Today Radio takes a look at this week’s prominent music releases

So lend an ear and tuck into our pick of some of this week’s most prominent music releases. You never know, your new favourite record may be in there!

SINGLES

Underworld, denver luna

Karl Hyde and Rick Smith return once more as electro old skoolers’ Underworld, and new track “denver luna” sees them riffing off some of the best bits of their own back catalogue. Setting off with a juggernaught beat and hypnotic Karl Hyde phrasing, “denver luna” plays like the best bits of Underworld classics “Pearls Girl” and “Dark and Long”. There’s none of the hedonistic laddishness of “Born Slippy”, the in-yer-face energy of “Push Upstairs” or the hands-in-the-air call-to-arms of “Two Months Off”, instead this one builds patiently as Hyde unfolds his almost Burroughs-esque vocal mantras and alliteration against an ever building wall of rhythm. No word yet on the anticipated new album but “denver luna” is out now via UMG.

IDLES Feat. LCD Soundsystem, Dancer

We knew they’d be back with a bang but did anyone expect James Murphy and Nancy Whang of the LCD Soundsystem to be in cahoots with Bristol’s loveliest brawlers, IDLES? With new album ‘TANGK’ due in February, Joe and the boys provide a small taste of what’s to come on their 5th studio album in the shape of new single “Dancer”. Underpinned by Adam Devonshire’s low slung bass and a metronomic drum line from Jon Beavis, Joe Talbot delivers his trademark proclamations with a new found composure before dutifully demanding you hit the dance floor with much gusto.  So, pop on your dancing shoes and pick up “Dancer” now from Partisan Records. You can also check out IDLES live when they bring their incendiary live presence to Rockhal in March 2024.

Beabadoobee & Laufey, A Night To Remember

Utilising an updated take on a classic bossa nova/jazz samba rhythm, Today Radio favourite Beabadoobee teams up with Icelandic-Chinese songstress Laufey to concoct sultry and laid back new single “A Night To Remember”. This may be the first time they’ve collaborated but, given how well their styles meld together on this single, it’s unlikely to be the last occasion we have to enjoy a collaboration between these two fantastic voices. You can chill to “A Night To Remember” now via Dirty Hit Records. And you can check out Stephen ‘Steps’ Lowe’s interview with Beabadoobee here.

Feeder, ELF

Welsh rockers Feeder return with “ELF”, the 2nd track released from their upcoming double-album ‘Black/Red’. With eyes and ears very much on the future, Grant Nicholas reaches almost Interpol-like levels of vocal pleading as he lays out where we are and where we need to be. With an opening of Queen-worthy proportions, juicy guitar riffs, military drums and synth-driven punctuation, Feeder have dug deep to serve up what will surely be another epic crowdpleaser. “ELF” is out now on Big Teeth Music. You can also check out Stephen ‘Steps’ Lowe’s interview with Grant Nicholas here.

ALBUMS

The Rolling Stones, Hackney Diamonds

I reached a point of no expectations with The Rolling Stones some time in the 90’s, as it became obvious that their fame had become a self-fulfilling beast of burden. So, it’s with mixed emotions that I approach how to review this, possibly the final album from one of the greatest musical acts to ever exist in popular culture.

In terms of what you’d hope for it can be argued that satisfaction is guaranteed: we have Jagger’s elastic vocals and superb harmonica play; the cut, slide and bend of almost Exile-era guitar from old master Keith Richards; Jimmy Miller-esque horns and sax production; elite-tier guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Lady Gaga, and the not inconsiderable ghost of Charlie Watts, alongside the returning Bill Wyman.

If this is to be the last time we have new, original content from these old timers then it’s certainly a respectable way to bow out. But is it up there with the best of their best?

No. When it’s good it’s often great and it really is a fun listen but it’s not quite a multi-carat diamond, as tracks such as the somewhat ironically named “Mess it up” demonstrate; playing out more like a Jagger solo number than a classic Stones’ cut. But hey, if these gents taught us anything over their 60-plus year career it’s that you can’t always get what you want and, despite its occasional faults, it is still possibly their best album since 1981’s ‘Tattoo You’. No mean feat.

So, take it or leave it, ‘Hackney Diamonds’ is available now via Polydor.

Egyptian Blue, A Living Commodity

Brighton’s angular post-punk outfit Egyptian Blue finally drop their debut album ‘A Living Commodity’ this week, and anyone who caught them at Rotondes earlier this year will be pleased to hear that all that energy on display that night is very much present on this 11-track delight. A solid mix of Wire, Foals, Gang of Four, and A Certain Ratio, Egyptian Blue successfully avoid the current trend of U.K. indie groups by foregoing any attempts at trying to be the next Yard Act, and in doing so they deliver a very solid debut. It may have taken an unexpected hiatus of 2 years of pandemic enforced delays for them to finally deliver a first long player but we can safely say that the future looks pretty healthy for Egyptian Blue. ‘A Living Commodity’ is released on October 27th on Yala Records.

Sampha, Lahai

It seems incredible that Sampha Lahai Sisay is only now releasing his 2nd full length album despite being the BBC’s ‘Sound of…’ way back in 2014. He’s certainly had quite the journey since then, collaborating with everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Jessie Ware and, more significantly, recently becoming a father. And on ‘Lahai’ there is both a sense of birth and re-birth in the lyrics and vibes at play. Opening track “Stereo Colour Cloud (Shaman’s Dream)” sounds like a 21st century take on Stevie Wonder’s introspective opuses of the 70’s, “Spirit 2.0” and “Suspended” come off as natural progressions of the apex neo-soul cuts from Maxwell’s late 90’s output, while “What If You Hypnotize Me?” and “Dancing Circles” embody all of the ‘very Sampha’ production touches and audible playfulness we’ve come to love from the Mercury Prize winning Londoner. A likely candidate for inclusion on many ‘best of’ lists for 2023, ‘Lahai’ is out now on Young.

If you've found some new tunes recently, have any recommendations for what we should be checking out, or simply have an earworm that you just can't shift, then why not drop us the details via WhatsApp (+352 621 525 000) and, as our esteemed colleague Stephen 'Steps' Lowe always says, if we have it - we'll play it!