Hymie's Basement - "Phantom Throb"

 

Hymie's Basement (aka WHY?’s Yoni Wolf and Fog’s Andrew Broder) haven't released new material since the early 2000s. Whatever the reason, it was well worth the wait. The song has intricate drum programming and electronics, with both men singing in their distinct styles. They easily mine the pathos of the surreal lyrics which culminates in an emotional catharsis.

Basement Revolver - "Tired"

Canadian dream-pop/shoegaze band has released their second album, the striking Embody. I'm really in love with the song "Tired" with the push and pull between quiet and loudness.  

Thom Yorke - "5.17"

Thom Yorke recorded the song "5.17" for the Peaky Blinders soundtrack. It's a solemn piano ballad featuring Yorke's beautiful falsetto and ghostly strings.

The Ninth Wave - "Hard Not To Hold You"

Scottish post-punk band The Ninth Wave recently released their solid second album Heavy Like A Headache, and then immediately announced plans for the band to go on indefinite hiatus. At least if this is it for the band, they go out on a high note. I really like the charging rush of their single "Hard Not To Hold You."

Cathedral Bells - "Fall Into Place"

Florida dream-pop band Cathedral Bells amps up the shimmery guitars over a propulsive beat on the infectious "Fall Into Place."

Bauhaus - "Drink The New Wine"

After 14 years, all the original members of Bauhaus (Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins, and David J) have gotten together and recorded the new song "Drink The Red Wine." It is an homage to the game Exquisite Corpse that was invented by André Breton, Marcel Duchamp, Jacques Prévert, and Yves Tangu in which each participant creates a sentence of a work with no knowledge of the previous person's contribution or with only the last sentence to work off. Here, Haskins laid down a recorded beat and each member took a minute to do their own thing, with the final minute being a part where all 4 parts come together. The song is dubby and sinister and is perfectly Bauhausian. 

RIP Swirl - "Love Song"

Berlin musician RIP Swirl dives full-on into 90s trip-hop on the dense and dramatic track "Love Song." The song is anchored by a stunning bassline, revved-up guitars, and subtle electronics. You can find it on his debut record Blurry.

black midi - "Love Story (Taylor Swift Cover)"

Apparently, crazed UK post-punk act black midi has a long-standing affection for Taylor Swift and has honored her with a pretty faithful cover of her classic song "Love Story." 

Little Boots - "Want You Back?"

Little Boots' excellent new record Tomorrow's Yesterdays is a frothy, fun disco/electro-pop fantasia. If you loved the last records from Jessie Ware, Dua Lipa, and Roisin Murphy, you will dig this record. "Want You Back?" is a song about the push and pull between staying in a rut or following your own path.

Rosalía - "CANDY"

Rosalía's stunning third album MOTOMAMI reminds me of Neneh Cherry's classic second record Homebrew which experimented with a variety of music styles but always felt cohesive. "CANDY" finds her voice fluttering over a clicking two-step beat and a melody sample of legendary producer Burial's "Archangel."

HEALTH x EKKSTACY – “Still Breathing”

 

From their upcoming DISCO 4 :: PART II, industrial/noise merchants HEALTH collaborate with post-punk artist EKKSTACY on the minimal and haunting "Still Breathing." Muted vocals hover over echoing guitars, atmospheric synths, and delicate percussion.

Nilüfer Yanya - "trouble"

From her fantastic new record PAINLESS, "trouble" is a seemingly delicate ballad about falling for someone not good for you, however, there are moments of acidic guitar squall that signal that she has not succumbed yet.

Everything Everything - "Teletype"

 UK act Everything Everything is set to return with a new record called Raw Data Feel. "Teletype" is the second single from the album and it is a hyper-kinetic dance track with glitchy electronics, deep bass, and a driving beat. Looking forward to hearing the record.

Florence + The Machine - "My Love"

Florence + The Machine return soon with their new record Dance Fever. And in the spirit of truth in advertising, single "My Love" is a swirling dance floor track with disco beats and insistent strings.

Jenny Hval - "Classic Objects"

The title track from Norwegian artist Jenny Hval's new album is a beautiful, airy, and spacy musing on the artistic process. It sounds like Bjork singing Joni Mitchell. 

Charli XCX - "Baby"

From Charli XCX's upcoming record Crash, "Baby" is a sleek dancefloor banger. 

Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - "Blenda"

Hard-driving electropop from Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul. Their debut album Topical Dancer is fabulous.
 

Deserta - "Far From Over'

Deserta (aka Matthew Doty) just released its sophomore album, the lush and dreamy Every Moment, Everything You Need. "Far From Over" is the 6-minute centerpiece opus that is the perfect merger of bands like Mogwai, Slowdive, Explosions In The Sky, and Cocteau Twins.

Bob Moses - 'Broken Belief"

 

Electronic duo Bob Moses takes a darker turn on the clanking industrial workout "Broken Belief." It is featured on their excellent record The Silence In Between.

Diplo ft. RY X - "Your Eyes"

Chameleonic DJ-Producer Diplo just released a self-titled album that delves deep into house music. It is a fun record with lots of great dance floor bangers. Of course, being me, I am drawn to the darker stuff like the two-step influenced "Your Eyes" which features spectral vocals from RY X.

Robyn ft. Mapei - "Buffalo Stance (Neneh Cherry Cover)"

From a forthcoming collaboration album from Neneh Cherry, Robyn tackles Cherry's classic track "Buffalo Stance" with Swedish rapper-singer Mapei taking on the rap sections. Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange) produces the song, which trades the slamming club-rap for a more contemplative version. 

Tame Impala - "The Boat I Row"

From The Slow Rush Remixes/B-Sides comes this lovely, languid psychedelic ballad. Kevin Parker's vocals float over a cloud of dreamy synths, crisp drums, and a slinky bassline.  

Novva & Lie Ning - "Story Untold"

Novaa teams up with Berlin-based artist Lie Ning on this stunning ballad that veers into drum 'n bass territory at its conclusion. It sounds like a dream collaboration between Billie Elish and ANOHNI with Novaa's AMSR vocals and Lie Ning's fluttering, almost operatic vocals.