London darlings The House of Love is back after a nine-year absence with a very curious and amazing record called A State Of Grace. The record represents a decidedly new direction for the band as much of it sounds like they spent a lot of time listening to mid-period Led Zeppelin. This is highly apparent on this track...
The glory and the power that is Santigold returns to the music scene which a deeply personal album called Spirituals. The Philly native really stretches herself out on her fourth record with some 80s pop and danceteria style music.
She truly is the High Priestess!
It's quite nice to have Julian Lennon back on the scene again. His latest record is called Jude and it showcases the variety of styles of all of his previous records. He has such a deeply personal voice that is decidedly unlike the musical pantheon that has surrounded him from day one.
Case in point...
Turin Brakes, aka the pride of Balham, are back with a ridiculously amazing record called Wide-Eye Nowhere. Their tenth album (!) is filled with glorious SoCal pop hooks and breezy melodies guaranteed to put smile on your face and a spring in your step.
This track made me want to grab the missus and dance!
Greentea Peng is back with another stellar foray into R&B psychedelia. Greenzone 108 is soulful, spaced-out goodness that belongs directly in a space-age bachelor pad on the moon. The East Londoner calls this record a "mix tape."
I call it a perfect trip.
SoCal's sweet pioneers of soul Thee Sacred Souls have just dropped their long-awaited debut and self-titled LP. It's twelve amazing tracks that continue the now massive soul revival music going on around the world. This record has everything from classic grooves to that signature Motown echo in the vocals
Find a romantic partner and dance the night away, close together and slowly...
Icelandic wonder Laufey has just dropped her first album and it is loungey jazz wonder of epic proportions. Everything I Know About Love makes me feel like I'm in a Kennedy Era Cool club in NYC drinking a Vesper and letting the beautiful sounds of Laufey's voice cascade over me like soothing icicles.
The soul lifting sounds of the Bailiff Bridge lads known as Embrace have been my soundtrack for the last couple of weeks with their new record, How To Be A Person Like Other People. Their usual stadium sing a long style is present along with some fantastic pop numbers. And, is as always the case with them, they deeply explore the human condition in a magnificent way!
Here is one of my faves...
London synth pop dance kings Hot Chip are back with Freakout/Release, another amazing foray into late night club sweat and grooves. There are also some solid pop tracks on this record that remind me of late 70s AM radio.
Example.
It's that time of the year again...my favorite season...FALL! And that means the Autumn Music Series is back. Time to find that special someone and curl up by the fire or take a walk in about to be very crunchy leaves and listen to some fantastic autumnal music.
First up is a classic track from 1991 from Manchester's own James. "Born of Frustration" has the essential echo-y guitar and haunting lyrics that must be present in a fall tune. It's quite powerful!
Key from K-Pop sensation Shinee, has just released his sophomore effort and it's one of my favorites in the genre. Gasoline-The 2Nd Album is filled with bangers and crowd pleasers. It's just solid pop music. Key does an amazing job of mixing up rhythms and styles. The cinematic hooks are completely wonderful.
Here is my favorite track on the record...
The pride of Tokyo, Kikagaku Moyo, has released yet another amazing exploration of psychedelic pop. Kumoyo Island is their finest record yet. Kick back and let your mind palace open with these eleven transplendent tracks.
Here is the opening track...
Raw and powerful. Those are two words I would use to characterize Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia wonders The Chats. Their sophomore effort, Get Fucked, turns it up to eleven. It's as if a band formed from the world of a Mad Max film. Thank god!
Here is the album opener...
Sometimes I'm just a sucker for good pop. Zara Larsson's latest album, Poster Girl, fits the bill perfectly. The Stockholm native is a spiritual sister to Saint Etienne with her own flavors added in for extra zest! You just can't stop Poster Girl in the middle. You have to go all the way through The whole record is start-to-finish amazing!
Here is one of my faves...
I guess we'll make this weekend an electronic music thing with a peek at Sylvan Esso's latest record called No Rules Sandy. It's a lot of really cool short tracks that are not only catchy but also could be a soundtrack to a cyberpunk movie set in a place with a village green. Dare I say that some of it sounds almost autumnal.
Check it out...
Some classify Glasgow's Hudson Mohawke as "electronic music" but he's quite a lot more than that. He continually pushes the boundaries of the genre into pop, soul, and even an 80s vibe. His latest is called Cry Sugar and it is magnificent.
Here is one of my faves.
It's always a fine week when the pride of South London releases a new record. Jamie T is back with The Theory of Whatever, another amazing exploration in the world of pop music. He's pushing the boundaries of the genre once again with rap-infused bangers and a decidedly chill-out vibe.
Here is the opening track...
Sometimes I'm in the mood for weird electronic music that reminds me of a 70's lounge combined with a cyberpunk fever dream. Thankfully, Domi and Jd Beck can deliver this exact style to me with their amazing music. Their latest is called Not Tight and it has many tracks.
Here is one of the best...
Leicester's own Kasabian are back with an absolute corker of a record that pulses like a sun going supernova. The Alchemist's Euphoria moves and grooves in all the best ways. It's hard to believe that this Brit Rock outfit has made seven records already!
Here is one of my faves from the album...