Lambchop – This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You)
Continuing on from 2016's Flotus album that mixed that distinctive alt-country Americana with electronica, frontman Kurt Wagner continues to experiment, particularly with his voice. Using pitch shifts and warbles to accompany those lyrical meanderings, plus lounge-style chord changes, piano, pops, squeaks, and fluttering rhythms, it feels odd at first, but then grows on you, clicking perfect into place and pace. Sure, this is not the classic stuff of the 1990s when the band was much bigger, but continues a mature career of exploration into a gentle, philosophical, sensual territory, that while it echoes what Bon Iver is also doing to a certain extent (same zeitgeist), still makes Wagner a unique talent. Out on City Slang.
Lambchop – Everything For You
Ibibio Sound Machine – Doko Mien
Funk, post- and electro-punk, gospel and African rhythms combine in the work of this London band that also mix in New York new wave and disco with Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian folk. So there's never a dull moment, nor an excuse not to dance to this very groovy album, in which frontwoman Eno Williams sings in both British and the Nigerian language Ibibio, and has something of Donna Summer and Chaka Khan about her, backed by fat, lovely synths, sharply picked highlife guitar, and the super solid backline of Jose Joyette on drums and Derrick McIntyre on bass funk. A winner all the way. Out on Merge Records.
Ibibio Sound Machine – Wanna Come Down
These New Puritans – Inside The Rose
Fourth album by the band which comprise twin brothers Jack and George Barnett, the arch experimentalists follow previous work influenced by Japanese drumming and electronica and Portuguese fado singing into what perhaps could their most mainstream yet, though that is a relative term. If anything, it's most like Talk Talk in a river of many other ideas, which is timely after the recent passing of Mark Hollis. Here are orchestral arrangements, Steve Reich inflections, and choral arrangement, vibraphones, and a guest appearance from Current 93's David Tibet. It's all so drowning in cleverness and melancholy it almost hurts, but a pleasurable pain nevertheless. Key tracks include Where The Trees Are On Fire and Infinity Vibraphones. Out on Infectious Music.
These New Puritans – Inside The Rose
Lucy Rose – No Words Left
Fourth album from the Surrey-born singer songwriter, now 29, has gone from being signed to a major label, Columbia, to becoming and independent artist. The progression has become musically very positive, and in this latest release, beautiful, stark, and profound. Perhaps, after 2017's Something's Changing, she has now found her oeuvre – slower, contemplative work mainly with piano and guitar. full of a sense of isolation and hurt, but from that a new strength, with her pure voice, soaring melodies and new maturity. Out on Communion.
Lucy Rose - Treat Me Like A Woman
Jenny Lewis – On The Line
It all seems to be about fourth albums this week, and this one is a great, caustic breakup album by the Californian singer-songwriter, now in New York, who included recovery from heartbreak by staying with friend St Vincent (Annie Clark). This album also has added melancholy after the death of her mother, and some reaction to the Ryan Adams scandal. Her country-pop style is still strong, as is her voice (somewhere between Fiona Apple and Shania Twain), and this album also includes Ringo Starr playing on the song Heads Gonna Roll, and bitter killer lines such as on the title track that echoes the feel The Shirelles: "Before the letter, under the sweater … he left me for a superfan called Caroline-ugh." Well, in bitterness there is another sweetness. Out on Warner.
Jenny Lewis – On The Line
The Hare and Hoofe – The Hare and Hoofe / The Terror of Melton
We've profiled the delightfully eccentric Hare and Hoofe single, White Blindness on Song of the Day in 2017, and now the Folkestone-formed five-piece release not merely a debut album, but a full-on double-gatefold on vinyl, the second side being "rock opera" titled The Terror of Meltron. The result is a fabulously indulgent Kentish concoction of psychedelic prog, variously channelling Zeppelin, Hoople, Focus (Hocus Pocus), Sparks, Volvon, The Who, and Pink Floyd with tales of laser-eyed robots, time travelling scientists space Gregorian chanting on Voyager, and the pastoral tale of Appledore Fayre. Frenetic, fast, funny, and brilliantly bonkers. Out on their website and available via Bandcamp.
The Hare and Hoofe – White Blindness
Olcay Bahir – Rüya
A beautiful second album by the singer-songwriter born in the troubled Kurdish region of southern Turkey, who moved with her family to London when she was 16. She mixed being a classical singer with the Anatolian folk tradition. This is the first release which includes her own compositions including the title track and Yar Dedi with lyrics are influenced by Sufi poetry, in Turkish, with English translations. Out on Arc Music.
Olcay Bahir – Yar Dedi
Jayda G – Significant Changes
The Canadian DJ, now based in Berlin, brings out a mixture of clever, engaging disco, funk and Chicago house that includes samples of orcas, and swirling, slow string arrangements in with the simple beats, but lifted most of all by Jayda's own vocals - witty ad-libs, rhythmic whoops and soaring high notes. Out on Ninja Tune.
Jayda G – Stanley’s Get Down (No Parking on the DF)
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
Also enjoy our voted selection of 50 or more favourite albums of 2018:
Anna Calvi to Idles: favourite albums of 2018 – part 1
Gazelle Twin to Villagers: favourite albums of 2018 – part 2
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
This is only a selection of recommended listens not a catalogue of releases nor full reviews. Feel free to recommend more and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. Please subscribe, follow and share.