On this week’s podcast, Ellen Fitzpatrick and Nialler discuss Kanye’s Poopity Scoop trolling against the backdrop of Donald Glover striving for high black art on ‘This Is America’.
We discuss new albums from Leon Bridges and Janelle Monae, along with new tracks of the week from Roisin Murphy and Talos among others.
Our interviewees this week are Super Extra Bonus Party’s Steve Fahey and Steve Conlan who play the Bello Bar Saturday night for their first Dublin headline gig in seven years.
The Fort Worth Texas soul singer Leon Bridges’ long awaited second album Good Thing has finally hit the airwaves, to massive critical and commercial acclaim. On Good Thing, Bridges takes his wholesome retro soul sound and gives it a 21st century update. Tracks like ‘Bad Bad News’and ‘Forgive You’ seem as indebted to contemporary R&B artists as the golden soul singers of yesteryear. The whole album is packed full of rich instrumentation, the perfect foundation for Bridges smooth vocal delivery. ‘Beyond’ is one of the best love songs penned this year. The only issue is whether the album’s two pop-funk tracks ‘If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)’ and ‘You Don’t Know’ An album that empathises with loss as much as it does with love, there’s something in Good Thing that will move all who listen to it.
2.
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
Jon Hopkins’Singularity is a polarising record. While the English producer and composer’s breakthrough fourth release Immunity was largely viewed as a new lease on life for experimental dance music, many expected it’s follow up to fall somewhere closer to the dance side of affairs. Instead, Hopkins has delved deeper into experimental synth sounds and grainy textures with Singularity. The dance floor fillers of Immunity have been largely banished, replaced by a sort of dogged introspection. Hopkins has cited the influence of meditation and his interest in transcendentalism as a driving force behind the creation of this record. This album sounds best played as a whole through good headphones. For more context on the record, his interview with RA where he talks specifics about the processes and detail of the album give it more of an understanding.
3.
Rival Consoles – Persona
Ryan Lee West, known to most as Rival Consoles, has released his fourth full length album Persona on Erased Tapes. Rival Consoles is an electronic dance music project with a difference. While most dance compositions feel inherently non-organic, the music on Persona is strangely emotive and human. West’s dedication to sound design results in otherwise industrial sounds, take the roaring synth bass on ‘Phantom Grip’ for example, sounding alive and nuanced. This is not to say that Persona isn’t ultimately a dance record, songs like’Sun’s Abandon’ and the title track itself come packed with overwhelming bass and drum lines. Yet, Persona is a record intended for more than just the dance floor. It’s in equal parts intimate and grandiose.
4.
Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer
Dirty Computer is the third studio album from musican and more recently actress Janelle Monáe. The follow up to 2013’s Electric Lady, this instalment from Monáe returning to more conceptual material. Themes of technology and the virtual space pop up again and again throughout the album. It’s one of those albums that has huge scope, ambition and brings a pop sound to Monae’s catalogue that was never really there before. The issue is that embracing pop artifice means a sacrifice of substance for the greater cause but with lyrical depth and a vision far beyond what most artists can access, Dirty Computer is one for repeated listens (and views thanks to her accompanying Emotion picture).
5.
DJ Koze – Knock Knock
German born DJ and producer DJ Koze has built a reputation for being one of the most forward-thinking and expressive dance music composers on the scene. His third studio album Knock Knock is a perfect illustration of why this is the case. This art music meets minimal techno album is a strange delight. Whether it’s the aquatic synth textures of album opener ‘Club der Ewigkeiten’ or the wonderful feature from Jose Gonzalez on ‘Music On My Teeth’, Knock Knock is an album that’s full of charming idiosyncrasies. So very worth your time.
6.
