February is heating up with a bunch of great new music this week. I thought the new album from Brittany Howard dropped last week and wrote a little about it then, but it’s actually out today. Her new sounds explore new directions and take listeners on journeys to electronic moods which feels a bit striking compared to her pervious output.
Jangle-pop groups Ducks Ltd. are back this week with a new collection of springy jams that hit the accelerator and bring on bubbly melodies and tight-knit grooves that are sure to jolt some feelings into their bright moods.
Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter has shifted to soundtracks in his time since the famous duo called it quits (although there might be a secret album out there waiting to see the light of day) and this week he’s shared the new score for the film DAAAAAALÍ, which you might’ve guessed is about the artist Salvator Dalí.
One of the all-time greatest American rock bands, Sonic Youth, have been unloading gems from their vault ever since they called it quits over a decade ago and today they’ve shared Wall of Ears (not to be confused with The Smile’s great new record Wall of Eyes) which culls together live performances from 1985 at gigs across the UK. It’s a new look into one of the band’s noisiest chapters and a pivotal moment before their breakthrough to more mainstream crowds in the decade to follow.
It’s hard to believe it, but Beth Gibbons, lead singer of trip-hop legends Portishead, has been working on a solo record for over ten years and it’s finally coming out in May. This week, she shared the first single “Floating on a Moment,” highlighting her remarkably ageless vocals that are as sullen and haunting now as they were in the mid-90’s.
It’s been over six years since the last Amen Dunes record, but the follow-up to Freedom is finally on its way and is led by the new single “Purple Land.” According to Damon, “It begins first as a song to my daughter about life on earth, offering platitudes, warnings, and guidance through its various stages, until it becomes a reflection on the narrator’s own uncertainties as he moves through the world, ending finally with a character Rhea Anne who exemplifies liberation from it all in a moment of simple reckless freedom, as the beat drops in the final minute of the song.”
Maggie Rogers’ only released her last album in 2022, but she’s already back with a new one called Don’t Forget Me which was written over the course of 5 days at the end of 2022 and start of 2023. The title track was shared along with the album announcement and fans of Rogers may recognize it from her most recent tour where it received its live debut and became a part of her set.
During last weekend’s Grammy’s Awards, Kacey Musgraves had a commercial that signaled a new album was on the way and now she’s confirmed the album will be out later this year and shared the new single about quitting weed and moving on. Shabazz Palaces dropped a mini-album last fall and have another due this year. This week the hip-hop group shared the icy “Myths of the Occult” which is one of the most straightforward tunes we’ve heard from them, but still sounds like no one else.
Indie-folk stalwarts The Decemberists were vital to the rise of blog-era bands at the start of the millennium who channeled mystical storytelling into their sound and this week they shared a new song with James Mercer of The Shins, bringing another crucial artist back into their fold. It’s got a bit of a Byrds psychedelic vibe to hit that is accentuated with some strong horns. Along with that, Iron & Wine also announced a new record this week, adding to the return of the bearded hipster lore from the early 2000’s, taking us all right back in time as if nothing has changed.
Electro-R&B singer Erika de Casier gained a lot of attention for producing tracks for NewJeans including the smash “Super Shy” and now she’s gearing up to release a new record of her own. Following the excellent single “Lucky” from earlier this year, “ice” is another killer jam from the artist and features rapping from They Hate Change.
Jazz icon Alice Coltrane is being celebrated with a reissue of recording from a concert from 1971 at Carnegie Hall. Coming from Impulse this March, the concert was Coltrane’s first leading performance at the venue and her band features luminaries such as Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders and occurred just after the release of her icon album Journey in Satchidananda. Coinciding with the announcement, “Shiva-Loka” is our first taste of the legendary concert and ushers us gracefully into Alice’s spiritual realm with the greatest of pleasures.
Albums:
Brittany Howard | What Now
Ducks Ltd. | Harm’s Way
Madi Diaz | Weird Faith
Helado Negro | Phasor
Dizzee Rascal | Don’t Take It Personal
Chelsea Wolfe | She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
Mk.gee | Two Star And The Dream Police
Thomas Bangalter | DAAAAAALÍ [soundtrack]
Sonic Youth | Wall of Ears [live album]
Songs:
Beth Gibbons | “Floating on a Moment”
Amen Dunes | “Purple Land”
Jlin | “Auset”
Kacey Musgraves | “Deeper Well”
Maggie Rogers | “Don’t Forget Me”
Shabazz Palaces | “Myths of the Occult”
Iron & Wine | “You Never Know”
The Decemberists | “Burial Ground” (ft James Mercer)
Mount Kimbie | “Fishbrain”
Erika de Casier | “ice” (ft They Hate Change)
Olof Dreijer | “Coral”
Alice Coltrane | “Shiva-Loka” [live]
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2024) here!