The first full week of September didn’t exactly usher in any cool weather, but it does bring a stacked week of brand new tunes. The biggest release of the week has to be Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore record, GUTS (it’s probably the biggest pop record of the year and certainly one of the most highly anticipated), which was led by the killer singles “vampire” and “bad idea right?,” both of which have built the hype around this album to dizzying heights.
After dropping singles slowly and steadily over the past few years, today finally sees the release of the debut solo record from the xx’s Romy Madley-Croft. Inspired by decades of dance and electronic music, the singles have suggested a mighty release that will surely soundtrack any final epic, outdoor dance parties of the season.
Earlier in the week, Tirzah dropped her surprise new record, the lush and hypnotic trip9love…???, which serves up more of her bold and visionary mix of electronic, R&B, and pop. While James Blake has moved his sound into mainstream pop over the past few albums, the early singles for his new record suggest a throwback to his glitched-out electronic work from his early, vocal-less EPs. It’s hard to imagine a time when Blake wasn’t immediately recognized for his angelic croon, but a return to basics would be a very welcomed one indeed.
Hardcore act Angel Du$t returns with a killer new album today and it’s full of the life-affirming riffs and killer fills you’d expect from a band that can conjure up a pit like no other. There’s also a powerful new record from Kvelertak out this week as well if you’re looking to turn your speakers up to 11.
Leading free-jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements signed to the legendary Impulse! label for their new record out today. The expansive and forward-thinking album is full of cosmic complexities, radical rhythms, and the propulsive spoken-word poetry of Moor Mother. Alabaster DePlume is another rising name in the jazz world and his experimental approach can be an acquired taste, but the lead singles for this new album suggest something more inviting without losing any of the appeal from his more adventurous side.
Sylvester became a disco sensation when they released the all-time classic “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and this week we were treated to a luxurious collection of previously private and incredibly intimate recordings from the pre-disco phase of their career. The glowing soulful recordings showcase a different side of the artist and expands on the delicate and impressive vocals that hit with shimmering perfection.
After dropping the Song fo the Year in 2020, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are back at it with their latest track, “Bongos.” Cardi recently emphasized that this isn’t a sequel, but it’s another sure hit for two of biggest rappers in the game and, of course, it comes with a fantastic video that is sure to be meme’d and mimicked in the months to come.
The incomparable Shabazz Palaces are set to release a new mini-LP next month and this week Ishmael Butler dropped the group’s latest single, “Woke Up in a Dream,” which features his son, Lil Tracy, on the track and further pushes their sound into the outer limits of space.
It’s been six years since Sampha’s last album, 2017’s great Process, but we will indeed be getting a follow-up and this week the artist shared the record’s second single, “Only.” Earlier this year, electronic duo Overmono released their debut full-length album and this week they followed it up with another twitching single, “Blow Out.”
Indie shoegaze band Hotline TNT recently signed with Jack White’s Third Man Records and as we wait for the full album to drop, the band shared the rich, lush, and fuzzed-out new song “I Thought You’d Change.” Texas’ Sun June put out a very good album back in 2021 and they’re getting ready to release their latest, but first they shared two more songs from the album, the hushed, yet gorgeous “Easy Violence” and “John Prine.”
Albums:
Olivia Rodrigo | GUTS
Romy | Mid Air
Tirzah | trip9love…???
Kvelertak | Endling
Angel Du$t | Brand New Soul
Tinashe | BB/ANG3L
Sparklehorse | Bird Machine
James Blake | Playing Robots Into Heaven
Irreversible Entanglements | Protect Your Light
Alabaster dePlume | Come With Fierce Grace
The Chemical Brothers | For That Beautiful Feeling
Courtney Barnett | End Of The Day
Sylvester | Private Recordings, August 1970
Songs:
Cardi B | “Bongos” (ft Megan Thee Stallion)
Shabazz Palaces | “Woke Up in a Dream” (ft Lil Tracy)
Sun June | “Easy Violence” / “John Prine”
Hotline TNT | “I Thought You’d Change”
Overmono | “Blow Out”
Geese | “Jesse”
Molly Burch | “Tattoo”
Sampha | “Only”
Marry Lattimore | “Horses, Glossy on the Hill”
MUNYA | “Bizarre Love Triangle” [New Order cover]
Mutual Benefit | “Untying a Knot”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!
Rumours Live out today as well!