Iceage – Beyondless
Danish post-punk band Iceage formed in 2008 when the group were mostly teenagers. Their new album Beyondless is the sort of record you can only get from a fully matured band. The album bounces around its sonic influences; there’s the densely packed guitars typical of post-punk, see opening track ‘Hurrah’. However, the use of brass instrumentation and even the feature from Sky Ferreira on ‘Pain Killer’ depict a band interested in far more than one sound. The band do get the basics right too. It’s hard not to impressed with the booming guitars on a track like ‘The Day The Music Dies’, like something from an Iggy Pop & The Stooges album. Beyondless is a great example of the vitality and originality that rock music is still capable of.
Leon Bridges will touch down in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin later this year on November 7th.
The Texan soul man is set to release his second album Good Thing in May, and if all we get from it long-term is the track ‘Bad Bad News’ then I’ll be happy.
The show is part of his European tour and tickets for Dublin are €31 plus fees. Tickets for all shows go on general sale from Friday 13th April through Leon’s website Leonbridges.com and Ticketmaster.ie – Support on all EU/UK dates in October and November comes from Amber Mark (see below).
The most essential tracks of the last week handpicked by the Nialler9 team. Subscribe to the weekly Spotify playlist (1.2k subscribers) or the daily playlist (4.9k subscribers).
1.
Jon Hopkins – Emerald Rush
British producer Jon Hopkins seems intent on developing his own signature variant of electronic music with this new single ‘Emerald Rush’. The track retains much of the sonic entropy on his 2013 album Immunity but finds the artist adding elements of contemporary art music. The track is the first single from his forthcoming album Singularity, due for release on May 4th.
2.
serpentwithfeet – bless ur heart
American experimental R&B and Gospel singer serpentwithfeet has released ‘bless ur heart’ as the lead single from his upcoming LP Soil. Having recently featured on Bjork’s ‘Blissing me’,’bless ur heart’ is sweet yet sombre thank you note to a lover. The artist seems to have been working on perfecting the nu-R&B school of sound, Soil is due for release on June 8th. The album will be released under the joint supervision of Secretly Canadian and Tri Angle Records.
3.
Alyss – MisKayani
Alyss has built her reputation on maintaining a forward thinking approach to writing and releasing dance music. Recent releases have included the hypnotic ‘TSIER’ and the pop infused ‘Pyramid’. This new release ‘MisKayani’, inspired by Peruvian mythology, instantly impresses with catchy hooks and pulsing rhythms.
4.
Beach House – Dive
American dream pop duo Beach House have returned from their brief hiatus with new single ‘Dive’. The song is the first to be released from the band’s upcoming album 7, due for release on May 11th. While it does feature many of the sonic elements the band have spent the best part of 15 years developing, the group sound rejuvenated on this track. The addition of fuller drum sounds and whirling guitars give the song a much needed kick.
5.
Young Fathers – Toy
Edinburgh-based hip hop outfit Young Fathers have seen a return to form with their new album Cocoa Sugar and this fine track.The album recently featured on our 6 new albums to hear list. ‘Toy’ feels like a spiritual homage to the punk energy of the group’s debut long-form release Dead.
6.
George Fitzgerald – Roll Back (feat. Lil Silva)
English producer George Fitzgerald has released ‘Roll Back’ as the lead single from his new album All that must be. The single, featuring English producer and DJ Lil Silva, is a slow burning thoughtful electronic track. Fitzgerald has stated that the new album intends to give more focus to the piano, a statement backed up by the patiently and attentively crafted ‘Roll Back’.
7.
Bicep – Opal (Four Tet remix)
Fresh from their self titled album release in 2017, Bicep have quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting dance music producers in the scene. With a reputation for innovation is English musician Four Tet, who here superbly remixes ‘Opal’. A match made in musical heaven.
8.
Tom Misch – It Flows Through Me (Feat De La Soul)
This charming song from London singer songwriter Tom Misch combines the best elements of the pop, jazz and hip hop traditions. The end result is the fantastic ‘It Flows Through Me’, which features a verse from De La Soul. A love letter to music itself, this track is full of movement and joy.
9.
