As we allegedly move towards some form of normality, Getintothis’ Simon Kirk earmarks this week’s top releases.
Football’s back and the lockdown is easing. Back to normal!
Hardly.
If we’re honest, it all becomes more mystifying as the days tick over and merge into the next. Particularly those of us who have spent this lockdown on our own.
It feels stranger than ever and, to be honest, it doesn’t feel like receding anytime soon.
Anyway…
For those who missed our Albums Under the Radar feature earlier this week, hit it up for some new treasures. There’s plenty there to sink your fangs into.
Speaking of, there’s more of that right here, with a swathe of new releases with the heavy hitters interwoven with obscure oddities (hello Arca!).
We’ve also updated our Weekly 7 playlist for those who wish to indulge, which is located at the end of this column.
That’s all for now. Enjoy the sun and stay safe.
This week’s top picks.
Under the radar albums in 2020: 31 best new records to discover
Nadine Shah
1. Nadine Shah: Kitchen Sink
Infectious Music
Following her Hyundai Mercury Prize nominated 2017 album, Holiday Destination, Nadine Shah returns with the much anticipated Kitchen Sink.
Kitchen Sink sees Shah exploring her own story as a woman in her thirties and the societal pressures and expectations that come with that. Shah once again partners with long time collaborator, Ben HillIer.
Haim
2. HAIM: Woman in Music Pt. III
Columbia
Is summer here? Well, so is HAIM, returning with their third album, Women In Music Pt. III.
The album was produced by the trio’s frequent collaborators, Rostam Batmanglij and Ariel Rechtshaid.
Plenty of hype around the Getintothis traps for this one. Let’s see if it holds up…
Khruangbin (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
3. Khruangbin: Mordechai
Dead Oceans
Following up from their collaboration with Leon Bridges earlier this year, Khruangbin return with their ever evolving far-flung musical languages with Moredechai.
On Moredechai, the band’s third album, there’s an artistic shift, with vocals featuring widely throughout, which is a first for the band. Suffice to say, there’s big hype surrounding this one.
James Krivchenia’s A New Found Relaxation
4. James Krivchenia: A New Found Relaxation
House Arrest
Big Thief drummer, James Krivchenia, releases his latest solo album, A New Found Relaxation.
This is vastly different to Krivchenia‘s day job with Big Thief, more focused on ambience and abstract soundscapes. Still, Big Thief fans will like the shift, we’re sure.
The Salisbury Poisonings: BBC dramatisation of 2018 attack shines light on everyday heroes
Jessie Ware (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
5. Jessie Ware: What’s Your Pleasure?
Virgin/EMI
After two years, Jessie Ware returns with her fourth album, What’s Your Pleasure?
What’s Your Pleasure is a collection of sophisticated, hard-bodied pop funk that pays homage to the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s club culture.
There are plenty of collaborations on this one, too.
Arca (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
6. Arca: KiCk i
XL Recordings
The weird and wonderful world of Arca returns, this time with her new album, KiCK i.
Speaking of features, there are plenty here, with Björk, Rosalía, Shygirl, and SOPHIE all providing contributions to KiCK i. Expect more weirdness from the Venezuelan producer.
Country Westerns (photo credit: via artist’s Facebook page)
7. Country Westerns: Country Westerns
Fat Possum Records
Three piece rockers, Nashville’s Country Westerns, unleash their self-titled debut album, which was producer by Matt Sweeney.
Consisting of drummer, Brian Kotzur (Trash Humpers, Silver Jews), singer-songwriter-guitarist, Joseph Plunket (The Weight, Gentleman Jesse) and bassist Sabrina Rush (State Champion), this band sound nothing like their namesake.
Tip of the week here, folks.
This week’s other notable releases:
- Atta Boy: Big Heart Manners (Self-released)
- The Vacant Lots: Interzone (Fuzz Club)
- Bridget Dawson & The Mothers Network: Ballet of Apes (Castle Face)
- Pottery: Welcome to Bobby’s Motel (Partisan Records)
- Arya Zappa: Dark Windows (Kobra Recordings)
- Art Feynman: (Luke Temple of Here We Go Magic) Half Price at 3:30 (Western Vinyl)
- Bananagun: The True Story of Bananagun (Full Time Hobby)
- Becca Mancari: The Greatest Part (Captured Tracks)
- Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin: Stygian Bough Volume I (Profound Lore)
- BOYO: Where Have All My Friends Gone? (Park The Van)
- Buju Banton: Upside Down 2020 (Gagarmel Music Co.)
- C Tripl A: Ozzy Nights (Translation Loss Records)
- Carlos Niño and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson: Chicago Waves (International Anthem)
- Civic Center: The Ground Below (American Dreams Records)
- Derrick Hodge: Color of Noize (Blue Note Records)
- Dirt Reynolds: Scalawag (Chris Watts)
- Ego Ella May: Honey For Wounds (UPPERROOM Records)
- Iron Wigs: Your Birthday’s Canceled (Mello Music Group)
- Kansas: The Absence of Presence (Insideout Records)
- Long Distance Calling: How Do We Want to Live? (Insideout Records)
- Maceo Parker: Soul Food – Cooking with Maceo (The Funk Garage)
- Mansions: Big Bad (Bad Timing Records)
- Nicole Mitchell and Lisa E. Harris: EarthSeed (FPE Records)
- Ohhms: Close (2020 Holy Roar Records)
- Prof: Powderhorn Suites (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
- Ray Lamontagne: Monovision (Columbia)
- Remo Drive: A Portrait of an Ugly Man (Epitaph Records)
- Sergio Calderón & Céli Lee: The Eternal Dice (Entertaing Violence)
- Seth Bogart: Seth Bogart Presents….Men On The Verge Of Nothing (Wacky Wacko Recordings)
- Skudge: Time Tracks (Skudge Records)
- Thad Cockrell: If In Case You Feel the Same (ATO Records)
- Thirty Nights of Violence: You’ll See Me Up There (Unbeaten Records)
- TTRRUUCES: TTRRUUCES (All Points)
- Wetware: Flail (Dais Records)
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