Happy Monday, loopers! Here are this week’s most exciting new releases (subscribe to our weekly New Music newsletter here)…
1. COURTNEY BARNETT & KURT VILE — OVER EVERYTHING
Christmas has come early for indie-rock fans, with two of the genre’s most celebrated artists: Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, announcing a new album together.
Over Everything is our first taste of the duo’s upcoming debut album, Lotta Sea Lice, which is out October 13th on Matador Records. It is accompanied by a video directed by Danny Cohen, who has previously worked with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Kirin J Callinan, Mac DeMarco and more.
The duo have also announced a series of North American tour dates, kicking off in San Diego in October. Tickets are likely to go fast, so do yourself a favour and head over to their website to grab some before they all disappear.
Lotta Sea Lice is Courtney’s first new album since her stunning 2015 debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, and Kurt’s first since 2015’s B’lieve I’m Goin Down….
If you’re wondering how the duo got together, check out this interview.
2. IBEYI — DEATHLESS (FEAT. KAMASI WASHINGTON)
Cuban-French twins Lisa-Kaindé & Naomi Diaz, aka Ibeyi, have announced details to their much-anticipated 2nd album, Ash, and shared a new song from it called Deathless featuring jazz legend Kamasi Washington.
Here’s what Lisa-Kaindé had to say about the new single, which was written in response to her wrongful arrest by French police:
“I was writing Deathless as an anthem for everybody! For every minority. For everybody that feels that they are nothing, that feels small, that feels not cared about and I want them to listen to our song and for three minutes feel large, powerful, deathless. I have a huge amount of respect for people who fought for, what I think, are my rights today and if we all sing together “we are deathless,” they will be living through us into a better world.”
Ash is out September 29th and will also feature the recently released Away Away.
If you’re new to Ibeyi’s unique mix of soul, electronic & hip-hop beats and want to explore more of their songs, we highly recommend Mama Says, River & Oya from their stunning self-titled debut album and their cover of Jay Electronica’s Better In Tune With The Infinite, Exhibit Diaz (here’s the original if you’re interested).
Fun fact: Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz are the daughters of legendary Cuban percussionist Angá Diaz, who won a Grammy for Best Latin Recording in 1980 with the band Irakere before going on to join Ibrahím Ferrer, Rubén González, Omara Portuondo and several other Cuban stars in Buena Vista Social Club.
3. JESSIE WARE — SELFISH LOVE
Selfish Love is the second single from British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware’s much-anticipated 3rd album, which is due later this year and follows up 2014’s Tough Love and her stunning Mercury Prize-nominated debut album, 2012’s Devotion.
The song was produced by Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and The Weeknd producer Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat, with additional contributions from OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.
Here’s what Jessie had to say about her new album:
“I’ve written with a lot of different people, but I think what’s bringing it all together is my voice, and the storytelling. It’s quite a personal record, which I didn’t realize when writing it. I thought I was just writing songs, but it’s become this record that’s for my husband and my baby. It’s been a wild couple of years, and I feel like this album represents those ups and downs, the fear, the beauty, and the celebrations.”
The as-yet-unnamed album will also feature the recently released (and quite stunning) lead single, Midnight, as well as guest appearances from Francis and the Lights, Julia Michaels and Ed Sheeran, who co-wrote Tough Love track Say You Love Me with Jessie (she repaid the favour by co-writing New Man on Ed’s latest album).
4. OCS — MEMORY OF A CUT OFF HEAD
Memory of a Cut Off Head is the lead single and title track to psychedelic rock band OCS’s upcoming 20th album (under various guises), which is out November 17th on Castle Face Records.
OCS is the name that John Dwyer used to release music until his 2006 album, The Cool Death of Island Raiders, prompted a re-branding to The Oh Sees. That change lasted for only two albums, before he finally settled on Thee Oh Sees. Or so we thought…
Earlier this year, the band made one final change and now go by Oh Sees. So, in short, OCS changed their name to The Oh Sees and then Thee Oh Sees and are now called Oh Sees but have also revived OCS, which shouldn’t be confused with this OCS. So yeah, pretty damn confusing!
Memory Of A Cut Off Head will be the band’s second album this year, following the release of the Oh Sees’ debut album, Orc, last Friday.
5. SPARKS — EDITH PIAF (SAID IT BETTER THAN ME)
Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me) is the latest track to surface from L.A. synthpop duo Sparks (aka brothers Ron and Russell Mael)’s upcoming 25th album, Hippopotamus, which is out September 8th and follows up 2009’s The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman.
