Happy Monday, loopers! Here are this week’s most exciting new releases (subscribe to our weekly New Music newsletter here)…
1. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM — TONITE
Six years on from their legendary farewell concert at Madison Square Garden, Brooklyn dance-pop ensemble LCD Soundsystem have finally announced details for their much-anticipated comeback album, american dream, and shared a new song from it called tonite.
american dream will be out September 1st and follows up 2010’s This Is Happening and their one-off Christmas single, Christmas Will Break Your Heart, from back in December 2015.
If you’re wondering what to expect from the new album, James Murphy describes it as “a heavier record” with a lot of “darker songs”, even if the dance-floor friendly tonite suggests otherwise (maybe not the lyrics, however).
He went on to say that the album’s first two singles, call the police and american dream, are “slightly misleading” examples of the overall tone of the album and they were only chosen because they were the most well-rehearsed tracks at the time and the band needed two songs to perform on their headlining SNL appearance back in May.
The band have also announced a series of tour dates later this year, so do yourself a favour and head over to the Concerts tab on their LetsLoop profile to grab yourself some tickets.
And if you’re curious what an LCD Soundsystem gig is like, you should definitely check out their Shut Up And Play The Hits documentary showcasing the band’s “farewell” concert at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2011 (trailer).
2. MILEY CYRUS — YOUNGER NOW
Younger Now is the 3rd single and title track to Miley Cyrus’s upcoming fifth album, Younger Now, which is out September 29th and follows up 2013’s Bangerz.
Alongside the recently released Inspired and the excellent lead single Malibu (which Miley apparently wrote in the back of an Uber on the way to filming NBC’s The Voice), Younger Now will also feature a special guest appearance from country legend Dolly Parton.
And Dolly isn’t the only high-profile musician Miley has worked with recently… since releasing her last album Miley has (rather surprisingly) struck up a great working relationship with Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips, with the duo collaborating on two separate projects:
(1) In 2015, they worked together on a project called Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. You can (and absolutely 100% should) listen to it for free on her website, it’s quite something!
(2) In 2016, Miley joined Wayne on the gorgeous We A Famly, one of the standout tracks from The Flaming Lips excellent Oczy Mlody album.
Both of those collaborations were absolutely wonderful, so we can’t wait to hear her song with Dolly!
3. WEEZER — MEXICAN FENDER
Who’d have thought that 23 years on from their debut Blue album, and their infectious hit single Buddy Holly, Weezer would still be knocking out gems like this…
Mexican Fender is the second single from Californian indie-rock legends Weezer’s upcoming 11th album, Pacific Daydream, which is out October 27th and follows up last year’s amazing White Album.
Pacific Daydream will also feature the excellent lead single Feels Like Summer, which was first released by the band back in March.
4. RADIATOR HOSPITAL — DANCE NUMBER
Dance Number is the highly-infectious lead single to Michigan indie-pop band Radiator Hospital’s upcoming 5th album, Play the Song You Like, which is out October 20th and follows up 2014’s Torch Song.
Here’s what frontman Sam Cook-Parrott had to say about their new single:
“Dance Number is another in the canon of ‘feeling bad while also feeling good’ Radiator Hospital songs. On the surface it’s a portrait of a sad lonely moment, ultimately though it’s about trying to go through life with an open heart and mind in a world that seems bleaker every day.”
If you’re new to Radiator Hospital and want to hear more, we highly recommend listening to Our Song, Cut Your Bangs, Fireworks and Your Boyfriend.
5. PHILIP SELWAY — LET ME GO
Let Me Go is our first taste of Radiohead drummer Philip Selway’s upcoming soundtrack for the film Let Me Go, which is out September 15th (both the film and the soundtrack) and follows up 2014’s Weatherhouse.
If you’re new to the Radiohead drummer’s solo work and want to hear more, we highly recommend listening to It Will End In Tears, Coming Up For Air and By Some Miracle.
6. JAMILA WOODS — LSD (FEAT. CHANCE THE RAPPER)
By all accounts Jamila Woods’ 2016 debut album, HEAVN, was one of the best of the year. So, why haven’t you heard of it?
Sadly it never received a co-ordinated physical and digital release. In fact, until recently, the only songs you could find on (some) streaming services were her stunning Blk Girl Soldier and Holy singles.
Well, that’s all changed as Jamila has officially released HEAVN on Spotify & Apple Music, via her new label Jagjaguwar, ahead of a physical release on October 6th. And as if that’s not exciting enough, she’s also shared the video for her Chance The Rapper collaboration, LSD.
This is actually Jamila’s 2nd collaboration with the Chicago rapper in as many years, following her excellent guest appearance on Blessings from his breathtaking 2016 mixtape, Coloring Book.
Alongside Chance The Rapper, HEAVN also features guest appearances from Noname, SABA, Nico Segal and more.
