Here’s a rundown of new releases on DSPs and physical releases in record shops this week.
New Albums
Sampha – Lahai
The English singer-songwriter and pianist’s second solo album comes six years on from debut Process.
The album is named LAHAI after his grandfather and his middle name. The album features Yaeji, Léa Sen, Sheila Maurice Grey (Kokoroko), Ibeyi, Morgan Simpson (Black Midi), Yussef Dayes, Laura Groves and Kwake Bass. ‘Only’
Barry Can’t Swim – When Will We Land?
Scottish producer releases debut album Ninja Tune’s Technicolour label, featuring the kaleiodscope dance and light-jazz electronic music like one of my SOTY ‘Sunsleeper’ and ‘Deadbeat Gospel’
Tandem Felix – There’s A New Sheriff In Town
The Dublin-based project of David A. Tapley releases a second album, co-produced with Stephen Dunne. It follows the 2019 debut Rom-Com, and the title track is an new take on the Tandem Felix sound, with a textured nuanced production backing Tapley’s vocals, which have a more heavy feel than the previous release, a world-weary rock song. A track-by-track feature follows later today.
Bombay Bicycle Club – My Big Day
Bombay Bicycle Club have recently got back together to play and release music once again, and this new album features Damon Albarn, Jay Som, Chaka Khan, Nilüfer Yanya and Holly Humberstone. Bombay Bicycle Club are set to play Dublin and Belfast shows in January. ‘Turn the World On’
Kayleigh Noble – Just a Girl
The Dublin pop artist with the R&B sway releases her debut album detailing the stages of being in and recovering from a dysfunctional relationship.
The album features production from Dublin-born London-based producer whenthebeatisbad, and collaborations with Dublin’s Prodbymolly, and Rory Sweeney. ‘Say Your Grace’.
Robert John Ardiff – Once I Was
Ex-Come On Live Long Dublin songwriter’s third solo album “is a series of experimental indie folk recordings which rely in parts on samples and field recordings to compliment the songs themes.”
‘September Road’ is the first single from that third record, a pensive acoustic song with surreal imagery concerning a robin and evocative harmonica and brass instrumentation.
Sun June – Bad Dream Jaguar
‘Easy Violence’ was one of those Release Radar finds from today, after I added the Austin Texas band’s music to my follow list. The album it features on, was released today.
Forest Swords – Bolted
Producer/composer Matthew Barnes latest album of textured electronic instrumentals. “Fizzing deconstructed synths, heavily distorted mallets and marimbas bounce off clattering beats and foggy vocals, all balanced out with lightly dancing woodwind instruments; a layer of dust covering the surface of every track.” ‘Night Sculpture’
Priya Ragu – Santhosam
The “Raguwavy” Sri Lankan Swiss artist releases her debut album named after the Tamil word for happiness. ‘Colours Show’
Lee Gamble – Models
English producer Gamble makes use of AI as a feedback loop and creativity tool to create the all-digital voices on this record, with direct inspiration attributed to Cocteau Twins’ Liz Fraser, Tricky and Lil Uzi Vert.
The first single ‘She’s Not’ features ghostly echoes of sound traversing a haze of AI-assisted vocals and distant guitar sounds. It reminds me of KLF’s Chillout Album crossed with Overmono’s spectral productions on their recent album.
STRABE – How Our Love Grows
Strabe are the Irish/UK duo Angelica Black and Irish producer Emmet Carey. Strabe started when Angelica (originally from Scotland) was at the Cork Jazz Festival and met Emmet,in a smoking area and struck up a musical friendship that began months later in Dublin student bedrooms. How Our Love Grows is their debut. ‘Together Whenever’
Saint Abdullah & Eomac – Chasing Stateless
A long distance, ongoing collaboration between New York-based Iranian-Canadian brothers Mohammad and Mehdi Mehrabani (Saint Abdullah) and Irish producer Ian McDonnell a.k.a. Eomac, based in Wicklow. They tested the waters with their first album on Nicolas Jaar’s Other People label last year, but ‘Chasing Stateless’ is their fullest expression so far. Bandcamp.
blink-182 – ONE MORE TIME…
Ninth studio album from the reunited pop-punk trio.
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds
The band’s first album in 18 years, features Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Late drummer Charlie Watts.
Sleaford Mods – More UK Grim
New album from the prolific Canadian artist (it’s pronounced Kroog) made in tandem with Eli Browning and Jordan Koop. Bandcamp.
Poolside – Blame It All On Love
Producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Paradise is out here making mellow disco on Ninja Tune imprint Counter Records,. ‘Moonlight’
Evian Christ – Revanchist
“The eight-track record explores the latent potential in Trance to evoke, beyond Euphoria, the fullest feeling of the Sublime”.
An Irish show is happening in December.
Albums also released today:
- Bear’s Den – White Magnolias
- Shay Lia – FACETS
- City Girls – R.A.W.
- Devo – 50 Years of De-Evolution: 1973-2023
- Glen Hansard – All That Was East Is West Of Me Now
- Hauschka – Philanthropy
- Pip Blom – Bobbie
- Maria BC – Spike Field
- Will Joseph Cook – NOVELLA
- Conway The Machine & Conductor Williams – Conductor Machine
- Katie von Schleicher – Schleicher
EP & 12″ Releases
I Dreamed I Dream – Why Say a Lot?
Debut EP from Cork band with noise-rock, shoegaze and sean-nós influences.
Jazzy – Constellations
Dublin pop singer and producer is mining ’90 dance music to great effect.
Woozy – Wzy3.5
A 10-track compilation from artist championed by the label’s founder EMA for their exhilarating cross sections of dub-futurist club sounds.
- The Valmonts – Living In A Paranoid Trance EP
- Olof Dreijer – Rosa Rugosa
- Dawn Richard – The Architect EP
- Jeshi – The Great Stink
- Sleaford Mods – More UK Grim
