough apart from their previous discography to feel new. Leslie Feist (Feist) and Emily Haines (Metric) are back. It all adds to up a sense of invigoration and the bluster and bombast feels justified when it’s not papering over the songwriting cracks as it has in the past.
Chaz Bundick’s fifth album retains that soft retro electronic pop glow that has characterised most of his releases. Boo Boo feels like the one most indebted to the ’80s in tone and sonics. It’s languid and warm and perfect, as the video album stream suggests, for a summery drive.
A surprise drop of four post The Mountain Shall Fall tracks featuring Nas, Danny Brown and Steven Price along with a drum’n’bass turntablist style instrumental.
The Florida band Hundred Waters debuted the first song from their third record which they are currently finishing up as a trio. ‘Particle’ is typical of the band to meld electronic textures with more earthly tones. They say it’s “a deeply personal song that reflects a period of profound change within the band wherein the relationships of the members have shifted into unfamiliar territory, reflected in the song’s rapidly morphing textures.” The song is a free download.
2.
Mac Demarco – ‘For The First Time’
Slacker indie lo-fi poster child Mac DeMarco released his fine third album This Old Dog on Friday. ‘For The First Time’, an immediate highlight, is languid retro summer pop at its best.
3.
Grizzy Bear – ‘Three Rings’
It’s been so long since Grizzly Bear I almost feel like a different person. Still, Grizzly Bear’s return after five years is like welcoming a familiar old friend. Despite the time lapse, ‘Three Rings’ is cut from the same cloth as the band’s previous material. Meticulous full-band layered arrangements that ominously circle the tune with Ed Droste singing about wanting “to show you my bad side.”
4.
Haim – ‘Want You Back’
‘Want You Back’, the Haim sisters’ return is just one of those good songs that everyone can get behind. There’s nothing radical in departure here – just a very tightly calibrated pop song with a singalong chorus that whets the appetite for Something To Tell You on July 7th.
5.
EMBRZ – ‘Heartlines’
The Irish producer Jack Casey has announced a new EP Progress out on Ultra Music in July 7th. That’s the US label which has worked with DeadMau5, Axwell, Alle Farben, Steve Aoki and it’s easy to imagine this new trackwith vocals from Meadowlark going down well in the US.
6.
Bibio – ‘Beyond My Eyes’
Bibio’s new Beyond Serious EP purports to show ” his teenage influences and harks back to his inspirations from mid to late 90s French house.” ‘Beyond My Eyes’ is my highlight.
7.
Mr Jukes – ‘Angels’ / ‘ Your Love’ feat. BJ The Chicago Kid
Jack Steadman, singer with the currently-on-hiatus Bombay Bicycle CLub tries his hand at soul jazzy hip-hop production and nails it on this diptych.
There are plenty of albums to look forward to in 2017 and here are just a few of them which don’t have release dates yet. I’ve also included a few which we likely won’t see this year – just so you’re prepared. See also – My top New Artists of 2017.
It’s been three years since the Leeds band released their second album This Is All Yours, so time is ripe for another in 2017. Last August, drummer Thom Sonny Green told NME, the band had loads of ideas, which wasn’t exactly – “songs are written, we’re recording them and they’re sounding awesome,” but after a period where Green released a solo record, bassist Gus Unger-Hamilton opened a café in east London and singer Joe Newman featured on a Clams Casino track with Lil B, there are rumblings.
The band have posted pics from the studio including ones at Abbey Road where they were recording strings only last week.The band have announced festival dates this summer so a good guess would be around the time of June, when they start.
Caribou / Daphni
Possible Date: Late 2017 but more than likely 2018
Three years on from a career apex record Our Love and a song which dominated the summer and the rest of the year. Dan Snaith is DJing as Daphni a lot this year including Coachella so a new album from Caribou doesn’t feel likely at this moment (maybe a Daphni 12″ / single release though?)
Daniel Avery
Possible Date: Autumn 2017
After last year’s DJ Kicks, 2017 looks to be the year that Daniel Avery follows up his superb 2013 album Drone Logic, according to this tweet.