This is the band’s first new album since 2015’s FFS, a collaboration with Scottish indie-rockers Franz Ferdinand. If you’d like a quick taste of that project, check out Johnny Delusional and Call Girl.
Hippopotamus will also feature the recently released What The Hell Is It This Time? and the lead single and title track, Hippopotamus.
6. FRANK OCEAN — PROVIDER
R&B superstar Frank Ocean has shared a new song called Provider, which he debuted during the latest episode of his “blonded RADIO” show yesterday evening.
Provider is the 5th single released by Ocean this year following May’s Biking (Solo), April’s Lens & Biking (feat. JAY-Z & Tyler, The Creator) and March’s Chanel. His most recent studio album was last year’s stunning Blonde, which followed up his breathtaking 2012 debut, Channel ORANGE.
7. MIDNIGHT SISTER — CLOWN
If you’re a fan of the melodic majesty of Tobias Jesso Jr., then you should definitely check out this delightful track from Los Angeles-based indie-pop newcomers Midnight Sister.
Clown is the latest track to surface from the duo’s much-anticipated debut album, Saturn Over Sunset, which is out September 8th on Jagjaguwar.
Saturn Over Sunset will also feature the equally great singles Blue Cigar, Leave You and Daddy Long Legs.
8. CURTIS HARDING — WEDNESDAY MORNING ATONEMENT
Wednesday Morning Atonement is the second single from soul/blues/R&B singer-songwriter Curtis Harding’s much-anticipated 2nd album, Face Your Fear, which is out October 27th and follows up his excellent 2014 debut album, Soul Power. It will be joined on the new album by the recently released lead single, On And On.
Here’s what Curtis had to say about his new Danger Mouse produced single:
“Wednesday Morning Atonement is the first track I recorded for my new record Face Your Fear. The song is a double-entendre. In a literal sense it’s about an estranged father who for whatever reason was not able to be present in his family’s life. Also, the business of music can sometimes pull you away from the art of making it. So metaphorically it’s a story about a musician, and in theory his songs are his children. It was also recorded on a Wednesday.”
If you’re new to Curtis & want to hear more, we highly recommend listening to Keep On Shining, The Drive, Next Time, Heaven’s On the Other Side and I Need a Friend.
9. TRICKY — RUNNING WILD (FEAT. MINA ROSE)
Running Wild is the latest track to surface from trip-hop legend Tricky’s upcoming 12th album, Uninform, which is out September 22nd and follows up 2016’s Skilled Mechanics and The Obia EP. Tricky is joined on Running Wild by the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Mina Rose.
Uninform will also feature When We Die (feat. Martina Topley-Bird) and the stunning lead single The Only Way, which was described by Tricky himself as Hell Is Around the Corner Part 2 (that’s quite a statement). Hell Is Around The Corner originally featured on Tricky’s 1995 Mercury Prize nominated album, Maxinquaye, which lost out to Portishead’s Dummy in what must have been one of the most difficult decisions in the prize’s history.
Earlier this year Tricky also released the excellent Escape, which featured on the soundtrack to the movie Ghost In The Shell.
10. MASTODON — TOE TO TOES
Hot on the heels of their guest appearance on the season finale of Game Of Thrones, Atlanta heavy metal band Mastodon are back with a new single called Toe to Toes.
The single will appear on the band’s upcoming Cold Dark Place EP, which is out September 22nd and follows up March’s Emperor of Sand.
If you’re new to Mastodon and would like to hear more we highly recommend listening to Blood and Thunder, Oblivion, High Road, The Motherload, Sultan’s Curse, Steambreather and Show Yourself.
ALSO WORTH CHECKING OUT THIS WEEK:
- Alex Cameron — Runnin’ Outta Luck
- Bully — Running
- Florist — Understanding Light
- Hercules & Love Affair — Omnion (album)
- Hiss Golden Messenger — When The Wall Comes Down and Domino
- Hurts — Ready To Go
- John Maus — The Combine
- Kele Okereke (Bloc Party) — Do U Right
- Kero Kero Bonito — Rock ’N’ Roll Star (Oasis cover)
- Maroon 5 — What Lovers Do (feat. SZA)
- Matthew Dear — Bad Ones (feat. Tegan and Sara)
- Mount Kimbie — Delta
- The National — Day I Die
- Wolf Parade — You’re Dreaming
- Yumi Zouma — Persephone
- Zola Jesus — Siphon
