As has been the theme lately, the month starts off with a bit of a short-list of new music, but even with a limited selection there are still some excellent gems worth exploration. Fred again.. has been rising in prominance over the past few years and this year he’s hit a new threshold playing with Skrillex and Four Tet to some of the biggest crowds of his career. This week, he’s teamed up with the legendary Brian Eno for a new album called Secret Life. Four Tet has called it the most beautiful album of the year.
Over the past few years, billy woods has been on a tear dropping some of the best rap albums either under his own name or as half of the duo known as Armand Hammer. Today, billy keeps the streak alive with a new record and this time it’s a collaboration with Kenny Segal.
SBTRKT has been releasing tracks quite slowly over the past year and today he returns with his first album since 2016’s Save Yourself. Last week, I incorrectly stated that Westerman’s An Inbuilt Fault would be released. That’s actually happening today and after dropping one more single earlier this week, the hype for the full record has only grown.
67 year-old folk singer Peter One drops his major label debut album this week and it’s his first new recording in over 30 years. The singer-songwriter is originally from Cote d’Ivoire, but now calls Nashville home and his wonderful new album takes the pop melodies and arrangements from Simon and Garkfunkel and gives it a southern charm.
Early aughts rock and roll saviors The Hives roared back this week with an explosive new single that sounds just like their classic tunes, full of feverish energy, killer riffs, and Howlin’ Pelle’s wicked vocals. It’s an unexpected return to a form they never abandoned, but after a decade between albums, it’s a much welcome homecoming.
Extreme music heavyweights Boris and Uniform have announced a joint album for later this year and this week the two dropped the decimating new song, “You are the Beginning” which unifies their punishing sound into pulverizing oblivion.
Lifeguard is one of Matador’s newest signees and this week the trio announced a debut album and shared the new song “17-18 Lovesong” which is a straight-forward indie rock banger and fuzzy guitar and steady rhythms. Post-punk legends Bush Tetras have been touring with Steve Shelly (of Sonic Youth) on drums for a bit and this week they announced their first new album in over a decade and it’s lead by the new single, “Things I Put Together.”
With a voice like a goddess, Danielle Ponder has dropped yet another exquisite track that highlights her remarkable talent with stunning results. Things get turned up a notch on the new jam from Amaarae, a propulsive R&B track that teases tranquility before stepping up the beats.
Albums:
Fred again.. / Brian Eno | Secret Life
billy woods / Kenny Segal | Maps
Westerman | An Inbuilt Fault
SBTRKT | The Rat Road
Peter One | Come Back to Me
The Smashing Pumpkins | Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Acts
Songs:
The Hives | “Bogus Operandi”
Boris / Uniform | “You are the Beginning”
Lifeguard | “17-18 Lovesong”
Danielle Ponder | “Roll the Credits”
Hand Habits | “Private Life”
Bush Tetras | “Things I Put Together”
Amaarae | “Co-Sign”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!