Three months in London. The studio door is locked from the outside
Loreley Rodriguez’ debut Empress Of album Of Me was followed up with a killer once-off single and one of the best songs of 2016 collaboration with Blood Orange – ‘Best Of You’, as well as one with Pional, so I really want a followup in 2017. This is more hopeful than concrete, though signs are good.
I swear making another album is an emotional roller coaster:not so much making the music but playing it for other people
Tahliah Barnett’s debut LP1 came out in 2014 and she’s been plenty busy with dancing, documentaries, stage shows, a once of single, and a 2015 EP. Last week, though a Nike ad directed and made by her featured a new track produced Oneohtrix Point Never suggested something isn’t far away, tweet replies to fans suggest it won’t be til 2018. 🙁
Flying Lotus
Possible Date: Late 2017 but looking like 2018
A new album was promised in 2016 from the Brainfeeder boss but Stephen Ellison was working on his feature-length film debut Kuso (starring Hannibal Buress and Tim Heidecker), which will premiere at Sundance this year. He also scored a short too. It looks like we’re getting V, a Captain Murphy record some time this year, as ‘Crowned’ featured in the recent Adult Swim Singles club. As for Fly Lo, a Kuso some songs on the soundtrack may be all we get.
Future Islands
Possible Date: Summer / Autumn 2017
Three years on from their breakthrough album Singles, things are heating up with some dates at festivals like Bonaroo, Panorama and Coachella. Last year, Sam T. Herring collaborated with Badbadnotgood. Their last music was single ‘The Chase’ in 2015. An album is definitely on the way very very soon.
Grimes
Possible Date: Summer / Autumn 2017
Grimes’ followup to Art Angels was halfway there last April ( “more chill vibes, downtempos, synth-y shit. That makes it sound boring. It’s not boring.”) and in a November interview, she said it would be “slow and reflective”.
“I’m really vibing on making something really slow and gorgeous that just breathes, and has room to breathe,” she explained. “I feel like my work has always been fast paced, kinetic, and almost just manic and I feel like for me the hardest thing I can do is make something that’s slow and heavy.”
Grizzly Bear
Possible Date: Spring 2017
Come on already. The Grizzlies’ last album was 2012’s Shields and a few years before, Jay Z and Beyoncé were showing up to their shows and a lot has changed in music since American indie folk was the dominant genre of choice, However in October, a tweet saying “Album 90 percent done. Last update until you hear it,” was posted. Any day now?
DFA Records’ disco dons Holy Ghost! will surely followup last year’s Crime Cutz EP with a third album, a followup to Dynamics. Alex Frankel released a solo EP last year too. I’ve a soft spot for these two.
Hundred Waters
Possible Date: Spring / Summer 2017
Gainesville Florida band Hundred Waters have made two stunningalbums of folk and electronica thus far in their career and it looks like 2017 will see their third released. On Christmas day they posted (with a Neil Young cover) that they were finishing the album. Last year, they made a big remix with their label boss Skrillex and Chance The Rapper among others.
Jon Hopkins
Possible Date: Summer 2017
The followup to 2013’s Immunity is due this year according to Jon’s reply to a fan on Twitter. Yes. In the meantime, Hopkins plays piano on a track on the new Bonobo record.
Kelela
Possible Date: Spring 2017
A followup to 2013’s Cut For Me mixtape after 2015’s Hallucination EP is on the cards (check out this Song Exploder about ‘Rewind’). In an interview with Dazed, Arca, Jam City, and Bok Bok are to be reprising their role as co-producers and Kelsey Lu, one of my picks for new artists of 2017 guests.
LCD Soundsystem
Possible Date: Summer or Autumn 2017
After last year’s triumphant live return, that promised LCD Soundsystem album is indeed on the way as James Murphy told someone on Facebook this weekin response – “Sure. still working on it, but it’ll be done soon. winter tends to mess with my voice, so finishing the thing drags out.”