Leon Bridges – Bad Bad News
American artist Leon Bridges may have his roots in gospel and soul, but new track ‘Bad Bad News’ sees him pushing for a more attitude-driven R&B style. The song features on his forthcoming album Good Thing, due for release on May 4th, and is driven by an infectious groove and Bridge’s excellent vocal delivery.
With a festival like Longitude, you probably already know who you’re going to see from the bigger names (if not: Friday: Todd Terje, SBTRKT, Metronomy, Little Dragon / Saturday: Caribou (+Daphni), Glass Animals, Jungle, Alt-J, Hud Mo, Le Galaxie / Sunday: Chemical Brothers, James Blake, Wild Beasts, Danny Brown, Young Wonder) but it’s further down the bill where things get a bit less clear cut. So here’s your guide to your five a day, five new artists to see to help you keep your finger on the pulse. Plus, there’s also a Spotify playlist for the entire festival lineup to listen to.
I’ll be down at the TXFM stage (Sitemap) on Sunday along with the rest of the crew who are DJing there all weekend long.
Old-fashioned soul is Bridges’ thing. The 27 year-old Texan makes no concessions to modernity, even dressing as well as sounding like vintage Sam Cooke. His album Coming Home is what it is – uplifting soul music for sunny days so fingers crossed for Friday afternoon.
2. Ibeyi
Friday, Heineken Stage, 5:30pm
French Cuban twins with beguiling intertwined voices and instruments. One on a piano, another on percussion (which sometimes extends to her body as an instrument), their worldly songs take in their father’s Yoruba Nigerian tongue, gospel, Buena Vista Social Club styles (who their father played with), jazz and soul. Their XL Recordings debut is a fine album but live, as they did at Other Voices, is where they shine.
3. Haelos
Friday, Whelan’s Stage, 3:30pm
With only an EP and a single on Matador Records to their name, the English three-piece Haelos have already established their sound. A rush of synths, hanging percussion and a chorus of voices. ‘Earth Not Above’ is my absolute jam, as featured in my songs of the year list.
4. Hubie Davison
Friday, 5pm, RBMA stage
He might be CdB’s son but let’s not hold that against him. Mr Davison is a modern child versed in electronic music; based in London and releasing music on the Leisure System label that moves between textural electronic ambience and laid back grooves on ‘Get On’ and more dancefloor-edged fare like ‘Khayyam Grey’. Lots of mixes on Soundcloud to peruse.
5. Young Fathers
Friday, Heineken Stage, 6:45pm
When I watched the Glastonbury highlights and saw Young Fathers live footage, it didn’t come across well. That’s the problem with watching live music on the TV, it doesn’t always translate. I know for a fact, that Young Father’s live set is one of the best around at the moment, a gut-punching, tribal, howling, theatrical, visceral blood-let of a show. Their new album is boss.
Here are a list of my most listened and loved records of 2015 so far with Spotify playlists for overall and Irish albums of 2015. Plenty more playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud and on the site. Don’t forget: you can also catch me on 105.2 TXFM every Thursday night from 10pm to midnight.
Soundhog – A Day In Tracy’s Life [The Beatles vs Mogwai vs Kid Loco]
Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Love Is Free (feat. Maluca)
The Chemical Brothers – Under Neon Lights
Dopplereffekt – Pornoviewer
Leon Bridges – Smooth Sailin’
Thundercat – Them Changes
Nozinja – Mitshetsho We Zindaba
Ciaran Lavery – Little More Time
Mac Demarco – Another One
Tobias Jesso Jr – Without You (Alternate Version)
You can listen live on Thursdays to the show on 105.2FM, online, the iOs app, Android app or if you missed it, along with all the other shows, via the listen back section
Leon Bridges appeared at the tail end of last year with the soulful crooning track ‘Coming Home’ before doing pretty well at SXSW in March and has played Jools Holland most recently. The 25 year-old with the classic tones is coming to Dublin for a show in Whelan’s on September 21st and tickets are €21+ fee on sale on Friday.
I have the first pair of tickets to giveaway to the show – just enter via the Gleam widget below and the winner will be contacted by Thursday afternoon.
