The much awaited debut album from Kali Uchis, highlights this week weekly roundup. Also present are new releases from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Wye Oak, and comeback singles from Ben Howard and Friendly Fires.
New Albums:
Kali Uchis – Isolation
Isolation is the debut studio album from the Columbian-American singer-songwriter Kali Uchis. She previously released a mixtape in 2012 and an EP Por Vida in 2015. Throughout 2016 and 2017, she had featured in a number of songs from Tyler The Creator, Daniel Caeser and others. The album features contributions from Gorillaz, Kevin Parker, BADBADNOTGOOD, Thundercat among others.
Wye Oak – The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs
American indie folk band Wye Oak have released their sixth studio album The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs. This is the follow up to their 2016 effort Tween. The band is composed of Andy Stack (drums, keyboards, backup vocals) and Jenn Wasner (vocals, guitars and bass). In 2016, Wasner released a solo album called If You See Me, Say Yes.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex & Food
Sex & Food is the fourth studio from the New Zealand psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra. This serves up as the follow up to their 2015 studio album, Multi-Love. Sex & Food features a more expansive and eclectic sound than previous records, inspired by the its array of international recording locations, including Mexico City, Seoul, Hanoi and Reykjavik, as well as Nielson’s native Auckland and home Portland.
Daniel Avery – Song For Alpha
British producer and DJ Daniel Avery is back with his sophomore album, Song For Alpha. This is the long-awaited follow-up to his breakthrough 2013 debut Drone Logic. To coincide with the release of his second-long player, Avery has unveiled immersive album visuals from London design studio Flat-e, who have crafted stunning digitally manipulated videos for each track on the record.
Eels – The Deconstruction
The Deconstruction is the twelfth studio album from California rock band, Eels. It follows a four-year period from their last album, The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett, where front man Mark Oliver Everett, commonly known by the stage name E, took a hiatus from music. The period up to the release of the album was supported by the release of three singles, ‘Today Is the Day’, ‘Premonition’, ‘Bone Dry’.
Hinds – I Don’t Run
Spanish lo-fi indie rock band Hinds have released their sophomore album, I Don’t Run. This follows their 2016 debut album, Leave Me Alone. The band were formerly known as Deers before they were forced to change their names after a threat of legal action from the similarly named band The Dears. The band consists of Carlotta Cosials (vocals, guitar), Ana Perrote (vocals, guitar), Ade Martin (bass, backing vocals) and Amber Grimbergen (drums).
Ace – Second to None
Ace, frontman of the popular hip-hop act Mumbai’s Finest, has come out with his solo project. With guest appearances from known artists like Alisha Pais, Smokey the Ghost, B.I.R, Blaaze and LotusCafe, Second to None sounds like a big production by some big talent. Abhishek Dhusia aka Ace switches between rapping in Hindi and English which is set to intense electronic beats.
New Songs:
Sona Mohapatra & Ram Sampath – Tori Surat
The power couple of the Indian music industry has released a rendition of 13th century poet Ameer Khusrau’s beautiful poem, ‘Tori Surat’. This is the second track from their upcoming album, Lal Pari Mastani. Mohapatra’s voice combined with Sampath’s expertise only add more soul to Khusrau’s words.
Thaikkudam Bridge – Saalaikal
The 15-member band, one of the most popular acts from Kerela, is out with another single, ‘Saalaikal’. The rock band has been churning out great music for the past 5 years, and has seen instant success in their career. This song is a follow up to their last single, ‘Inside My Head’ which was released in November, 2017.
Ben Howard – A Boat To An Island On The Wall
British singer-songwriter Ben Howard has released a new song, ‘A Boat To An Island On The Wall’ and has announced a new album titled Noonday Dream. This is also the first major release by the ‘Old Pine’ singer-songwriter in just over four years. It is a reverb-laden track, with an overall haunting feel to the song. The lyrics read almost like a spoken word piece at times. Howard seems to experiment with a fair bit of synth and a meandering presence of a violin, leaving his staple acoustic guitar in the background for the majority of the track.
Friendly Fires – Love Like Waves
English band Friendly Fires have dropped their comeback single titled ‘Love Like Waves’, their first in over seven years. The song debuted on Annie Mac’s show on BBC Radio 1 as the ‘Hottest Track in the World’. They also played it live during their comeback shows in Norwich and Leeds. The track takes inspiration from the previous electronic collaborations of the band members. The song has all of the details that constitutes Friendly Fires’ sound, from the swirling psychedelic synths, to the shoegaze-y guitars and to the club-like piano line running throughout the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMiHXIllrHY
Sudan Archives – Nont For Sale
Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Sudan Archives have released a new single, ‘Nont For Sale’. The project of Brittney Denise Parks, singer-songwriter and violinist, she had released a self-titled EP last year. Her sound is an intriguing combination of the folk sounds of western Africa with the more modern sounds and beats of R&B. This song also explores and expands that sound, with plucked violins and hip-hop sounds providing various layers to the tracks.
Chromeo – Must’ve Been (feat. DRAM)
Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo, have released another single off their upcoming album, named ‘Must’ve Been’. The track features American rapper DRAM, and it is follow up to their earlier single, ‘Juice’, released last year. Also featuring guitars from Jesse Johnson (Prince, The Time), this has all the ingredients of a Chromeo track, updated for the current time. Funky bass lines, glistening synths, and vocoder vocals, this is Chromeo doing what they do best.
Beach House – Dark Spring
Beach House have released the third single off their upcoming 7th album, named ‘Dark Spring’. This follows earlier singles ‘Lemon Glow’ and ‘Dive’, the latter of which featured on our best of March playlist. Their seventh album, aptly titled 7, comes three years after their last effort, Thank Your Lucky Star. Accompanied by a music video, it veers more into the shoegaze side of their sound. ‘Dark Spring’ is the closest the band have come to resembling this sound sonically, while still adding their own twist on proceedings.
