Last week saw new albums from Jon Hopkins, whose single ‘Emerald Rush’ was featured in our best of March playlist, Leon Bridges, Iceage and Frank Turner, along with new singles from Florence + The Machine, Mali, Troye Sivan, Dirty Projectors and Parquet Courts this week.
Albums:
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
Mercury and Ivor Novello nominee, English producer and musician, Jon Hopkins has released his latest album Singularity. This comes after his 2013 album, Immunity, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. After starting his career playing the keyboard for Imogen Heap, he has produced or contributed to albums by Brian Eno, Coldplay, David Holmes, and others.
Leon Bridges – Good Things
Coming Home, the debut album from American singer-songwriter Leon Bridges, was drenched in 50’s and 60’s aesthetics. The album wore the influences of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke on its sleeve and resurrected early soul and gospel styles. His second album, Good Things has more modern sounds, including R&B and blues, as teased in the singles earlier.
Iceage – Beyondless
Danish punk-rock band Iceage have released their fourth studio album, Beyondless. This is the followup to their 2014 effort Plowing Into The Field Of Love. The band was formed in 2008, when the members averaged 17 years old. The album features a guest appearance from Sky Ferreira and is produced by Nis Bysted.
Frank Turner – Be More Kind
British singer-songwriter, Frank Turner is back with his seventh studio album, Be More Kind. This is his first album after his 2015 effort, Positive Songs For Negative People. The album is produced by Joshua Block, Austin Jenkins and Charlie Hugall. He began his career as the vocalist for post-hardcore band Million Dead, then embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band’s split in 2005.
Songs:
Dirty Projectors – Break-Thru
American indie rock band Dirty Projectors have announced a new album named Lamp Lit Prose, the band’s second in two years. Along with the album announcement, the New-York band, fronted by David Longstreth, has released a new song named ‘Break-Thru’. ‘Break-Thru’ is a clear return to the new wave indie style of the band, with a sweet-sounding guitar riff running throughout the song and featuring an array of instruments including a harmonica.
Florence + The Machine – Hunger
Now with an album title, Florence + The Machine have released another single from the upcoming album High As Hope, named ‘Hunger’. This is the second single from the album after the more sombre and quiet ‘Sky Full of Song’. ‘Hunger’ sees Florence + The Machine transitioning back into a more acoustic and organic sound in comparison to their previous album. The song is full of affirmation: a celebration of “vibrant youth,” connection, beauty, freedom, risk and, ultimately, self-worth.
Troye Sivan – Bloom
South Africa born Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan has released a new single named ‘Bloom’. This is from his upcoming sophomore untitled album, and follows his last single, ‘My My My’. The album will also feature a collaboration with Ariane Grande. As summed up by Sasha Geffen of Pitchfork, the track is embellished with 80’s summery guitars and ritzy synths, “lending the track a bright 1980s mall pop sheen that could’ve been borrowed from George Michael”.
Mali – Play
Mumbai-based, Chennai brought up singer-songwriter Maalavika Manoj aka Mali has released a new song ‘Play’. This is Mali’s first release in almost a year after her debut EP Rush. The three-and-a-half-minute track employs a breezy fingerpicking guitar pattern and documents the singer’s relationship with her grandfather and their musical connect. “You shy away but not for long, we all begin to sing the song you know to play, the tunes from yesterday,” she sings before noting how his seasoned lungs don’t allow him to play the harmonica like he used to in his prime.
Read: Mali on her experiences on the indie route and how ‘Play’ came to be
Parquet Courts – Mardi Gras Beads
New York based indie garage rock band Parquet Courts have released another single named ‘Mardi Gras Beads’. This is off their upcoming studio album, Wide Awake! The track is the first Wide Awake! single written by Austin Brown shared so far, and was first released as a Record Store Day exclusive. It is a representation of the more tender side of the album, with softer instrumentations, drone-y vocals and a overall poppier sound.
