Here’s a rundown of new releases on DSPs and physical releases in record shops this week.
New Albums
James Blake – Playing Robots Into Heaven
Sixth album from UK artist and polymath moves back to the experimental club sound of his earlier work. ‘Tell Me’
Róisín Murphy – Hit Parade
Sixth album from the Irish disco artist made entirely with DJ Koze. Murphy has been in the news more for personal comments lately than her music. ‘Hurtz So Bad’
The Chemical Brothers – For That Beautiful Feeling
Tenth album from the UK electronic duo features just two guests: Beck & Halo Maud. ‘Live Again’
Soda Blonde – Dream Big
Second album from the Dublin alt-pop band is out today after recent singles ‘Bad Machine’ and ‘Midnight Show’.
Tirzah – trip9love...???
Third album from the UK musician known for wonky music, produced by long-time collaborator Mica Levi. It was released during the week. Bandcamp.
A Litany of Failures: Volume IV
22-track Irish vinyl compilation series, intended to document the independent music community in Ireland, features M(h)aol, Elaine Howley, Trá Pháidín, Elaine Malone’s Mantua, Junior Brother, Shrug Life’s Danny Carroll, Laurie Shaw, Icebear, This Ship Argo, Jinx Lennon & Baby Nits, Search Results, Bog Band, Myles Manley, Naoise Roo, Junk Drawer and So Cow. More info.
Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS
American pop artist with the pop-punk streak releases her second album. ‘Bad Idea Right?’
Elaine Malone – Pyrrhic
Debut album from the Cork musician on Pizza Pizza Records draws on shoegaze, haunting melodies, lo-fi and psychedelic folk. Bandcamp.
Courtney Barnett – End of the Day
Comprising 17 improvisations which were originally created as part of score to the documentary ‘Anonymous Club’, ‘End Of The Day’ is a meditative, slow-burning and beautiful record, prioritising atmosphere, tone and texture over traditional song structures and melodic hooks. Bandcamp.
GAIKA – Drift
Experimental producer working in club, hip-hop and electronic strands with post-punk and drums. Out on Big Dada. Bandcamp.
Alabaster DePlume – Come with Fierce Grace
The Guardian says saxophonist Angus Fairbairn’s music is “an odd mix of creaky chamber music, clunky post-punk, lo-fi Afrobeat, avant-garde folk music and English whimsy.” Bandcamp
Romy – Mid Air
The xx singer’s debut album of ’90s-inspired dance pop. ‘The Sea’
Super Furry Animals – Phantom Power 2023 version
A 47-track reissue of the Welsh alternative pop band’s 2003 album. Yes 20 years ago.
Teezo Touchdown – how do you sleep at night?
Debut album from the alt hip-hop artist features Janelle Monae. ‘You Thought’
Coach Party – KILLJOY
Isle Of Wight indie rock band’s debut album. ‘Be That Girl’
The Coral – Sea Of Mirrors / Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show
Two albums from the long-standing UK indie rock band.
Allison Russell – The Returner
Second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, activist and multi-instrumentalist.
Laufey – Bewitched
Icelandic-Chinese artist’s second album of jazz and pop music. ‘From The Start’
Tinashe – BB/Ang3L
American R&B artist’s new one, her first on the record label Nice Life. ‘Needs’
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (Live)
‘Rumours Live’ captures the energy and excitement of the band’s opening night at The Forum on August 29, 1977, the first of three nights playing to a total of 50,000 fans, just six months after the seminal album came out.
Devo – Art Devo
3 x LP and a 7” box set of predominantly unreleased material from the American new wave band.
Sparklehorse – Bird Machine
Posthumous album after the passing of Mark Linkous who died in 2010, pieced together by Linkous’s brother Matt and sister-in-law Melissa with the help of Linkous’s close friends and collaborators.
John Fahey – Proofs & Refutations
Noted American guitarist. “Recorded circa 1995/96, mostly in John Fahey’s room at a Salem, Oregon boardinghouse, the performances on Proofs & Refutations prefigure the ornery turn of the page that marked Fahey’s final years, drawing another enigmatic rabbit from his seemingly bottomless musical hat”.
TRÚ – Eternity Near
Irish trad folk band trio from Ulster. ‘Is Fada Liom Uaim Í’
The Homesick – The Homesick
Dutch band who play psych and indie rock’s new album. Bandcamp.
Josh Caffe – Poppa Zesque
Debut album from the artist who usesChicago house to sensual R&B as influences, co-produced with Quinn Whalley of Paranoid London and featuring Al White of Fat White Family on Phantasy. Bandcamp.
38 Spesh & Conway the Machine – Speshal Machinery
Collaborative album from the two rappers.
Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music
Inventive jazz South London-raised producer, composer and drummer. Bandcamp.
EP & 12″ Releases
Glen Of The Downs – Octagon EP
Rían Trench’s new release on Remote Town Records “attempts to capture a non-linguistic sense of nature and intertwine it with an unpredictable dance floor sensibility.” Autechre and breaks style. Bandcamp.
Kate Dineen – Unfolding
Six-track EP from the Kerry singer-songwriter. Spotify
Zvuku – The Slow Loss EP
Five-track EP electronic EP on Front End Synthetics. Bandcamp.
Weval – Dreaming
Dutch duo’s new EP. Bandcamp.
Hammer – Pearl EP
Brand new release on Permanent Vacation for the Northern Irish producer. Bandcamp.
Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair – Set The Roof EP
Joint EP on Warp that also comes as a USB. Bandcamp
A Boogie Wit da Hoodie – B4 BOA EP
American rapper who was in Ireland in March for a show at 3Olympia Theatre.
