New Albums 2024

THE WAEVE – Partners Graham Coxon And Rose Dougall Deliver A Richly Orchestrated And Varied 2nd LP With ‘CITY LIGHTS’

Posted on by JL

24 September 2024

Blur‘s guitarist Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall
launched their sophomore album, titled CITY LIGHTS.

Order info here.

Press info:”A year on from their acclaimed eponymous debut album, The WAEVE is back with City Lights, a collection of 10 songs that illustrate the evolution of their collaborative musicianship and sees the band’s sound solidified into something bolder, more expansive and self-assured. Written by the pair, and produced once again by James Ford (Fontaines D.C and Arctic Monkeys) the album features Graham and Rose on vocals, as well as keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, drums and saxophone.

MOJO (monthly UK magazine): “A yin-yang parity asserts itself with the wistful, jazzy,
Rose-sung Simple Days, electro-pop You Saw and epic, wicca-ish Druantia. Elsewhere,
there’s arty chamber pop, demented swing-jazz and the epic Surf’s Up-echoing closer
Sunrise: middle-aged bliss has rarely sounded so weirdly magical.”

TUTV: Partners in love, partners in parenthood, partners in music. With this 2nd LP
Coxon and Dougall offer an even more varied one than their notable debut. They rock out (City Lights, You Saw, Moth To The Flame, Broken Boys, Simple Days) and slow down (I Belong To, lullaby for their little daughter Song For Eliza May, Girl Of The Endless Night) with three constants.

Arrestive tunes, rich instrumental orchestrations and emotional, alternating and duet vocals. You hear a happy and dynamic couple delivering a high-songwriting-quality record. Embrace it with your ears, heart and soul, it’ll feel good.

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Linktree

THURSTON MOORE In A Psychedelic Trance On New Solo LP ‘FLOW CRITICAL LUCIDITY’

Posted on by JL

21 September 2024


New album artwork

Former Sonic Youth hero THURSTON MOORE (aged 66 now) has a productive post
Sonic Youth output. He just launched his 5th solo album in 7 years. It’s titled Flow
Critical Lucidity.

Press info: The songs include lyrical references to their environments and inspired by nature, lucid dreaming, modern dance and Isadora Duncan… Flow Critical Lucidity comes from a lyric in the single ‘Sans Limites’ and the album sleeve cover art features Jamie Nares’ ‘Samurai Walkman’ — a helmet befitted with tuning forks.”

TUTV: Moore operates in a sort of trance here, with Eastern psych vibes here and there
Seven ruminative, guitar-dominating jams, with dreamy vocals, causing a soothing and calming experience somewhere up there in an imaginary space. A phantasmic, spiritual and at times hypnotizing record for lazy winter nights.


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TM: Linktree

CONOR OBERST And BRIGHT EYES On An Emotional Roller Coaster With New Album ‘FIVE DICE, ALL THREES’

Posted on by JL

20 September 2024


Press photo by Nik Freitas

Nebraska‘s pop/rock trio BRIGHT EYES formed by singer-songwriter Conor Oberst
back in 1995 have their 11th LP, titled FIVE DICE, ALL THREES out today.

Press info: “Five Dice, All Threes is a record of uncommon intensity and tenderness, communal exorcism and personal excavation. Oberst has always sung in a voice that conveys a sense of life-or-death gravity. At times throughout Five Dice, All Threes, you may feel worried for him; other times, he may seem like the only one with the clarity to get us out of this mess. In his songwriting lies a promise that our loneliest thoughts and feelings can take on grander shapes when passed between friends, blasted through speakers, or shouted among crowds. As per usual, the music comes loaded with subtext that invites deep listening—the signature touch of a band who has always honored the album as its own exalted work of art. The record doesn’t just sound like classic Bright Eyes. It sounds like their future, too.”


Album artwork

Uncut (UK magazine): “Five Dice, All Threes sounds like they’ve caught up with themselves: even if Bright Eyes are struggling to scrape together optimism about the future, there is every reason why their fans should.”

TUTV: It’s Bright Eyes by numbers, but I like their romantic, heart-rending, mixed
emotions numbers. Oberst voice still is the magnetizing instrument up front and his
moods swing again from left to right and back, but, unfortunately, breaks the rhythm,
pace and effectiveness of the record too many times. An emotional roller coaster it is
with high and low moments.

