[JamieG]

Seeing as we're all stuck at home at the moment. I guess we've been listening to more new music that usual. I have anyway. So I thought we could start a thread for great new albums.

My favourite discovery so far is Waxahatchee's new album Saint Cloud. Lovely country folk. Feels quite uplifting in these weird times, even if some of the lyrics are quite bittersweet and dark.

[dontfollowme]

Has to be the Craven Faults album for me:



https://cravenfaults.bandcamp.com/album/erratics-unconformities

From a review:
Although they have been releasing music as Craven Faults for a few years, not much is known about the musician other than that they work from a disused textile mill somewhere in Yorkshire. A glance at any of their social media pages doesn’t give much more insight other than demonstrating their deep appreciation for synths and audio gear, which they let do the talking for them.

‘Vacca Wall’, named for the mysterious alignment of rocks found in the forest of Chevin, unspools with engrossing patience, reeling in your attention. This is rewarded somewhere deep into the extended run time when a satisfying bass thud that surfaces from the recesses of the synth undercurrent.

[nai]

Monophonics, It's Only Us

60s style California psyche soul, listened to their previous stuff and at times I thought the album had finished and I was listening to Curtis on the subsequent album radio

https://www.treblezine.com/monophonics-its-only-us-review/

https://open.spotify.com/album/5sfg0vawAop8SLgWju5nmS?si=4HtMv5tqSDKHLOFbdIis8Q

Algiers, There is No Year

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/19/algiers-there-is-no-year-review

https://open.spotify.com/album/7eVY0677xRMK8I4syfRA6M?si=4fYhXfMqRi-8USDjWE3-YA

If you've never head the Underside of Power go back and listen to that too

Beefy Northern that you can't help but move to, one of my favourite tracks ever

[Hoseyb]

Heard some of this on Dandelion Radio and thought it's ace (and it came out this year). Don't like a lot of modern techno but this bubbles along nicely
https://www.discogs.com/AYU-Acid-Crystal-Maze-EP/release/14791634

[JamieG]

Monophonics, It's Only Us

Really enjoyed this!

[Fiend]

Technically it's last December but it's close enough for me.

The "Failure" track is already a mega-classic:



13 minutes of finely crafted electronic epicness.

[Falling Down]

I'll have a listen to some these this weekend - good thread Jamie.

Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band's 'Just Like Moby Dick' is my highlight of the year so far.  This is my favourite track.



The Touch label, a stalwart of field recording, ambient and noise since the 80's is doing an exclusive 20 track series during lockdown called Isolation for twenty quid via Bandcamp.  https://touch33.net/news/touch-isolation.html & there have been some brilliant pieces of work by Fennesz, Chris Watson, Eleh and others.

This mix of various artists off the Unseen World's label by the Visible Cloaks is well good. 

St by the Powers / Rolin Duo is a really lovely instrumental 12 string guitar and dulcimer LP.

Not new (from 1982) but I've been listening to Shipbuilding by Robert Wyatt a few times a a week during lockdown for some reason and a lot of Richard Skelton too.

[JamieG]

I'll have a listen to some these this weekend - good thread Jamie.

Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band's 'Just Like Moby Dick' is my highlight of the year so far.  This is my favourite track.



The Touch label, a stalwart of field recording, ambient and noise since the 80's is doing an exclusive 20 track series during lockdown called Isolation for twenty quid via Bandcamp.  https://touch33.net/news/touch-isolation.html & there have been some brilliant pieces of work by Fennesz, Chris Watson, Eleh and others.

This mix of various artists off the Unseen World's label by the Visible Cloaks is well good. 

St by the Powers / Rolin Duo is a really lovely instrumental 12 string guitar and dulcimer LP.

Not new (from 1982) but I've been listening to Shipbuilding by Robert Wyatt a few times a a week during lockdown for some reason and a lot of Richard Skelton too.

Nice suggestions FD. Enjoyed the Terry Allen.

I'm cheating because I've only just discovered this album but it actually came out last year. Lovely stuff from Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes fame) and Phoebe Bridgers.

[JamieG]

Two more cheats. Both from 2019 (i'm obviously a year behind).

More fantastic raps from Aesop Rock this time under the guise of Malibu Ken. One of the few rappers I like.



Really loving American Football's newest album (LP3). One of the all time best proper 'emo' bands. This is the standout track I think.

[JamieG]

Run the Jewels - RTJ4

Excellent fourth album that couldn't have come at a more important time. Needless to say they are no fans of the police.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_rR2s4GqBlaoriE6n0AvLGu_3e0_nHgr

[JamieG]

Phoebe Bridgers new album Punisher is excellent. Definitely more of a psychedelic haze hanging over the whole album than her last one Stranger in the Alps. But her brilliant song writing and voice cut through the fuzz fantastically.


I particularly like this song and the video is pretty funny/creepy.

(Does features flashing lights for anyone with photosensitive epilepsy)

 

[dontfollowme]

One of my highlights so far:

[SA Chris]

Didn't know Caribou and Four Tet had both released new stuff this year, not sure which i prefer.

[SA Chris]

Four Tet so far

[Andy F]

Derek Dick's latest, and last ever album Weltschmerz is quite stunning. 84 minutes of stories ranging from the Syrian civil war to the destruction caused by Alzheimer's.

Probably his best writing since he left Marillion.

[tomtom]

Didn’t realise Fish was still going/alive.

[Andy F]

This is the song about dementia. Utterly heartbreaking.

[Fiend]

3/4 of the way through and this is winning for me, utterly intense and captivating:

[JamieG]

Piccadilly Records annual run down. Don't recognise many of the top albums, so should be an interesting listen.

https://www.piccadillyrecords.com/counter/feature.php?&feature=1024

[jwi]

If the already recorded DOMi & JD Beck album is not released this year, there will not be an album of the year this year.

While waiting:

[JamieG]

Not really my thing jwi I'm afraid. But the musicianship was certainly impressive. The drumming in particular was very good.

[steveri]

The Baxter Dury has some great tracks.
People of a certain age might like the new Cabaret Voltaire album, some of the tracks could slot right in from the likes of Microphonies from the 80s. Oddly prescient at the time, weathered well. Paranoid music for strange times.
Been enjoying Sparks latest - how old must they be now?
Kishi Bashi, Max Richter, Sufjan Stevens, Sleaford Mods as a brain dump.
Have been going back through Malcolm Middleton - Blue Plastic Bag, perfect lockdown track.

[SA Chris]

New Avalanches. Only got half way through, don't think it's up there with Wildflower or Since I Left you, but still good.

[andy_e]