So lend an ear and join Steve Miller (no, not that one!) as he tucks into his pick of some of this week’s most prominent music releases. You never know, your new favourite record may be in there!
So this is what happens when a band like IDLES team up with a producer of the range and calibre of Nigel Godrich? As the 2nd single from upcoming album ‘TANGK’, “Grace” draws on the same Joy Division/Cure/OMD bass-based melodies as IDLES’ more modern influences such as the LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire. But, with a few production tweaks, the sound has been tailored beautifully to utilise each element of the band’s distinctive style to perfection. Building with a restrained vocal from Joe Talbot over a restless drum pattern, sinister dissonant guitars build up a dreamy post-punk serving from Bristol’s finest noise makers before an electrostatic sludgefest delivers us into to the [borrowed] final notes of The Beatles “Day In The Life”. If “Grace” is indicative of the quality of IDLES’ new album, then we can’t wait for the ‘TANGK’ to roll into town. Out now via Partisan. IDLES hit the Rockhal (promoted by Den Atelier) in March, 2024.
Beck called, and whilst he probably does appreciate the very obvious Odelay-style grooves of “Petroleum”, it would only be fair to offer him a percentage of future takings for his influence on this latest cut from the UK’s current band du jour. But let’s be honest, the style fits Yard Act like a bespoke raincoat and they productively use it to widen their own stylistic gamut and deliver another solid cut from one of 2024’s most anticipated albums. “Petroleum” is available now. This act is brought to the yard by Island Records.
Ex-Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones has been releasing fine solo material for almost 15 years now but with new single “If Tomorrow Starts Without Me” he sounds as if he’s found his sweet spot. Beginning with what must surely be a nod to the cellos of Lou Reed’s “Street Hassle”, Ryder-Jones delivers a Teenage Fan Club-worthy 3 minutes of delightful acoustic pop. With a dash of Badly Drawn Boy and The Coral mixed in for good measure, “If Tomorrow Starts Without Me” (and upcoming album ‘Iechyd Da’) may finally establish Bill as more than the sum of his past. Get in early on this one via Domino.
Belgian 5-piece Newmoon return to the scene with the delightful Shoegaze-meets-Goth of “Eternal Fall”. Clocking in a touch longer than most recent singles out there, the 5 minutes plus of the Antwerp outfit’s first release since 2019 are certainly no drag. With vocals delivered with an added indie twist of introspection, Newmoon serve up the sort of full-bodied soundscape you’ll happily dedicate the time to dive into. A deliciously smeared application of Dreamo Goth worth languishing in, “Eternal Fall” is out now via PIAS.
Repurposing a classic hip hop drum break is always a brave move. Choosing to do that with undoubtedly the classic hip-hop drum break is always going to be antagonistic but that’s how Long Beach experimentalist Lil Darkie rolls. No stranger to controversy (due to his on-edge production style and often political lyrics), new track “Bushido” sees Lil Darkie infuse arcade, manga and classic Kung fu references across a playfully deep bass groove, to present a distinctly laidback and chilled 2-minute cut of high quality hip hop. It’s not typical Lil Darkie and isn’t paid in full, but it most certainly pays its way. Catch “Bukido” directly via VYD.
British/American dream pop duo Still Corners have their 6th album due out next year and as a taster have just dropped new track “Secret World”. Utilising an odd mix of styles - from classic Fleetwood Mac to Grace Jones’ “Walking In The Rain” - “Secret World” is a mid-tempo daydream laced with delightfully idiosyncratic flourishes of production. Uncover the secret world of Still Corners via Wrecking Light.
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!