Le Galaxie
Possible Date: Autumn 2017
The Dublin electro band’s third album is done and it likely to get a worldwide releasearound September time. Former Fight Like Apes’ singer MAy Kay is set to feature on six tracks too.
Little Dragon
Possible Date: Summer / Autumn 2017
The followup to Nabuma Rubberband from 2014 looks to be coming this year from the Swedish band. They are playing Coachella so that’s a good sign.
Mount Kimbie
Possible Date: Spring / Summer 2017
Mount Kimbie played some new songs at Metropolis Festival in November so it’s a safe bet a new one is coming to followup the brilliant 2013 album Cold Spring Fault Less Youth.
St. Vincent
Possible Date: Summer / Autumn 2017
Annie Clark promises “the deepest, boldest work I’ve ever done” on her new record which is inspired by the topsy-turvy world events of the last year. “I feel the playing field is really open for creative people to do whatever you want, and that risk will be rewarded – especially now that we have such high stakes from a political and geopolitical standpoint,” he told Guitar World (while managing to get a dig in on the cover). The last St. Vincent album came out in 2014.
Everyone loves a bit of Haim. Seeing the LA sister band live or hearing new songs has been a long time coming but now it’s official, we’ll have to wait longer in Europe.
The band posted a note to say that because they are not done with album two, European festival dates have been pulled including Way Out West, Oya, Zurich Openair, Frequency, Reading/Leeds and yes, Electric Picnic.
Here is footage of a new song you won’t now be hearing in the flesh:
Electric Picnic’s 2016 lineup has just been revealed for Stradbally from Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th September this year.
Lineup for Electric Picnic 2016
LCD Soundsystem
Lana Del Rey
The Chemical Brothers
New Order
HAIM
Super Furry Animals
Years & Years
Todd Terje
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Animal Collective
Gavin James
Wolf Alice
The Avett Brothers
Wild Beasts
Glass Animals
Jack Garratt
Savages
Pantha Du Prince presents The Triad
Phosphorescent
Broken Social Scene
Ezra Furman
Mount Kimbie DJ Set
Daniel Avery
Blossoms
Aurora
NAO
Girls Names
Meilyr Jones
Area wise, expect the return of all the main stages, Salty Dog, Body & Soul, Trailer Park, Trenchtown, Theatre Of Food, Casa Bacardi, Just Eat Retreat, Electric Ireland and Global Green.
Family Weekend camping tickets are sold out. Sunday day tickets are sold out. Campervan/Caravan + Car passes are sold out. Family Campervan/Caravan + Car passes are sold out.
Phone and Internet bookings are subject to 12.5% service charge per ticket (Max €6.10).
Alternatively, You you can register to cycle or run to Electric Picnic. See RaboDirect Tour De Picnic 2016 . It’s a €50 deposit to secure your place for a ticket to Ireland’s biggest and best festival this way and then you fundraise a minimum of €380 for charities: ISPCC, Headway and The Jack & Jill Foundation.
They’re back in a week to play a sold-out Olympia Theatre and indeed, there’s a sold-out UK tour around it but they have another single from Days Are Gone and the video gives them an excuse to bust some moves.
Debut albums from ultra-hyped bands aren’t supposed to be this good. Debuts usually have one or two big hits and a mish-mash of songs where the band tries to replicate the magic formula of the lead singles. Yet, on Days Are Gone, the debut from Californian sisters Haim, is a all-killer, no-filler fully-realised bunch of songs.
The clue is probably in the name. The Haim sisters – Este, Danielle and Alana Haim have been playing music together since they literally in their nappies. As the appallingly named Rockinhaim, they played covers in a band where their parents played drums and guitar (recently reunited on stage – video proof). Blood runs deep. (more…)
An easy catch-up guide to new gigs announced in the past week:
Justin Vernon can’t stay away! His other band Volcano Choir is on a European tour soon and hits Dublin’s Vicar Street on Saturday November 9th. Tickets €20 & €24.50 on sale this Friday at 9am.
