Familiar faces and new arrivals, plenty of autotune and politics: it’s a big ole mix in the Weekly Round-Up this week. See for yourself.
Ariel Pink – Stray Here With You
Oh baby, funky and groovy as always, Ariel gets your hips shaking like only a true 70s/80s duffus could do. A nice lo-fi mix keeps you on the edge of actual time travel, and Pink’s audible knack for rhythm has reached an almost godly level now.
The Big Moon – It’s Easy Then
The Big Moon have written a big pop tune that will make you swoon and go wooooo. A focus on the piano-backed vocals, gradually pulling in the beats and strings to balance the punchy with the heart-rending: I love. I love them. I love that they are back.
Elbow – Dexter & Sinister
Elbow showing some teeth with this comeback. Gritty and poetic, sounds a bit like a decade-on response to ‘Grounds for Divorce’, until they step up the game. Frankly, Guy Garvey could howl like a castrated wolf and I’d still say it was excellent.
Elvis Depressedly – Jane, Don’t You know Me?
Well, it’s like someone got owl city and gave it a beard. I’ve grown up but I’m still a sucker for autotune and shit like this. Elvis ain’t dead, he’s just writing sad music.
IDLES – I Dream Guillotine
A ferocious kick-you-in-the-face left-field take on the modern-day; IDLES hit the politically relevant yet again. The riot continues. Bring on album three.
Modern Nature – Séance
Unorthodox, jumpy but still groovy as fuck. Although I don’t feel like I’ve summoned any ghosts listening to it, it has got a psychedelic but unnerving quality to it. The jagged mix has a lovely middle section if I say so myself though.
Ra Ra Riot – Belladonna
Over the last 8 years, Ra Ra Riot have slowly been replacing the most interesting parts of their dynamic in favour of something more… let’s say trendy. But guess what? They’re great at that too! Just like with most of their stuff, “Belladonna” is Catchy-with-a-capital-C and makes you want to cut a rug, or whatever the kids are saying these days.
Noel Gallagher – This Is The Place
Noel becomes even more expansive, incorporating Afrobeat, dancey drums and even more backing vocals, building on the success he had in changing style with his last album, Who Built The Moon?
VanIves – Shoeless
Snooze your alarm, pull the duvet up, indulge in a little self-pity: this one’s for all the electric-piano sad bois out there.
Honey Gentry – Dreamlover
It’s Leo season, it’s Lana season, so here’s a song inspired by both. It’s dreamy and very lush. Honey Gentry proves she can write proper good sad pop songs. Lovely
