Summer Bank Holiday weekend in the UK and hopefully the end of the summer lull in album releases. Some big hitters are out today. What are you listening to?
Holy Tongue meets Shackleton - The Tumbling Psychic Joy of Now
Valentina Magaletti, Al Wootton, Susumu Mukai and Sam Shackleton. Mistakenly (?) released at the end of July and withdrawn within hours but now finally out. Rhythmic magic!
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
Really looking forward to this one as I love everything about this Florida duo. Mercurial World was a fantastic debut and their mini mix series is always interesting. Synth-pop, neo-psychedelia.
Sabrina Carpenter - Short n’ Sweet
Espresso pop. Needs little introduction. Strangely, Sabrina Carpenter and Magdalena Bay sound fairly similar but are worlds apart (in popularity rather than quality).
Edit: can’t hear as much similarity any more and it’s a surface level LA pop vibe at best. So much depth to Imaginal Disk and I’m only on the 3rd listen.
Looking forwards to this one, fontaines DC’s fourth one
New album of black metal from Canada’s Spectral Wound
illuminati hotties - POWER
Indie pop-rock stuff. A fair bit quieter and understated than previous albums
Spirit of the Beehive - You’ll Have to Lose Something
Noisy genre-bending Philly band, Entertainment Death was amazing a few years ago so excited for this one.
Keep thinking this band are Voice of the Beehive from the early 90s.
Sofi Tukker - BREAD
Big fun house house songs
GIFT - Illuminator
Shiny hazy NYC dream pop, sometimes veering into shoe gaze and sometimes leaning more shimmering synths
Melt Banana - 3+5
Latest from Japanese noise rock duo
Didjits - Strictly Dynamite
Streaming release of best of compilation/unreleased early stuff from obnoxious 80s Chicago buzzsaw punk band on Touch & Go records
Didjits had some of the best stage presence ever
NEØV - Soft Atlas
Fifth album from one of my Finnish faves - atmospheric indie rock ffo Mew
Zeal & Ardor - Grief
Gospel / Black Metal act with a new album 
Heems (from Das Racist) made an unexpectedly great comeback earlier this year with LAFANDAR, making for one of the surprise standout rap albums of the year so far.
Today he releases a new one paying tribute to his mother and Indian heritage. Introspective and quirky jazz rap.
Chime School - The boy who ran the Paisley hotel
Guitar pop for people who liked that Wishy LP from last week and other jangly early 90s adjacent stuff
Been really enjoying this today, Oakland band with a record seemingly named after a Blondie lyric. Weirdo post punk / no wave, shades of Devo or ESG but bits of the Pixies and VU in there too.
Fake Fruit - Mucho Mistrust
This rules
Mura Masa – Curve 1
Fourth album for electronic producer. Fewer guests on this one but notably yeule on one track.
Nice release day for me I think.
Kishi Bashi - Kantos
Not listened to this yet, as I assumed/hoped I would like it and have checked out other albums in the meantime. Violin-looping orchestral indie-pop, a more upbeat version of Owen Pallett maybe.
Läuten der Seele - Die Reise zur Monsalwäsche
Norman records: " Christian Schoppik returns with another set of audio collages, completing the trilogy that began with Die Reise zur Monsalwäsche in 2022. Distinct from the two previous parts, this album is influenced by classical music, transmitting Schoppik’s sample-based ambient loops in a slightly more conventional and structured, but nevertheless unique way."
Disappointed that the artist isn’t called Lauten after all. But he’s back with another two track, twenty minute songs album of experimental sounds. I’ve really enjoyed his previous releases.
CAGEDANCR. - again.
11 tracks, 18 minutes. Lo-fi, slowcore, samples. Just stealing some nice words from some random bandcamp reviewer for a previous release:
Ellis Ludwig-Leone, Karen Russell, Naomi Woo - The Night Falls
Looks like this is a cast recording for a contemporary dance opera. Sounds intriguing, based on the first few songs I’d probably go see the show if it came over to the UK
Andrew Combs - Dream Pictures
Laid back americana with Spencer Cullum adding some pedal steel to some tracks. Sounds quite sweet and delicate, reminds me of Teitur and the slower Villagers songs.
Nicole Mitchell & Ballaké Sissoko - Bamako*Chicago Sound System
Always happy to see a new release from kora-playing Ballaké Sissoko, teaming up with some flute maestro (and presumably singer too).
Joe Goddard – Harmonics Remixed
Remixes of Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard’s recent release
Ah I had no idea it was out this soon!!
The two singles (and previousll records of course) are excellent.