7 new albums you should hear: Arctic Monkeys, Beach House, Paul Alwright, Slow Skies, Cloud, Simian Mobile Disco, Half Waif

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Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

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Baltimore dream pop duo Beach House have established themselves as one of the few bands consistently producing great music. Their new record 7 is both a continuation and a departure from their previous material. The band’s most identifiable traits are all still present. The rich textures and haunting vocal melodies are all there in abundance. However, the music on 7 has an edge their previous material does not. A track like ‘Dark Spring’ finds the group at their most animated while ‘Lemon Glow’ seems to take much influence from trip-hop. The album is a great example of how a band can have an distinguishable sound while avoiding becoming stale.

Former Lethal Dialect hip-hop artist Paul Alwright has been making waves recently with Hungry, the first solo release by the artist under his own name. It seems like a new beginning for Alwright. The material on Hungry is vibrant, seeming to come from a writer who has something vital to say. Tackling a wide range of subjects from mental health, self doubt and critical thought , the album has an overwhelmingly honest charm. Songs like ‘The Auld Chinaman’ and ‘One Life’ prove that Alwright is one of the best lyricists in the country.

Dublin-based singer-songwriter Karen Sheridan has been releasing music under the title of Slow Skies since her debut EP Close in 2013. Realign is the title of the project’s first full studio release. The album is a wonderful nostalgic folk endeavour. Sheridan’s vocal delivery being the absolute stand out feature, both intimate and moving. Whether it’s the lilting hook behind lead single ‘Fire’ or the lush harmonies on the album’s title track, Sheridan’s ability as a singer and melody writer is stunning.

An Irish man splitting his time between Dublin and London, Cloud has impressed with his debut release Dungaree Daydreams. The album plays like a hybrid between the downer pop vibe of artists like King Krule and the hip-hop essence of groups like Homebeat. Released independently, Dungaree Daydreams’ lo-fi production only adds to the album’s charisma. With a clever ear for a hook and some fantastic beats, Cloud’s music is youthful and exuberant. A welcome addition to the already rich roster of Irish musical talent.

Those who would have been worried that Simian Mobile Disco were thinking of calling it a day after the release of an anthology album last year will be relieved to hear of their brand new album Murmurations. In fact, the album sounds like the sort of material from a band who still have plenty to say. This album is the first from the group in years to predominately feature the human voice, with numerous features from all-female vocal group Deep Throat Choir. Murmurations finds the happy balance between the experimental aspects of albums like Whorl and the commercial quality of the group’s earlier material. Album highlights include ‘Caught In A Wave’ and the wonderful ‘Defender’.

A self described mood ring pop artist, Half Waif’s new album Lavender is exactly the sort of inventive music you’d expect from such a genre. Fluid synth lines dance above and below the artist’s vocal delivery. The moody vocal lines sound exposed next to the pointed minimalism of the album’s production. On the one hand, it’s a sound that has been explored before. However, there is something unique about the Brooklyn-based artist’s music. There’s a feeling of beat poetry about the lyrics on the album. At times, it sounds like Half Waif is having a frantic conversation with the audience. It makes for some compelling listening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iou7N2oJq3A