The UK dominates this week of new releases with standout albums from two British duos. The mysterious twosome known as Jungle release their self-titled debut with XL Recordings, which KEXP's Music Director Don Yates describes as "an excellent set of retro-futuristic electro-funk with shimmering keyboards, funky guitar lines, rubbery beats, layered falsetto vocals and lyrics detailing the modern inner-city blues." And London duo Slow Club share "their third album, an often-stunning set of sleek and sophisticated indie-pop steeped in ‘60s and ‘70s soul and pop. Beautifully produced by Colin Elliot (who’s best known for his lush production work for Richard Hawley), the album masterfully combines a warm blend of guitars, keyboards, strings and horns with lovelorn lyrics, wistful melodies and Rebecca Taylor’s soaring vocals."
Other highlights this week include the debut from The Acid, a project of British producer Adam Freeland, California producer/composer Steve Nalepa and LA-based Australian vocalist Ry X. Yates describes it as a "promising set of post-dubstep electro-pop with a haunting minimalist sound combining dark, atmospheric synths, sparse acoustic guitars, skeletal house and techno rhythms and Ry X’s intimate vocals." Morrissey is back with his tenth solo release, a "set of densely produced art-pop occasionally flavored with Spanish and Middle Eastern elements." Merge Records band Reigning Sound return with their first album in five years, "a more polished, sophisticated and pop-oriented take on their ‘60s-steeped blend of garage-rock, psych, R&B and folk-rock, adding a few more relaxed rhythms and occasional strings to their elemental garage-soul sound." Hercules & Love Affair are back with "a more aggressive edge along with stronger songs and guest vocalists to a rugged, club-oriented blend of old-school house and techno."
In reissues, 4AD shares two long out-of-print Cocteau Twins albums, Blue Bell Knoll and Heaven or Las Vegas, on heavyweight black vinyl pressings, cut from brand-new HD 96/24 masters. As part of their 25th anniversary, Merge Records shares The Clean's essential collection Anthology on quadruple LP.
And finally, "Weird Al" Yankovic releases his fourteenth album today, which he tells NPR may very well be his last "proper" album.
Highlights for this sleepy summer week include the debut from Toronto-based band Alvvays (pronounced "always," if you were wonderin'). KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes the release as "a promising set of hazy, surf-inflected dream-pop. Produced by Chad VanGaalen, the album features a reverb-d…
Highlights for this week include the debut release from The Proper Ornaments, a UK group led by Max Claps and Veronica Falls’ James Hoare. KEXP's Music Director Don Yates describes their first full-length as "a sturdy, well-crafted set of hazy psych-pop with jangly guitars, warm harmonies, wistful …
