Nialler9 Podcast: Charli XCX & Perfume Genius reviewed & our Patreon supporters share their lockdown loves

It’s episode 91 of the Nialler9 podcast. Niall and Andrea are yearning for the outdoors.

On this week’s podcast we review two albums from Perfume Genius and Charli XCX.

We asked our Patreon supporters – What one song or album is easing your lockdown experience? and they told us in voicemails.

Get it on all podcast platforms and right here.

Supporting us on Patreon is the biggest and best feedback we could hope from you.

Discussed:

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Denise Chaila on Other Voices.
Getting outside on a bike. Yup.

Patreon feature

We asked our Patreon supporters to share What one song or album is easing your lockdown experience?

Thank you for contributing Ismay, Simon, Patrick, Cian and Claire.

Their choices: Songs

Rina Sawayama – XS (Ismay)
The Strokes – Not The Same Anymore (The New Abnormal) (Simon)
Nada – Amore Disperato (Patrick)
Lisa Hannigan – Undertow (Cian)
Teddy Pendergrass – Life Is a Song Worth Singing (Claire)

Albums of the week

Perfume Genius – Set My Heart on Fire Immediately

The fifth album from Mike Hadreas is his most ambitious and fully-realised yet. Perfume Genius is an evolving artist who started with disquieting piano confessionals on 2010’s Learning and then brash glittering performance art music on 2014’s Too Bright (‘Queen’) and now something approaching grandiose orchestral music. We discuss how Roy Orbison and dance has influenced his work.

Charli XCX – How I’m Feeling Now

Charli XCX gave herself six weeks to make an album during the lockdown. Made in front of fans on Insta Live and Zoom, it captures our time’s intense mood of anxiety, boredom, and yearning. Can it be compared to the rest of her work?

Any Other Business?

The Harry Potter audiobooks

The first Twilight.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Wind of Change Podcast

The Last Dance – The Michael Jordan Documentary

Niall has been listening to music to music from 2005-2007 courtesy of old MP3 DVD Roms he burned, leading to this travesty.

Closing track: Denise Chaila – Down

Support us on Patreon!

Subscribe to the podcast and please leave a review on iTunes, tell your friends or commit to supporting us directly. Support us on Patreon.

Previous podcasts in this series are listed here.

Hey, before you go...

Nialler9 has been covering new music, new artists and gigs for the last 18 years. If you like the article you just read, and want us to publish more just like it, please consider supporting us on Patreon.

What you get as thanks in return...

A weekly Spotify playlist only for patrons.
Access to our private Nialler9 Discord community
Ad-free and bonus podcast episodes.
Guestlist & discounts to Nialler9 & Lumo Club events.
Themed playlists only for subscribers.
Your support enables us to continue to publish articles like this one, make podcasts and provide recommendations and news to our readers.

Artists

Charli XCX

Perfume Genius

Niall Byrne

Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the cohost of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, event curator and producer of gigs, parties & events.