Low – Double Negative
It's 25 years since the core married pair of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker from Duluth, Minnesota, formed Low, joined by Steve Garrington on bass, and this emotional, ambient, intimately dark work is no nostalgia trip, but possibly their best yet, uncompromising and pushing their own envelope further. A reaction to Trump, the crumbling eco system, this, like the bass sound on the song Quorum, is a like a shattering musical earthquake of hope and despair. Out on Sub Pop.
Low – Double Negative
Paul Weller – True Meanings
Weller has now turned 60, and while he has never been one to stay in one place, innovating with great energy and restlessness for 40 years, this 14th solo album is gentler, and muses on mortality, with lots of air and acoustic grace that echoes English Rose and his love of Nick Drake, as well as some Neil Young and Curtis Mayfield. Reflective, acoustic guitar and strings in abundance make of beautiful, wistful, tender, passionate work. Out on Parlophone.
Paul Weller - Aspects
Orbital – Monsters Exist
The Sevenoaks brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll return, following their breakup in 2014, they dug out those torch glasses with a reunion last year, touring ever since, and this is their first studio album in nearly years. Solid state electronica that will please fans, but while the single Tiny Foldable Cities is great, overall slightly feels like they are going through the motions. Guest attraction? The final track even includes the voice of Professor Brian Cox. Out on ACP Recordings.
Orbital – Tiny Foldable Cities
Aphex Twin - Collapse EP
While Orbital are a mainstay, mainstream of British electronica, Aphex Twin is its primary radical innovator, and his new six-track EP is full of offbeat mischief, and otherworldly brilliance, with videos to match. Out on Warp.
Aphex Twin - T69 Collapse
Sleaford Mods - Sleaford Mods EP
First new releases since last year's superb English Tapas, the pair return with a five-track EP. Expect more of the same, with catchy, simple basslines and beats, and Jason Williamson's lyrics, as well as the usual black humour and angry invective, concentrating on violence, crime and paranoia fuelled by social media. Out on Rough Trade.
Sleaford Mods - Stick In A Five And Go
The Goon Sax – We're Not Talking
Yet more refreshing, upbeat indie pop coming out of Australia, with the teen trio of James Harrison, Louis Forster and Riley Jones from Brisbane, and their second album following 2016's Up To Anything, when they were still in school. Heartbreak and humour come together in honest, upbeat music. Out on Wichita.
The Good Sax - She Knows
Various - Basement Beehive: The Girl Group Underground
The first of two fabulous compilations included this week, this is a hairstyle-heavy collection of dreamy and passionate girl group songs from the 60s and 70s, many unknown and mostly very underrated including The Shades, The Belles, The Monzas, Vickie and the Van Dykes, Paulette and the Cupids, The Mellow Dawns. The 2-CD version has 56 tracks. Out on Numero.
Various – Basement Beehive: The Girl Group Underground - sampler
Various – Two Niles To Sing A Melody: The Violins and Synths Of Sudan
A treasure trove of music trawled to celebrate the golden sound of the capital, Khartoum and the sheer stature of Sudanese singers lauded by many other musicians and music lovers across the African continent. Beats, strings and soaring vocals intertwine to unveil, in 16 tracks across the 70s, 80s and 90s, a glorious succession of discovery. Out on Ostinato.
Various – Two Niles To Sing A Melody: The Violins and Synths Of Sudan
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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