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!
The Rolling Stones, Angry
Yes, we’re a little late to the party but, as Mick, Keith and Ronnie admitted, they’ve been a bit distracted of late themselves. So, we’ll happily use that excuse to take a belated dive into “Angry”, the lead single from their upcoming album ‘Hackney Diamonds’. And take it from an old skool Stones fan, this really is the best thing they’ve done in quite some time. Kicking off with a countdown and a killer riff from Keith, Mick dives straight into the chorus before stretching and flexing each verse with a typically mouthy Jagger delivery. Where previous attempts to revive that Stones sound have come across as contrite and a little jaded, “Angry” meshes in perfectly with any of their finest late-70s output, and will no doubt be a feature on any future Greatest Hits compilations. “Angry” is available now from UMG/Polydor Records.
Sampha, Only
With his sophomore album ‘Lahai’ due to drop next month, Sampha has gifted us with another single in the form of “Only”. Given the album’s title (a reference to his grandfather, as well as his own middle name) it’s fair to say that ‘Only’ is a very personal and reflective tune. But whereas this is often a signal to slow things right down, Sampha keeps things at a chilled yet steady pace; maintaining the vocal, lyrical and production qualities which have previously attracted the attention of luminaries such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Frank Ocean. One for late nights and long drives. Get “Only” now from Beggars Group.
Baby Queen, Quarter Life Crisis
South African singer Arabella Latham - aka Baby Queen - has released the final single from her highly anticipated first full-length studio album, due next month. This, the title track, shows that Baby Queen has fully embraced the process of taking her music beyond mix tapes and into the studio arena. Never shy of energy or wit, here Baby Queen delivers 3 minutes of guitar-driven self-reflection and frustration which could sit comfortably in any Top 10 chart rundown of the last 3 years. “Quarter Life Crisis” is available now from UMG/Polydor Records.
The Chemical Brothers, For That Beautiful Feeling
The Big Beat Bros are back with their tenth studio album and I for one am surprised that they’re still standing. Where their peers have either split (Daft Punk) or are not quite the force they once were (The Prodigy), Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons just keep on workin’ it out. Featuring 11 new tracks - and somewhat disappointingly in line with recent releases - there’s little in terms of collaboration going on here, with only two guest vocalists in the form of Beck and French singer/songwriter Maud Nadal - aka Halo Maud. Yet the brothers Chemical work to deliver a solid set of largely instrumental electro-pop, psych house and techno. ‘For That Beautiful Feeling’ is out now on Virgin EMI, check out the 2nd single “Live Again” for a sample of what The Chemical Brothers are concocting these days.
The Coral, Sea of Mirrors
It’s always been hard to pin down The Coral and where they’ll go next. Beginning as a weird, almost 21st century version of The La’s, they’ve gone on to carve a different path than the likes of those other ‘The’ fronted bands (The Libertines, The Zutons, The Thrills etc.) who appeared in the same wave. This time, with ‘Sea of Mirrors’, they’ve produced a collection of 13 charmingly retro/modern psych-folk-rock concoctions; infusing 60s and 70s cinema, Love, Scott Walker, and Lee Hazelwood. There’s even a Cillian Murphy cameo in there for good measure (sadly, not a timely cover of Blondie’s “Atomic”). It may be bold to say it but this really may be their best album since their first, and that’s high praise indeed. ‘Sea of Mirrors’ is available now from Run On Records. Feel free to reflect on the Phoenix-esque title track, below.
Roisin Murphy, Hit Parade
The Roisin machine has been grinding a few gears recently but that’s a discussion for a more appropriate forum; where art can be separated from the discussion at hand and discourse undertaken constructively. So, let’s stick to the music that was realised before any of this kicked off because ‘Hit Parade’ could possibly be one of 2023’s most accomplished releases.
Teaming up with DJ Koze, Roisin weaves an incredible tapestry of the weird and wonderful on ‘Hit Parade’, in a way only she could, and in a manner that suggests Kose may be her best collaborator since Mark Bryson from her early Moloko days. Listen close and you can pick out little vocal and production flourishes which reflect the years spent honing her craft as part that duo. Yet here they’re woven into influences acquired from each of the past 6 decades, with everything from Little Louis to Timmy Thomas in attendance. And it seems as if Roisin has shed that once familiar layer of kitsch, and it really helps this album achieve a level of maturity beyond her previous [awesome] output.
It’s entirely up to you to decide if you want to involve yourself with anything Roisin now does, but in a world where Matt Healy is seemingly revered, I’ll take Roisin and her [recognised] faults every single day. ‘Hit Parade’ is out now on Ninja Tunes. Check out the Little Louis-inspired “Can’t Replicate” for just a hint of the gold this album holds.
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!
