Villagers - The Art of Learning To Swim
Saved over from last week's lists, this gorgeously gentle work by Ireland’s Conor O'Brien and co, echoes the sparse sensitivity of some of their earlier songs from 2010's The Jackal and 2013's Awayland, It's a work of true, intimate beauty, made in a tiny attic room in Dublin - with extra elements of the soulful, sensitive and subtle. Out on Domino.
Villagers - A Trick Of The Light
Chic – It's About Time
Nile Rodgers has been so prominently back in the limelight in recent years - touring triumphantly with Chic and Sister Sledge all those perfect disco classics from the late 70s and early 80s, and also writing a mega hit with Daft Punk, that it seems barely necessary to hear anything new. But now we do, with the first new album in 26 years. But how do you update a sound and style that's already so perfect? With difficulty, and bringing on guests such as Craig David possibly isn't the answer. It's about time? Rather, of for those Good Times. Out on Virgin.
Nile Rodgers & Chic (feat. Vic Mensa, Mura Masa and Cosha) - Till The World Falls
Amber Arcades - European Heartbreak
After three EPs and 2016's Fading Lines, this is more wistful indie pop of love and loss, but from different place – Utrect-born Annelotte de Graaf has perhaps delivered a mournful Brexit album before the full event, in a style that's delightfully 60s old-school, with trumpet and orchestration. Out on Heavenly Recordings.
Amber Arcades - Simple Song
The Joy Formidable - AAArth
Intriguing balance of rock and pop from the Welch trio that feels like it's about to boil over into full grunge metal, but doesn't, but is tempered by the soft, soaring voice of lead singer and guitarist Ritzy. There's clearly a full range of volume, but it's balanced better. Out on Hassle.
The Joy Formidable - The Better Me
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - King of Cowards
This, the their second album, is true British metal wrought in the loudest, 70s-style ilk, not from the Midlands, but from Newcastle upon Tyne, battering rams of sound – pulverising, explosive, massive. OTT not just in name, and great fun live too, but bring your earplugs. Out on Rocket Recordings.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – GNT
Mudhoney - Digital Garbage
Dark humour in dark times from the Seattle grunge originals, returning for their 10th album over a 30-year period, and pulling no punches when it comes heavy rock and lambasting the alt-right and the threats it poses. Out on Sub Pop.
Mudhoney - Paranoid Core
Max Cooper - One Hundred Billions Sparks
Absorbing, ambient electronica from the London-based producer and mixer, here with his fourth studio album exploring "the molecular mechanisms which create our experience', but more specifically the Akai APC40 and Ableton software. It's also a highly visual inspired work, including this video by Thomas Vanz.
Max Cooper - Hope
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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