The week’s list of new releases is somewhat short, considering that most labels, bands, and music fans in general are currently gathered in Austin for SXSW. (Be sure to check out KEXP’s broadcast starting Wednesday!) But you’ll still find enough great new music to lure you into record stores today, including the second album from Spoek Mathambo out on Sub Pop. On Father Creeper, the South African DJ/producer twists rock, electronica and rap with traditional African into a futuristic collage. Speaking of old sounds made new, Vince Clarke and Martin Gore, two founding members of Depeche Mode, have reunited after 30 years to form VCMG, inspired by Clarke’s recent interest in techno. Composed entirely via email, Ssss marks a minimalist turn for the long-productive songwriters (Clarke with Erasure and Gore with Depeche Mode), who trade lyricism for purified dance beats. Memphis band Lucero returns with Women & Work, which our Music Director, Don Yates, calls “another first-rate set of soul-steeped, barroom roots-rock with Stones-ish guitars, Memphis soul horns, barrelhouse piano and Ben Nichols’ gravelly singing.” And Seattle’s palindrome loving TacocaT make their Hardly Art debut with the smart pop-punk EP, Take Me to Your Dealer.
Other new releases you’ll want to check out today include the latest from dark, driving indie-rock band Freshkills, a followup to the well-received debut of UK duo The Ting Tings, and even more rollicking American rock and roll from San Diego’s Delta Spirit. Give a listen to the songs below and discover some new favorites:
from Delta Spirit on Rounder
Freshkills - Positive Vibes (MP3)
from Raise Up the Sheets on Bat Rabies Alert/The End Records
The Hussy - Undefined (MP3)
from Weed Seizure on Tic Tac Totally
Lucero - Sometimes (MP3)
from Women & Work on ATO Records
Say Anything - Burn a Miracle
from Anarchy, My Dear on Vision Records
Spoek Mathambo - Put Some Red on It (MP3)
from Father Creeper on Sub Pop
Tacocat - Spring Break-Up (MP3)
from Take Me To Your Dealer on Hardly Art
The Ting Tings - Hang It Up
from Sounds From Nowheresville on Columbia
Tiger! Tiger! - Perfume of Despair
from Cut Them Where They Bleed on Chicken Ranch Records
Tribes - Sappho
from Baby on Fairfax Recordings/Universal Republic Records
VCMG - Single Blip (MP3)
from Ssss on Mute Records
