A fantastic new week of new directions, new records and crushes. Come and float.
Perceive its beauty, Acknowledge its Grace… and how! Jazz renaissance man Shabaka returns with a new LP this week on the iconic Impulse! label and it really is a thing of utter beauty. A deeply moving and evocative suite, primarily focused on the flute with flowing and calming soundscapes. Features guest appearances from Andre 3000, Lianne La Havas, Moses Sumney and Floating Points to build the swirls. This is such an immersive experience, it’s just one to float in. Glorious and as impressive as it is ambitious, Record of the Week.
+ Exclusive Transparent Red colour vinyl.
Our Brand Could Be Yr Life is the crunching return of New York City punk band BODEGA and it is euphoric stuff. The gesture towards a more powerful and pop sound is subtle, so it both still sounds like them but also has a new jacked and driving core. Shoegazing elements and brittle alt-rock earworms, it has such an up vibe and it's not without humour too. Great band, great record.
+ Available on limited Silver colour vinyl.
Unwishing Well is something like the eighth studio LP in six years from San Franciscan songwriter Glenn Donaldson as The Reds, Pinks And Purples and the high water mark remains… high! It is another funny, sweet, sad and deliciously melancholic set, with ruminations on modern life and gestures towards the big and biggest themes in life too. A bit like a novella, there is a lot going on and it warrants plenty of repeats. Premium jangle goodness.
+ Pressed on White colour vinyl
+ The Reds, Pinks And Purples play live in Totnes this June. [Tickets]
ABOMINATION is the unapologetically hedonistic debut on Heavenly Recordings from Lynks. Although there have been EPs, it’s rare to find an artist sounding so fully formed on their debut, but Lynks is high gloss and ABOMINATION is all visceral pop bangers.
The week’s other huge debut is This Could be Texas from Leeds indie band English Teacher. The production is sharp, but there is some real nice haze across the record and Lily Fontaine’s vocals really make them stand out.
+ Available on exclusive Green colour vinyl.
Field Theory is the second studio album from Dublin four-piece MELTS. We went wild for their debut and have been enjoying spinning this new set muchly too. Still structured around the motoriks, they have evolved with more synth ice, rasp and blast to the drums and pure cavernous vocals. It’s really good.
+ Available on deluxe 180g Clear Yellow/Green/Blue splatter vinyl.
Canadian punk rock band METZ release Up On Gravity Hill on Sub Pop and it’s another of the week’s subtle evolutions. They are real sonic pummelers but it’s very much about the contrast between loud and quiet with loads of sonic nuance. Hard and brittle and big and swimmy, this one is great.
+ Available as a Loser Edition on Yellow colour vinyl.
Also this week; James return with the Leo Abrahams-produced Yummy. We’re expecting the much-anticipated So Medieval from Blue Bendy. One person party unit Nia Archives releases Silence is Loud. Cowboy Carter is ‘the country album’ from the always enjoyable Beyoncé.
Finally for this week of new gems, we did mention that André 3000’s astounding New Blue Sun landed, right? Cause, boy did it ever land! It has been a bit convoluted with a digital release, then delays, and it’s not cheap, but the serenity here is worth it all. Although it is remarkably chill, it’s not like each tiny gesture isn’t thoughtfully progressing everything forwards. This is high spiritual jazz.
- Drift