SINGLE

ALBUM


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BE: Linktree

NADA SURF – Guitar Pop Experts Glow Once Again On Their New Album ‘MOON MIRROR’

Posted on by JL

New notable longplayers

18 September 2024


Photo by Paloma Bomé

NYC’s veterans NADA SURF showed up back in 1992. They changed their name
no less than 3 times – Helicopter, Caws and Lorca – in 3 years before they decided
to go for Nada Surf.

The buoyant foursome just launched their
10th album, baptized MOON MIRROR.

MOJO: “Nada Surf have always been close to greatness,
and Moon Mirror won’t win new fans, but it is wonderful.”

TUTV: NS keep it simple but effective again with a mix of uplifting and melancholic melodies embedded in a up/down reverberating sound of sparkling guitar lines, juiced with perky vocals. At times Scottish dreamers Teenage Fanclub come to mind, then again when pace and amps go up I hear Dinosaur Jr echoes. After all these years Nada Surf are still relevant and gratify. They glow brightly.

STREAM


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BUY


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NS: Instagram

TINDERSTICKS – Midnight Bar-Room Entertainers Have Their 14th Album Named ‘SOFT TISSUE’ Out

Posted on by JL

17 September 2024


Impressive album artwork

As communicated a couple of months ago British crooners TINDERSTICKS,
led by smoky crooner Stuart A. Staples released their 14th album, called
SOFT ISSUE.

Press info: Tindersticks‘ 14th album “Soft Tissue” showcases their exploratory spirit,
mixing intimate songwriting with experimental soundscapes. The album evolves from
their previous work, balancing introspective lyrics with innovative musical textures.

The Guardian (English newspaper): “The music on Soft Tissue is understated and hushed
enough to conjure the feeling that the whole thing was recorded somewhere dimly lit, in the small hours of the morning, but it also feels warm, satisfying, and in places, rooted in 70s soul.”b

TUTV: Nothing new here. Tindersticks do what they do for 30+ years now.
They entertain your ears and mind with soundtracks for a lazy night in. Candlelight musings and shadowy reveries with Stuart A. Staples‘ midnight bar-room voice in the middle. It doesn’t work all the time, but enough to make you immersed in a state of restfulness.

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram

FAT DOG – London’s Disco Punk Cowboys Ignite A Turbulent Party With Their Debut Album ‘WOOF.’

Posted on by JL

14 September 2024


Album artwork

Five London disco-punk cowboys teamed up during the awful 2020 lockdown year
(many bored youngsters decided to do so, to kill time inside) and started FAT DOG.

Last year, they showed up for the first time with bombastic knockout single King Of
The Slugs and now several whopping singles later, their debut LP WOOF. is out for
grabs.


Photo credit: Frank Fieber

NME: “London’s must-see live band justify the hype with a reckless and raucous debut album pumped full of adrenaline. unserious, unhinged and sensational. Unserious, unhinged and sensational. Scream the words and dive head-first into the Fat Dog experience, because ‘Woof.’ is pure, unbridled escapism – just what the world needs right now.” 5/5.

TUTV: Expect a punk disco drone machine with a, yes, Eastern music inspired sultriness
on the orgasmic choruses. This turbulent record will create maddening moshpits around our planet with people who desperately want to escape their straight jackets and the exhausting rat race as we know it, at least in the weekends.

They build up their songs, zigzag their way to a mind-blowing refrain and smack them down afterward and start all over again. Chaotically awesome. One minus: almost all
of their sucker punches have that same structure. Down, up, down. There’s not really much variation, but who needs that when you’re drowning in a vortex of escapism.

No, it’s not the masterpiece, as the British press hyped it, yet.
But a razzle-dazzle start it is. And I’m looking forward to see
them live next month.

SINGLES: Whither / King Of Slugs

ALBUM


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FD: Instagram

MATT JOHNSON And THE THE Are Back With Moody Mixed Emotions Album ‘ENSOULMENT’

Posted on by JL

New must hear longplayers

12 September 2024

THE THE, the musical project of London‘s veteran psych-pop songsmith
MATT JOHNSON started its journey 45 years ago. The Smiths‘ former
guitar hero Johnny Marr was a TT member for a long time.

Johnson is back with his first proper album, his 7th, titled ENSOULMENT.
The first full length in 24 years. Not that he was lazy inbetween as he scored
a couple of soundtracks and worked on other non-TT related projects.


Album artwork

Press info: “The The’s first studio album of new songs in a quarter century! The 12 songs on Ensoulment encompasses characteristic topics ranging from love and sex, war and politics, life &anddeath – to the meaning of what it is to be human in the 21st century.”

