RAYE — My 21st Century Blues, (3 February)
With a first-ever UK number one single under her belt — the viral hit ‘Escapism’ featuring 070 Shake — RAYE is in red-hot form as we head for the release of My 21st Century Blues. The album isn’t just the 25-year-old’s debut full-length album but is being released independently after the singer parted ways with her record label in 2021. The success ‘Escapism’ has already had is, therefore, quite something.
Shania Twain — Queen of Me, (3 February)
Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain, is dropping her sixth studio album this month, her first since 2017’s Now. Avid fans of the Canadian hitmaker, the best-selling female artist in country music history, might already have seen glimpses into making the new record via the Netflix documentary Not Just A Girl, in which she went as far as previewing some of the album’s tracks.
Young Fathers — Heavy Heavy, (3 February)
Edinburgh trio Young Fathers — that’s Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham Hastings — are kicking-on with the follow-up to 2018’s Cocoa Sugar with their brand-new record Heavy Heavy. Judging by the four singles released to date, they’ll be taking an ever-so-slightly more polished direction but nonetheless never quite escaping the unsettling, stimulating qualities that we’ve come to know and love of the Mercury Prize winners.
Kelela — Raven, (10 February)
Last year in particular, we saw plenty of records that promised to “go deeper”, offering a more introspective aspect from the artist or band — from Kendrick’s spiritually conflicted Mr Morale & the Big Steppers to Arctic Monkeys’ lounge-rock The Car. Kelela’s Raven is one such album that pledges something similar across its 15 tracks. Not long to hear what that will entail.
Paramore — This Is Why, (10 February)
Can you hear it? The baying mass of Hayley Williams & co. fans, all in an anticipatory clamour for Paramore’s first album in nearly six years? (No, I can’t either, but the dramatic effect was there. And speak to any fans directly, and they’ll tell you: This Is Why is going to be a biggun’).
Yo La Tengo — This Stupid World, (10 February)
New Jersey indie-rock veterans Yo La Tengo have put out two reissues (one of 1995’s Electr-O-Pura, the other of 1997’s I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One) since 2020’s We Have Amnesia Sometimes. And now they’re returning with some brand-new music this Feb, with This Stupid World, which will be supported by both a tour of the States and the UK.
You Me At Six — Truth Decay, (10 February)
Pushed back from its original 27 January release date due to vinyl production issues, Truth Decay is the follow-up to 2021’s Suckapunch – an album which scored the band the second Number 1 album of their career and their sixth consecutive Top 10. You Me At Six will be hoping to preserve such success levels this month now that their vinyl issues have been solved.
Caroline Polachek — Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, (14 February)
Avant-pop star Caroline Polachek recently engaged in a very healthy Twitter tirade, denouncing the constant comparisons she gets with Kate Bush. “While I realise it’s a huge compliment,” she said, “I’m endlessly fucking annoyed by being told I’m ‘this generation’s Kate Bush’. SHE is our generation’s Kate Bush, she is an active artist who’s topping the charts, and is irreplaceable. I, meanwhile, am this generation’s Caroline Polachek.” That you are, Caroline, and you have a new album out this Feb.
Inhaler — Cuts & Bruises, (17 February)
Dublin four-piece Inhaler are delivering their anticipated sophomore album this month. The follow-up to the band’s chart-topping debut, It Won’t Always Be Like This, also follows extensive touring and sees them work with regular collaborator, producer Antony Genn. Expect swagger and flair among Cuts & Bruises.
Orbital — Optical Delusion, (17 February)
Seminal electronic duo Orbital give us their tenth studio album this month, a record which promises to “dig deeper into the unquiet psyche of our increasingly surreal and disordered world” — a prelude that sounds dissimilar from John Cale’s recent, albeit very different release. These slightly sinister records might just be the sonic tonics we need in these turbulent times.
P!nk — Trustfall, (17 February)
Written in the aftermath of her and her son falling ill to COVID, P!nk explained to Good Morning America, Trustfall is an album created in the spirit of “what actually matters”. The video for the title track, already released, bears much of this same philosophy, depicting a trust exercise that’s all about letting go and having a bit of faith that things will work out.
Gorillaz — Cracker Island, (24 February)
Cracker Island is the upcoming eighth studio album from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon outfit, Gorillaz. Even after all this time, it promises to be something of a gem, with Kevin Parker (aka Tame Impala) among the production credits and a song made with Bad Bunny, ‘Tormenta’, the first track to be made from the album. Like 2010’s Plastic Beach, which was also feature-heavy, this album seems set on a mythical island.
Philip Selway — Strange Dance, (24 February)
Whilst there’ve been some quiet murmurings about a possible reunion of sorts by Radiohead this year, for the time being, at least, we’ll have to do with solo work from some of the band’s accomplished members. That’s no bad thing at all. And Phil Selway, an ambassador for Independent Venue Week, leads the pack this month.
Lil Uzi Vert — The Pink Tape, (TBC)
And last but by no means least — and if at all — Lil Uzi may or may not be dropping The Pink Tape this month. Fans of the Philly rapper have had their hopes up before, with a rumoured December release date passing by without a drop last year. But in their most recent message around the album, Lil Uzi released a screenshot declaring it would be “dropping February”. We’ll find out over the course of this month.
