Things cool down a bit this week in terms of new releases after a stellar month of March and another excellent first quarter of the year. Today, we get the new album from guitar shredders Wednesday. Following a string of great singles, the band’s latest album is on course to set them towards indie-rock stardom and I’d expect to see their name begin to climb festival posters in the coming months.
Today also is the day we finally get to hear Yaeji’s official debut record. The New York via Seoul DJ/Producer and occasional rapper, has dropped some great EPs in the past and her first official album is sure to become a staple for DJs and festival sets for months to come. There’s also a new album out today from Rae Sremmurd, their first in nearly five years!
After splitting from Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter has returned with his first solo album since the departure and it’s also a departure from the style you might expect from one-half of the EDM Robot gods. On Mythologies, Bangalter goes the orchestral and symphonic route to create some gorgeous moments, but ones that won’t be calling you to the dance floor or the festival tent like you might hope. Grunge and indie icons Mudhoney are also back today with a new album, the eleventh in their discography and first since 2018.
Dreamy slowcore group Cindy have a new album coming next week, but first, they’ve shared the third single, “Earthly Belonging.” It pushes their sound up a notch and despite its short run time, packs an ethereal punch. Indigo de Souza also has a new album on the way and this week shared the supremely direct and rocking “You Can Be Mean” which continues to builds the hype and showcase her remarkable songwriting skills.
Over rubbery-synths, sparkling chimes, and ethereal vocals, Avalon Emerson dazzles with a shimmering dance track that glistens with promise and radiates with delight. SBTRKT announced a new record due in May and this week we got the lush new song “DAYS GO BY” which features breezy vocals from Toro y Moi and makes the long way between albums absolutely worth it.
Lost Under Heaven aren’t always a project to offer much detail, but this week they shared a new song called “Dark Days” which builds upon their brooding themes and lives up to the name in terms of mood and atmosphere. Trevor Power will return with a new album under the moniker Youth Lagoon for the fist time since 2015 later this year and this week, we got the touching new tune “Prizefighter” which captures the spirit of mid-aught indie with blushing tints and glowing guitar work.
The supergroup of Dinner Party (which features Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and Kamasi Washingtong) have announced their sophomore record and shared a new single, the slinky and funky “For Granted.” Labrinth, perhaps best know for scoring HBO’s Euphoria has returned with a new song called “Never Felt So Alone” and it features guest vocals from Billie Eilish.
Brooklyn pop artist Sophie Blue has a new track out today called “Burn” which finds the singer crooning with elegance over humming, distorted synths that brings to light a ‘90s alternative vibe with sophisticated electronic techniques that push her sound into an elevated sweet spot of pop-noir.
Albums:
Wednesday | Rat Saw God
Yaeji | With A Hammer
Rae Sremmurd | Sremm 4 Life
Thomas Bangalter | Mythologies
Mudhoney | Plastic Eternity
Tim Hecker | No Highs
Fly Anakin | Skinemaxxx (Side A)
Tribulation | Hamartia EP
Songs:
Cindy | “Earthly Belonging”
Lost Under Heaven | “Dark Days”
Youth Lagoon | “Prizefighter”
Indigo de Souza | “You Can Be Mean”
Avalon Emerson | “Karaoke Song”
SBRTKT | “DAYS GO BY” (ft Toro y Moi)
Dinner Party | “For Granted” (ft Arin Ray and 9th Wonder)
Sophie Blue | “Burn”
Labrinth | “Felt So Alone”
redveil / JPEGMAFIA | “black enuff”
Suicide | “Born in the USA” [Bruce Springsteen cover]
Arthur Russell | “The Boy With a Smile”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!
MUDHONEY