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KNEECAP: FENIAN
New album: Still the scourge of the establishment after 2024’s debut LP Fine Art, a hugely entertaining second LP of punchy, slick, defiant Irish Gaelic rap by Belfast’s Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap, and beatmaker DJ Próvaí, with an expanded sound aided by innovative producer Dan Carey and an appearance by Kae Tempest
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Wet Leg’s Moisturizer, with guitarist Hester Chambers (left) and singer Rhian Teasdale
New album: The award-winning Isle of Wight indie-pop band’s second album retains all of their mischievous, quirky charm, but also an evolved muscular, punchier, dirtier guitar sound in a collection of clever love songs and kick-ass kiss-offs
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Jacob Alon: In Limerence
New album: A sublime contemporary folk debut by the high-voiced Scottish singer-songwriter from Dunfermline, Fife, who exudes a fragile vulnerability, has warm musical echoes of Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, finger-picking acoustic guitar, the gentle brush of drums and subtle, emotionally nuanced, poetic lyrics
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Squid: Cowards
New album: Fabulously strange, inventive and and cleverly unsettling third album by the Brighton experimental post-punk, alt-rock quintet with a series of first-person narratives and inner monologues by fictional, disturbing characters - from cult leaders, serial killers, cannibals, sociopaths and arsonists
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Heartworms: Glutton For Punishment
New album: After a series of outstanding singles, the British artist Jojo Orme releases her debut full LP of inventive, goth-tinged post-punk, with echoes of Siouxsie Sioux and PJ Harvey, and produced the the ever inventive Dan Carey on his Speedy Wunderground label
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Friedberg: Hardcore Workout Queen
New album: A wonderful engaging, energetic third LP by Anna Wappel, aka Anna F, the Austria-born singer-songwriter and indie band, with witty, eccentric, warm, humorous, hair-in-the-wind LP with the feel of a road trip
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O.’s debut LP, WeirdOs
New album: A bold, high-octane experimental blast of viscous, growling, marvellous meaty textures and beats in this debut instrumental LP by the London-based duo of baritone saxophonist Joe Henwood and drummer Tash Keary, and produced by the ever innovative Dan Carey
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Royel Otis: Pratts & Pain
New album: Brilliantly vibrant, fresh yet oddly timeless indie-pop, post-punk by the Australian duo Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, with echoes of 60s-90s garage rock, 80s indie, Velvet Underground to the The Strokes, and produced here by the acclaimed Dan Carey
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Part 1 selection of 2023 favourite albums
Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 1, and Part 2 is also out here. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order. This is all about quality and innovation …
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Viji: So Vanilla
New album: Fresh, vibrant, clever, punchy indie rock and and breathily seductive shoegaze by the London-based Austrian-Brazilian artist Vanilla Jenner in this strong debut, another from talent via brilliant producer Dan Carey and on the Speedy Wunderground label
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Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten debut solo LP, Chaos For The Fly
New album: The Fontaines D.C. vocalist releases a strong, sensitive solo album leaning more towards gentle, wistful, reflective folk, including some echoes of Nick Drake but retaining his strong Dublin flavour, and produced by the brilliant and prolific Dan Carey
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As in the tattoo: slowthai’s third LP UGLY
New album: The abrasive but exciting Northampton rapper Tyrone Frampton’s third LP is a powerful, heady concoction, containing this time less grime and politics, more punk and post-punk, rock guitars, and focusing on personal issues, with a paradoxical facial tattooed title acronym meaning U Gotta Love Yourself
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The Lounge Society: Tired of Liberty
Debut album: Restless sparking, energy, seething anger and ironic lyrics, intricate, swirling, interwoven guitars, bass and drums, and produced by Dan Carey on the ever vibrant Speedy Wunderground label, this full debut LP by young Hebden Bridge band is more than a breath of fresh indie
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Foals return with the uplifting reset album Life Is Yours
New album: Now a three-piece, frontman Yannis Philippakis, drummer and Jack Bevan and rhythm guitarist Jimmy Smith return with a very danceable, funky and 80s indie pop-inspired single, produced by Dan Carey
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Sinead O Brien: Time Bend and Break The Bower
Debut album: After a string of singles such as Limbo and A Thing You Call Joy, the Irish indie poet’s debut album emboldens her style of strikingly esoteric lines and images backed a mix of guitar, drums and electronica, with a distinctively lingering talking/semi-sung delivery
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Wet Leg’s debut album, fronted by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers
Debut album: Their catchy, cute, cheeky debut single Chaise Longue made them the indie darlings of 2021, but the debut LP by Isle of Wight pair Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers proves they have the chops for similar magic
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Kae Tempest: The Line Is A Curve
New album: An emotionally candid, tender, vulnerable and quietly declamatory fourth album by the writer-all-rounder, mixing hip-hop and spoken word with electronica and pop, with some nicely chosen guest appearances
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Geese’s debut album Projector
New album: Dynamic and brilliantly experimental debut LP by the very promising young post-punk Brooklyn band brimming with intricate guitars, changes of pace, vaulting from the abstract to the intimate
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Stephen Fretwell is finally getting busy again …
New album: Very welcome fourth album by the Scunthorpe guitarist-singer-songwriter after a 14-year-old absence with a life “song cycle of sorts,” sensitive, quiet and eloquent exploring fatherhood, grief and rebirth
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Squid’s full debut LP Bright Green Field
Album review: A bold, expansive, experimental and exciting full debut by the postpunk Brighton five-piece, with songs full of musical adventure and dynamic changes, combining krautrock, prog and even a dash of jazz
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