Classic Rock Magazine says: “Sound-wise there’s a gravelly, mature, post-punk bluesiness about The The in 2024, some of the blackness of Johnny Cash. But there are silvery moments
of hopelessness.”

TUTV: Johnson obviously has the blues. Most of the tracks are slowly and midtempo progressing reveries and contemplative musings about then, now and tomorrow. Funky
here and there (like opener Cognitive Dissident), but no sudden flare-ups.

Older and mellower, but still a sharp observer of all things happening around him.
Give Ensoulment a couple of spins and let your ears absorb the mood swings.

SINGLE

ALBUM


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TT: Instagram

EQUATOR – Canadian Pitbulls Attack With Uppercut After Uppercut On New Album ‘HOOLIGAN’

Posted on by JL

New must hear longplayers

10 September 2024

Band: EQUATOR
Who: Hard-hitting-screaming
noiseniks from Toronto, CA.

New album: HOOLIGAN

Press info: This new release is a raucous blend of anthemic rock ‘n’ roll, brimming with boogie, rage, forgiveness, and raw energy. The music is loud, fast, and bombastic, infused with lyrics that highlight our ongoing struggle for equality and the collective effort required to bridge the gap.

TUTV: Imagine MC5 have a headbutt fight with The Stooges, while Led Zeppelin are
waiting around the corner, armed with battleaxes, to have their go at the winner.
Gee wizz. Sounds fucking cool, right? You betcha.

Equator unleash uppercut after uppercut at your ears and poor loudspeakers. What you hear is what you get. Filthy garage blues-punk rock. Helter skelter. A non-stop tsunami of Herculean riffs, primal Wolfmother screams, berserk octopus drumming and voluminous choruses combine for a badass whopping record. Fasten your seatbelts for these manic hooligans.

You know what to do.
Turn the volume to the max.

STREAM/BUY


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Facebook – Instagram

JOHN LEGEND Enchants With Heartwarming Family Album ‘MY FAVOURITE DREAM’

Posted on by JL

New longplayers

4 September 2024

Artist: JOHN LEGEND
Who: Famous 45-year-old
singer/songwriter/producer
from Ohio.

New album: MY FAVOURITE DREAM
It’s his 10th longplayer. One with “sing-alongs and lullabies for children
and families.” It contains 9 new songs, 3 Fischer-Price covers and 3 bonus
tracks.

The record is produced by Sufjan Stevens.


Press photo

Legend about Stevens: “I just felt his musical approach would be perfect for building arrangements and soundscapes to complement the songs. When I was thinking about
who could bring these songs to life with me, he was the first and only choice. I’m so glad
he said ‘yes’.

The album resonates like it’s Xmas in Summer.
Heartwarming tunes for the whole family.


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JL: Instagram

LAURIE ANDERSON Released Her 9th LP – A Cinematic Tribute To The Legendary American Aviator ‘AMELIA’

Posted on by JL

New longplayers

3 September 2024

Avant-garde artist and Lou Reed’s widow LAURIE ANDERSON
just launched her 9th LP, her first in 6 years. It’s titled AMELIA.

Order info here.


Album artwork

The new album is centered around female pioneering aviator
Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) who was the first woman to cross
the Atlantic Ocean. She went missing after a fatal flight in 1937.

Anderson: “The words used in Amelia are inspired by her pilot diaries, the telegrams
she wrote to her husband, and my idea of what a woman flying around the world might
think about. Helping bring her musical vision to life are Czech orchestra Filharmonie Brno
with conductor Dennis Russell Davies, Anohni, Gabriel Cabezas, Rob Moose, Ryan Kelly,
Martha Mooke, Marc Ribot, Tony Scherr, Nadia Sirota, and Kenny Wolleson.”

Spin says: “On Amelia, Anderson resurrects this courageous woman and gives her breath, heart, and soul. It is impossible to hear this aerial ballet and walk away unaffected.”

TUTV: This is not an ordinary album structurally, sonically nor vocally. This record is the soundtrack to an Amelia documentary yet to be made. Anderson tells (short) stories about Amalia‘s adventures, only on the 3 songs featuring endearing voice Anohni and one other track there’s some singing. The album is a 34-minute symphony honoring a legendary aviator. Captivating experience it is. Give it a couple of spins and enjoy the flight, it’s an awesome one.


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LA: Instagram