7. ARIEL PINK — FEELS LIKE HEAVEN
Feels Like Heaven is the latest track to surface from baroque indie-rocker Ariel Pink’s upcoming 11th album, Dedicated To Bobby Jameson, which is out September 15th and follows up 2014’s Pom Pom & his 2016 Weyes Blood collaboration, Myths 002.
Dedicated To Bobby Jameson, which is Ariel’s 2nd album since dropping his Haunted Graffiti moniker, will also feature the recently released Time To Live and lead single Another Weekend.
If you’re new to Ariel and want to hear more, we highly recommend Picture Me Gone, Put Your Number In My Phone & Dayzed Inn Daydreams from Pom Pom, Tears On Fire from Myths 002 and Baby, Only In My Dreams, Bright Lit Blue Skies & Round and Round as Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti.
8. LAWRENCE ROTHMAN — AIN’T AFRAID OF DYING (FEAT. MARISSA NADLER)
L.A. based singer-songwriter & producer Lawrence Rothman has teamed up with indie favourite Marissa Nadler on Ain’t Afraid Of Dying, the stunning second single from his much-anticipated debut album, The Book Of Law, which is out October 13th.
And Marissa Nadler is not the only high-profile artist to feature on The Book Of Law, the seriously impressive list of guest appearances includes Angel Olsen, Stella Mozgawa from Warpaint, Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses, How to Dress Well, Kristin Kontrol & more. Not bad for your debut album!
The album won’t however feature all of the other singles he’s released over the past few years, but if you want to check out some of those singles (and we highly recommend you do) here are a few of our faves: H, Oz vs. Eden, Fatal Attraction, Users, #1 All Time Low and Designer Babies (feat. Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon).
The Book Of Law will also feature Wolves Still Cry & the stunning Angel Olsen collaboration, California Paranoia.
9. YUMI ZOUMA — DEPTHS, PT. I
Following the earthquakes in their hometown of Christchurch in 2011 New Zealand dream-pop band Yumi Zouma went their separate ways, emailing tracks back and forth from their new homes in Paris and New York.
After two stunning EPs (2014’s Yumi Zouma EP and 2015’s II EP) and last year’s glorious debut album, Yoncalla, the band finally reconvened in Christchurch last summer, December, to record their much-anticipated 2nd album, Willowbank, which is out October 6th.
Willowbank was recorded in a studio “in Christchurch’s semi-demolished CBD, on one of the few remaining blocks that still characterizes the city from before it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes.”
Here’s what guitarist Josh Burgess said about the experience and how it felt to be home:
“It was as though there was a brief pause in all of our lives and we finally felt like a band from New Zealand. We were on home turf and creating from a place that felt fundamentally natural.”
Depths, Pt. 1 is the 2nd single from Willowbank and will be joined on the new album by the recently released and quite lovely lead single, December.
The New Zealanders’ latest single comes just a few months after the band’s album-length tribute to Oasis’s 1995 masterpiece (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. If you want to know what an electropop version of Oasis sounds like, check out their stunning versions of Champagne Supernova, She’s Electric & Morning Glory and if you like what you hear (you will), you can get your hands on the full album here.
If you’re new to Yumi Zouma and want to hear more, we highly recommend listening to Catastrophe, The Brae, Song for Zoe & Gwen, Barricade (Matter of Fact), Alena and Text from Sweden.
10. KIASMOS — BLURRED
Blurred is the stunning lead single to electronic duo Kiasmos’s upcoming EP of the same name, which is out October 6th and follows up 2015’s Swept EP.
If the name Kiasmos isn’t familiar, perhaps you’ll know individual members: Ólafur Arnalds is an Icelandic BAFTA-winning composer known for his unique blend of minimal piano & string compositions with electronic sounds; and The Faroe Islands’ Janus Rasmussen is the mastermind behind electro-pop outfit Bloodgroup.
The duo’s upcoming EP will also feature remixes from Bonobo & Hamburg-based DJ Stimming & is being released in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Erased Tapes Records, the home of legendary ambient artists such as Nils Frahm, A Winged Victory for the Sullen and many more.
ALSO WORTH CHECKING OUT THIS WEEK:
- Alvvays — Plimsoll Punks
- Anna Of The North — Money
- Chad VanGaalen — Mind Hijacker’s Curse
- clipping. (Hamilton Musical’s Daveed Diggs) — The Deep
- Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton (Metric & Broken Social Scene) — Statuette
- Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions (Hope from Mazzy Star & Colm Ó Cíosóig from My Bloody Valentine) — Sleep
- Hundred Waters — Fingers
- Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith — To Follow & Lead
- Nick Mulvey — We Are Never Apart
- Protomartyr — My Children
- Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) — The May Queen
- Saba — There You Go
- The War On Drugs — Up All Night
- Turnover — Bonnie (Rhythm & Melody)
- Wolf Alice — Beautifully Unconventional
