Cold Cave - "Prayer From Nowhere"

Wes Eisold channels the best of his Cure and Sisters of Mercy influences into this deeply intoxicating track from their upcoming release Fate In Seven Lessons. It's full of pounding drum machines, slinky basslines, moody synths, dreamy guitar lines, and Eisold's trademark deep voice.

 

Ethel Cain - "Michelle Pfeiffer"

From her startlingly assured EP Inbred, Ethel Cain shares this epic track that is all about how in California she feels free and unencumbered.  Her voice is amazing and will send shivers down your spine.

Saint Sinner - "Rainbow Road"

Producer singer Saint Sinner releases her new single "Rainbow Road" which has an interesting push and pull between the dark, heavy beats, her processed vocals, and the delicately beautiful guitars and piano.

Darkside - "The Limit"

Darkside, the duo of Nicolás Jaar and Dave Harrington, has announced the release of their sophomore album called Spiral. "The Limit" is the second single and is a dubbed out, funky track that never goes in the direction you think it will.

Tirzah - "Send Me"

London singer Tirzah returns with her first new music since 2018. The haunting "Send Me" blends a trip-hop beat with meandering trills of guitars, her hushed voice floating above it all, until the end when it all comes together in a perfect burst of noise.

 

The Chemical Brothers - "The Darkness That You Fear"

Although the song title makes it sound like it will be depressing, this new single from The Chemical Brothers is very hopeful and cathartic with the lyrics "Let your heart see all the colors around you/and the darkness that you fear will disappear." Play it loud.

 

Hockeysmith - "Down Love"

 

Cornwall producer/singer Hockeysmith, a.k.a. Annie Hockeysmith, releases her new single "Down Love" which was recorded in Paris with Ed Banger producer Borussia. The song starts out almost like a lullaby until the beats hit and the song takes on a very visceral, mechanical tone.

Wolf Alice - "Smile"

Photo by Jordan Hemingway 

Wolf Alice is set to return with their new album Blue Weekend. The second single is the Smashing Pumpkins' Gish-era channeling "Smile." Pounding drums, deep bassline, and roaring guitars set the scene for singer Ellie Rowsell's voice that goes from a whisper to a scream.

CHVRCHES - "He Said She Said"

CHVRCHES returns with their first new music since 2018. "He Said She Said" is a pounding synthpop track that tackles the stupidity of mansplaining. It's a killer return.

 

The Armed - "ALL FUTURES"

Detroit hardcore collective The Armed have come out with their latest, brilliant record called ULTRAPOP. The album, while being hardcore, also incorporates an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink ethos, merging hardcore, rock, synthpop, electronics, and even their approximation of pop. "ALL FUTURES" is an intense track, but beneath all the goings-on is a killer pop hook. Highly recommended.

K/DA ft. Madison Beers & Kim Petras - "VILLAIN"

Virtual K-pop group K/DA is joined by Madison Beers and Kim Petras on this Rihanna-like track that is just a lot of fun.

SOHN - "Song to the Siren (Tim Buckley Cover)"

 The venerable 4AD label recently released a 40th-anniversary collection of cover songs from their inimitable back catalog, performed by current 4AD signees. British electronic producer/singer SOHN tackles folk singer Tim Buckley's majesterial classic "Song to the Siren" which, probably even more famously, was covered by This Mortal Coil, sung by Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser. With these versions casting a large show over him, SOHN is more than up for the task. His forlorn vocals bring gravitas and emotion over a stirringly atmospheric instrumental backing.

Doja Cat Ft. SZA - "Kiss Me More"

Doja Cat teams up with SZA for this fun, flirty, and breezy track. They play off each other very well. This should be a huge summer hit.

 

LoneLady - "(There Is) No Logic"

LoneLady (a.k.a. Julie Campbell) releases a funky, electro track called "(There Is) No Logic" which combines brittle drum machines, chopped up vocals, and a funky bass line. It is quite infectious.

 

Spirit of the Beehive - "I SUCK THE DEVIL'S COCK"

Philadelphia experimental-psych rock trio Spirit of the Beehive's outstanding new album ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH is almost impossible to describe to someone. It is simultaneously insane, riveting, questioning, inscrutable, serious, gorgeous, wild, and super goofy. "I SUCK THE DEVIL'S COCK" is probably the best introduction to the band because it contains all those adjectives in its 7-minute runtime.

 

Chromatics - "Saturday (Dean Hurley Remix)"

Dean Hurley takes the skeletal 50's vibes of the original track "Saturday" and gives it a very dreamy, Twin Peaks-esque, Julee Cruise treatment. It's lush and beautiful.

 

TRACES - "Night Terrors"

So far, in my opinion, TRACES has released the best pop album of the year, 6HRS. He effortlessly moves between pop, R&B, electronica, and hip-hop, and sometimes merges them all together at once. "Night Terrors" is a bass-heavy jeep rattler that never overtakes his impassioned vocals,

Anabel Englund & Lee Foss - "Warm Disco"

 

Singer-Producer Anabel Englund teams up with producer Lee Foss on this thumping club track that is a wish to return to the dance floor. It's on Englund's solid debut album called Messing With Magic.

HÆLOS - "Somnum"

While UK band HÆLOS continues to work on their upcoming third album, they are releasing an ambient EP on Friday. They are previewing it with the release of the title track, a moving seven-minute piano-based song with singer Lotti Benardout's hushed vocals singing, like a mantra, "Never follow those who let you go/Dream the dream for those who never know."

Dry Cleaning - "Her Hippo"

 From their debut record New Long Leg, "Her Hippo" is a good intro to the band's aesthetic. Over wandering post-punk guitar riffs and a shambling beat, Florence Shaw’s laconic voice relates surreal stories that sound like an English Kim Gordon. According to Shaw, the song is about wanting to move on and start a new life, but realizing it is not always possible.

Sorry - "Cigarette Packet"

 

This is the first new music we have heard from the British band Sorry since their debut album 925 last year. It's a more experimental cut, trading their sly guitars for clattering electronic percussion and pulsating bass.