Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before
Any music bud; no… anyone with Twitter; no… anyone with access to the internet will be able to tell you that Taylor Swift commences her long-awaited, Ticketmaster-crashing Eras Tour today, 17 March. And to celebrate its commencement, she’s released four previously unreleased tracks, including ‘All of the Girls You Loved Before’, believed to be an outtake from Swift’s 2019 Lover era.
Yves Tumor – Lovely Sewer
I doubt any album will be as boldly titled as Yves Tumor’s Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) this year. Such artistic confidence is justified: the album is a wild assortment of manic screams and sonic flips that adds to the artist’s signature sound. ‘Lovely Sewer’ is, our review writes, “an opportunity to really bask in this tortured, satanic imagery”.
Fred Again.., Four Tet, Skrillex – Baby again..
It’s Fred Again.. – again. And not just him, but the brilliant three-way bromance also involving Four Tet and Skrillex. Few tracks will elicit the anticipation of a Friday night on this list than ‘Baby again..’.
Kamal. – crowded places
Kamal. defies his age (just 20) yet again on his latest album, so here you are, drowning, out today. The delicate, acoustic touch of penultimate track ‘crowded places’ might see the fledgling artist remark he’s “Trying to find the room to breathe”, but ironically such a song is what gives the album as a whole a sense of delicate exhalation, a moment of calm and clarity. Read our full review of Kamal’s so here you are, drowning here.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Meshuggah
Despite a number of impressive tunes over the years, New Zealand psych-rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra have, to some extent, lived up to their name by being remaining relatively mysterious. Their latest album V – a double album, written between Palm Springs and Hawaii – sees them dust off any such coyness, with plush, beachside rock. Read our full review of V here.
Black Honey – I’m A Man
A Fistful of Peaches, the latest record from Brighton indie-rockers Black Honey might not always hit the sonic heights of 2021’s Written & Directed, but it does hold some of the band’s best lyricism to date; appearing none more so than on confrontational track ‘I’m A Man’, which sees frontwoman Izzy Bee Phillips speak from the perspective of the opposite gender. Read our full review of A Fistful of Peaches here.
Sister Bliss, Hyacinth & Apollo, Jinadu – Life Is A Melody
A bittersweet release today from Sister Bliss. ‘Life Is A Melody’, a collaboration with Hyacinth & Apollo, Jinadu, is the first release from the Faithless member since the death of the legendary Maxi Jazz just before Christmas. It’s nigh impossible to listen to the song, with its lyrics of “Life is a melody / Move through minor key / Let it go / Let it be” without seeing it as relating to the late, great icon.
Ryan Beatty – Ribbons
American singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty announces his brand-new album Calico today, set for release on 28 April, and does say with the release of new tune ‘Ribbons’ – a deft, Frank Oceam-esque over elegant piano.
Chappaqua Wrestling – Need You No More
Another Brighton band that produce buzzy bangers on this week’s release slate, Chappaqua Wrestling have dropped ‘Need You No More’ – a classic tub-thumbing anthem that’s all about living in the moment, and puts one in mind (and spirit) of a festival tent that’s not too far round the corner.
Aluna, TSHA – Killing Me
And to wrap-up this week’s list, we finish with an unapologetically Friday-feels tune that sees Aluna – of multi-platinum- selling duo AlunaGeorge – team up with whynow favourite TSHA. “Having been a huge admirer of TSHA’s production I was so thrilled to get the opportunity to work together, but what came out surprised us both,” Aluna has revealed of the track. “It’s a catchy bop, but it’s still wonky and fresh with that distinctive originality that TSHA has us all in a choke hold.” You’re not wrong, Aluna, you’re not wrong…
