Another huge week this week - my list below could easily be twice as long but this will do for starters. Whatâs on your radar?
Loraine James - Gentle Confrontation
Probably my favourite new artist of the last few years with her third album on Hyperdub.
Laurel Halo - Atlas
Long-in-the-making album from an always intriguing, always brilliant artist. From Boomkat: A real AOTY contender; featuring contributions from Bendik Giske, James Underwood, Lucy Railton and Coby Sey, highly recommended if youâre into anything from Pharoah Sanders to Gavin Bryars, GAS to Kleinâs brain curdling âHarmattanâ album.
CHAI - CHAI
Japanese playful punky pop band with their fourth album on Sub Pop.
MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist - Faith is a Rock
Prolific producer with yet another collab album.
Kylie Minogue - Tension
Always had a soft spot for Kylie: the singles from this have been really enjoyable and album reviews are looking very positive.
Slaughter Beach, Dog - Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling
5th album from the frontman of Modern Baseball. Heavily influenced by Neil Young, Randy Newman and Tom Waits apparently, so itâll be steeped in that classic American sound
Al Menne - Freak Accident
Debut album from Seattle based lead singer of Great Grandpa. Out on the ever reliable Double Double Whammy. Produced by Christian Lee Hutson, the album also features turns by Meg Baird from Hand Habits and Melina Duterte from Jay Som. A soothing retreat from lifeâs chaotic thunderbolts
LSDXOXO - Delusions of Grandeur (D.O.G.) EP
Aggressively horny club music with pop edges
FFO Shygirl, Arca, Zomby
Slayyyter - STARFUCKER
Slayyyterâs second studio album, Starfucker, sees her delving deeper into her pop stardom with an extravagant Los Angeles starlet persona. The 12-track album is centred around themes of fame, sex, femme fatales and celebrity obsession in Hollywood. Equally as vicious as it is vulnerable, the electrifying production of the concept album is set to elevate her status as a rising pop trailblazer.
FFO Charli XCX, SOPHIE, Britney
softscars represents a new direction for yeule as they explore softer textures and disembodied arrangements that feature their ethereal vocals front and center. The project closely examines the anatomy of their long held emotional wounds for their most vulnerable work yet.
Been looking forward to this one - their previous album was one of my favs from last year.
Showcasing production that shifts on a dime between mutated dance music, unadorned folk balladry, trip-hop, and torch song pop songcraftâŠPowders presents her signature transfixing multi-octave melodic runs resolutely up front in the mix
Never quite fully land for me but their last one came closest so far. Metallic Noise Rock FFO Metz, Gilla Band, maybe Idles too
The Wytches
A bit all over the place this. The single Maria is very Birthday Party, but Iâm also hearing Liars circa the self Titled, a bit of Radiohead. I guess itâs indie with a slightly heavier tint for the most part
Think most of the ones that I knew about have been posted. Apart from the new one from Tom Boogizm under Rat Heart. The last track was released back in April and is my favourite track so far this year, thought it was just a one off at that point.