black midi - "Dethroned"

                                                        Photo: YIS KID

London-based black midi has released this year's most challenging record, Calvacade, which is thrilling and breathtaking in its tense fusion of prog rock, post-punk, and jazz fusion. I'm picking the track "Dethroned" because it is the most "conventional" song on the record and a good toe-dip into what makes this band so brilliant. Also, it is a taut, kick-ass track.

Leon Vynehall - "An Exhale"

 

From his adventurous new album Rare, Forever, UK producer/composer Leon Vynehall stretches the limits of electronic music. "An Exhale" is jittery and meandering at first, then finds its footing and practically erupts with beauty. 

LoneLady - "Fear Colours"

LoneLady, the solo project of Julia Campbell, has announced the upcoming release of her third album Former Things. "Fear Colours" is a funky track with a slinky bassline, angular guitars, and swooning synth strings that hits the sweet spot between post-punk and disco. Think Wire, fronted by Donna Summer.

 

Erika de Casier - "Someone To Chill With"

Portuguese-born Danish singer Erika de Casier used to be half of the duo Saint Cava whose output leaned heavily on dark-hued electronica. On her debut album Essentials, and now her sophomore record, the brilliant Sensational, she is forging her own path with future R&B stylings, and hints of drum and bass.  "Someone To Chill With" is a languid track that hints at the harp-led Monica and Brandy song "The Boy Is Mine" and finds de Casier wanting things on her terms, without strings.

Olivia Rodrigo - "brutal"

I freely admit that I am late to the Olivia Rodrigo bandwagon, but her debut album Sour is a solid pop record. Sort of an outlier on the record is the first track "brutal" which is a 2:23 minute pop-grunge masterpiece with her detailing the life of a 17-year old. Kickass track from this upcoming talent.

Duran Duran - "INVISIBLE"

Duran Duran is set to release their 15th studio album FUTURE PAST in October. Our first taste of the record is the angular and funky track "INVISIBLE" that features Blur's Graham Coxon on guitar. The band really sounds energized on this song. The video for the song was created by an A.I. called Huxley and is both transfixing and eerie at the same time.

 

Black Country, New Road - "Sunglasses"

 2021 seems to be the year of post-punk resurgence; so many great new bands looking back for inspiration. UK act Black Country, New Road have a phenomenal debut record called For the first time. At 6 songs and over 40 minutes long, it leaves a lot of room for experimentation. "Sunglasses" is 9 minutes of jittery, slow-burning fury.

Oneohtrix Point Never ft. Rosalía - "Nothing Special"

Oneohtrix Point Never, aka Daniel Lopatin, teams up with global superstar Rosalía for a mesmerizing reimagining of the closing track on Lopitan's Magic Oneohtrix Never. He replaces his heavily treated vocals for Rosalía's warm voice, singing in her native tongue. It's haunting and touching.

 

CHINAH - "Ideal"

Danish trio CHINAH has just dropped their great new album Feels Like Forever. "Ideal" merges languid vocals with intricate percussion, snake-like synths weaving through the track, and a stomach rumbling bassline. It's intoxicating. 

Skrillex ft. Starrah & Four Tet - "Butterflies"

Skrillex (Credit: Coughs) / Four Tet (Credit: Press) / Starrah (Credit: Above Ground Media)

Skrillex, Starrah, and Four Tet team up for the extremely infectious floor banger called "Butterflies." Their styles flow seamlessly together.

Sharon Van Etten - "Love More (By Fiona Apple)"

From Sharon Van Etten's 10th-anniversary cover versions of her classic album, Epic, Fiona Apple covers "Love More." It is suitably stunning, with Fiona's voice being both gritty and lovely at the same time. 

 

The Marías - "Hush"

While I have always enjoyed music from The Marías, their music seemed a little too ephemeral for me. New single "Hush," from their upcoming record Cinema, immediately dispels those notions with a menacing bassline and insistent drums. It really makes me want to hear what's next.

LUMP - "Animal"

Photo: Steph Wilson

LUMP, the Laura Marling and Tuung's Mike Lindsay project, are set to follow up their debut album with their sophomore release Animal. The title track is a bloopy, synthpop number with an insistent beat paired with Laura Marling doing her best Nico vocal impersonation. It's bizarrely catchy.

HNTR ft. Elliot Moss - "Shadows In The Dark"

Canadian DJ/producer HNTR teams up with singer/producer Elliot Moss on this dark dance floor banger.

 

Iceage - "Gold City"

Danish band Iceage returns with their fifth album called Seek Shelter. Produced by Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3), the album really highlights the bands' amazing transformation from post-punk rabble-rousers to Nick Cave-style maturity, and an almost Bruce Springsteen-like arena-ready grandiosity. "Gold City" is the perfect representation of those comparisons.

Liars - "Sekwar"

Angus Andrew returns with his first new Liars music since 2018. "Sekwar" is our first taste of the upcoming album The Apple Drop. "Sekwar" is off-kilter and almost suffocatingly intimate. Beats are abstract, being pushed along by droning synth bass, echoing pianos and synths, and atmospheric guitar riffs.  Andrew pushes his vocals into new territory, becoming more emotional and present. It's a fantastic single.

HEALTH + Nine Inch Nails - "ISN'T EVERYONE"

LA noise rockers HEALTH team up with Nine Inch Nails on "ISN'T EVERYONE, " which is both menacing and haunting at the same time. It's basically everything you would want and more from this collaboration.

Saint Jude - "Bodies of Water"

From Saint Jude's brilliant new EP, the title track "Bodies of Water" draws from electronic producers like Four Tet with the experimental curiosity of bands like Radiohead. He creates songs that at once feel familiar, but yet completely unique.

Dawn Richard - "Bussifame"

Dawn Richard's sixth album, Second Line: An Electro Revival, is fantastic from beginning to end. She effortlessly moves through many styles, all of which are seamlessly woven together. "Bussifame" is a jeep-rattling track that will get your booty shaking.

 

girl in red - "You Stupid Bitch"

Marie Ulven aka girl in red has just released her debut record if i could make it go quiet. It's a perfect, hook-ridden pop record that rewards each listen. The fuzzy power-pop track "You Stupid Bitch" is all about being in love with someone who always dates the wrong person.