After nearly five years, Arctic Monkeys have released their long-awaited sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino. The last week also saw new albums from Beach House, Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon), La Luz and The Body. New singles from Bastille, John Mayer and Death Grips also highlight the releases from the week gone by.
Albums:
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
After 2013’s smash hit AM with singles such as ‘Do I Wanna Know’ and ‘R U Mine’, Sheffield rockers Arctic Monkeys are back with their latest, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino. This is the band’s sixth album and has been released without any prior singles in support of the album. It is produced by frequent Arctic Monkeys collaborator James Ford and band frontman Alex Turner.
Beach House – 7
Baltimore based dream pop band Beach House has released its seventh studio album, 7. This is the follow up to their 2015 studio album, Thank Your Lucky Stars and 2017 compilation B-sides and Rarities. This album is a result of a new creative process spread over almost a year.
Ratnang Singh – The War
Ratnang Singh’s debut full-length album The War is a set of seven songs laden with emotion and depth.
Read: Ratnang Singh on how he channeled grief to produce ‘The War’
La Luz – Floating Features
Floating Features is the third full-length album from the Los Angeles based surf pop band La Luz. It follows up the band’s 2015 second album Weirdo Shrine. The album is inspired by both the physical and psychological features of Los Angeles.
Mark Kozelek – Mark Kozelek
One of the most prolific indie singer-songwriters, Mark Kozelek has released his tenth studio album, Mark Kozelek. Kozelek, primarily known as the primary recording artist of the indie folk band Sun Kil Moon, has also released six studio albums as part of Red House Painters. Sun Kil Moon’s 2014 album Benji was critically acclaimed, ranking high in many year-end lists.
Songs:
Bastille – Quarter Past Midnight
It has been a relatively quiet last eighteen months from the British alternative pop band Bastille. Apart from a couple of features including one in Craig David’s latest solo album, the band has stayed under the covers for the much of 2017. Now working on its third album, Bastille has dropped a single named ‘Quarter Past Midnight’. It is a melancholic banger, with Dan Smith’s voice in typically pristine from, let down only by the fact that it becomes somewhat overproduced.
Chromeo – Bad Decision
American electro-funk duo Chromeo has released another single from its upcoming album Head Over Heels, named ‘Bad Decision’. It follows earlier released singles ‘Juice’, ‘Bedroom Dream’ and ‘Must’ve Been’. Although one can guess how a typical Chromeo song unfolds, it doesn’t take anything away from the song itself. The track is a glitzy retro-funk gem, and plays to its strengths, while also keeping the sound fresh.
John Mayer – New Light (feat. No I.D.)
American singer-songwriter and guitarist John Mayer has released a new single named ‘New Light’. It features production from hip-hop No I.D.(Kanye West, Jay-Z, Big Sean). This follows his previous album, The Search For Everything released last year, and his tours with the Grateful Dead. The song is surprisingly infectious, a smooth summer-y 80’s throwback bop, in spite of the overall cheesiness of the lyrics.
LUMP – Late To The Flight
Superduo LUMP has released a new single off its eponymous debut album, named ‘Late To The Flight’. The duo consists of British singer-songwriter Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay (founding member of Tunng and Throws). It follows earlier released single ‘Curse of The Contemporary’. The song is reminiscent of Marling’s earlier works, with haunting vocals and echo-driven guitars and synths, while the lyrics explore being trapped in dreams.
Death Grips –Streaky
American experimental hip-hop trio Death Grips have released a new single named ‘Streaky’. It is off Death Grips’ upcoming album Year Of The Snitch, which includes Tool’s Justin Chancellor and Shrek director, Andrew Adamson. ‘Streaky’ is one of the most accessible songs the trio has ever made. The glitchy electronics do not drown out Ride’s vocals, and there is a considerable toning down of the impenetrable wall of sounds and noise that usually engulfs a Death Grips songs.
