Global pandemonium continues and so does new music as Getintothis’ Simon Kirk shares the best self-isolation companions this week.
Well, what a week. Twists and turns. It’s like living within a ticking time bomb.
It’s hard to write this one this week. Everything seems so trivial. Yet, Boris Johnson continues to swim against the tide of measures most other countries are taking in the ire of this pandemic.
The stiff upper-lip bluster is merely grand standing to his voter base, despite the fact – in his own words – that many of our loved ones will succumb to the Coronavirus. You couldn’t fucking make it up.
We try our best not to cross pollinate global issues with columns such as this, but at the end of the day, it’s all relative.
If you’re in the bellows of self isolation. Working from home, or well, doing anything else really, then have a listen to one of these new releases. Don’t be lonely, music can see us through.
In the words William Shakespeare. “If music be the food of love, play on.”
This week’s top picks.
Albums Club #44: Bambara, Destroyer, Blossoms, These New Puritans, Arbouretum and more
Baxter Dury (Credit: Artists Facebook page)
1. Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers
Heavenly
The mutant messiah that is Baxter Dury continues his seamless run of form with his sixth studio album.
Titled The Night Chancers, it follows 2017’s Prince of Tears. To get you in the mood, read our Baxter Dury feature here.
Arbouretum (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
2. Arbouretum: Let It All In
Thrill Jockey
Dave Heumann‘s Arbouretum return with their tenth album, Let It All In.
If there’s a perfect blend of British folk, Americana and blues then Arbouretum probably get the closest. Read our review of Let In All In here.
The Weeknd at the Echo Arena
3. The Weeknd: After Hours
XO/Republic Records
The Weeknd returns with his first full-length album since 2016’s Starboy with After Hours.
The first two singles, Heartless and Blinding Lights have received high praise so big things are expected here.
Ian William Craig (photo credit: via artist’s Bandcamp page)
4. Ian William Craig: Red Sun Through Smoke
Fat Cat Records
Vancouver-based composer, Ian William Craig, returns with yet another a brilliant album, Red Sun Through Smoke.
Fans of A Winged Victory For The Sullen, The Caretaker, Stars Of The Lid, Grouper, et al. You’ve just stumbled across a golden nugget here.
Helen Money (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
5. Helen Money: Atomic
Thrill Jockey
Inspired by the death of her parents, composer and cellist Alison Chesley‘s Helen Money project returns with her with her finest record yet in Atomic.
Dripping with grief and haunting soundscapes, this one isn’t for the faint hearted. Most beauty isn’t though, right?
Moaning (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
6. Moaning: Uneasy Laughter
Sub Pop
Los Angles-based Sub Pop rockers, Moaning, return with their follow-up to their self-titled debut released in 2018 with Uneasy Laughter.
If you like your tunes with a dose of DIY and exploding with anxiety, then look no further.
Phantom Posse
7. Phantom Posse: Forever Underground
Orchid Tapes
Eric Littmann‘s Phantom Posse project returns with his latest release, Forever Underground.
Littmann has shared many releases under other monikers (Steve Sobs and Phantom Power) as well as being an acclaimed producer for artists such as Julie Byrne, Emily Yacina, GABI and many others.
The Slow Readers Club
This week’s other notable releases:
- The Slow Readers Club: The Joy of the Return (Modern Sky)
- Roger Eno and Brian Eno: Mixing Colours (Deutsche Grammophon)
- Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
- Sure: 20 Years (Weyrd Son Records)
- The Animen: Same Sun / Different Light (Two Gentlemen)
- Arandel: InBach (InFine)
- Sea Wolf: Through a Dark Wood (Dangerbird Records)
- Onipa: We No Be Machine (Strut Records)
- Art of Shock: Dark Angeles (Century Media Records)
- Myrkur: Folkesange (Relapse Records)
- Becca Stevens: Wonderbloom (GroundUp Music)
- David Clayton-Thomas: Say Somethin’ (Linus Entertainment)
- dumama + kechou: juju (Mushroom Hour Half Hour)
- Escuela Grind: Indoctrination (Armageddon Label)
- Ricardo Richaid: Travesseiro Feliz (Far Out Recordings)
- Eye Flys: Tub of Lard (Thrill Jockey)
- Pedro: Da Linha (Enchufada)
- Fool’s Ghost: Dark Woven Light (Prosthetic Records)
- Harold Mabern: Mabern Plays Mabern (Smoke Sessionns Records)
- Haru Nemuri: Lovetheism (TO3S Records)
- Hyborian: Volume II (Season of Mist)
- Låpsley: Through the Water (XL Recordings)
- Zebra Katz: Less is Moor (ZFK Records)
- Lili Refrain: Ulu (Subsound Records)
- Lyra Pramuk: Fountain (Bedroom Community)
- Mapache: From Liberty Street (Mapache)
- Medico Peste – ב: The Black Bile (Season of Mist)
- QRTR: Drenched (Dome of Doom Records)
- Ratgrave: Rock (Black Focus)
- Skalpel: Highlight (NoPaper Records)
- TOKiMONSTA: Oasis Nocturno (TOKiMONSTA Music)
- Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela: Rejoice (World Cicruit)
- Yael Naim: Nightsongs (Tôt ou tard)
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