New album: After many strong singles and EPs, a bold, dynamic, blistering punk and post-punk debut by the Dublin four-piece, tackling turbulent existential crises with dark passion and wit
Read moreSPRINTS: Letter To Self
SPRINTS: Letter To Self
Favourite albums of 2023 Part 2: Anohni to Blur to Mitski, Ren to Sufjan Stevens
Favourite LPs of 2023, Part 2.
Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 2, and Part 1 was yesterday. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order …
Read moreFavourite albums of 2023 Part 1: Anna B Savage to Young Fathers
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 …
Read moreOya Paya: Slumped Up
Oya Paya: Slumped Up
New album: Excellent, energised, pace-changing, dynamic indie debut LP by the Anglo-South East Asian, Liverpool-formed trio who also have a heady mix of British, Midwest and New York flavours, from The Lemonheads, to Blur, Red Hot Chilli Peppers to The Strokes
Read moreJoanna Sternberg: I've Got Me
Joanna Sternberg: I've Got Me
New album: Another retrieved treasure from earlier this year, released in June, of gentle, witty, melancholy intimate self-deprecatory folk numbers by the New York singer-songwriter who exudes a old-school charm
Read moreHaiku Hands: Pleasure Beast
Haiku Hands: Pleasure Beast
New album: A gloriously anarchic, energetic fusion of hip-hop, post-punk, vogue pop, electronica, bouncy 90s dance music and interwoven skits by the vibrant Australian trio of sisters Claire and Mie Nakazawa and Beatrice Lewis
Read moreMarnie Stern: The Comeback Kid
Marnie Stern: The Comeback Kid
New album: A joyously noisy return of proclamatory, zingy, explosively proggy indie-rock with the first album in 10 years since by the New York guitarist and singer, since 2013’s The Chronicles of Marnia
Read moreSen Morimoto: Diagnosis
Sen Morimoto: Diagnosis
New album: The Chicago-based Japanese singer, rapper and jazz multi-instrumentalist’s new LP comprises a richly eclectic, dynamic selection of songs with an overriding theme of seeking the right direction in life
Read moreAnjimile: The King
Anjimile: The King
New album: A breathtaking, beautiful, powerful, intimate fifth album by the American experimental folk singer Anjimile Chithambo whose rich, rangey, deep and high voice has an alluring androgyny, somewhere between Nina Simone and Sufjan Stevens
Read moreDavid Holmes: Blind On A Galloping Horse (featuring Raven Violet)
David Holmes: Blind On A Galloping Horse (featuring Raven Violet)
New album: After many collaborative projects, a brilliant first full solo album by the Belfast producer and musician since 2008’s The Holy Pictures, here featuring the vocals of Raven Violet throughout, this passionate, powerful, often political noir-synth pop release charts the unravelling of British society over the past decade
Read moreProblem Patterns: Blouse Club
Problem Patterns’ debut album: Blouse Club
New album: Belfast’s answer to Amyl & the Sniffers pull no punches and leave no prisoners with their angry, shouty, catchy, feminist, caustically sharp and witty debut LP, their fast furious songs of social critique, from the energetic Riot Grrrl punk quartet of Beverley Boal, Bethany Crooks, Ciara King and Alanah Smith
Read moreKing Creosote: I DES
King Creosote: I DES
New album: Fife’s Kenny Anderson returns with his first solo LP for seven years, a glorious, delicate warm, eccentric release of indie-folk, vibraphones, accordions, e-bows, samplers, ungulates, scratched records and wine glass-drones
Read moreLol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee: Los Angeles
Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee: Los Angeles
New album: The ex-Cure drummer and the acclaimed percussionist of Siouxsie, Creatures and other bands team up with the Irish producer for a wonderfully rhythmic, sharply witty, krautrock-style/synth pop-punk fusion with guest vocalists including LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy
Read moreFIZZ: The Secret To Life
FIZZ: The Secret To Life
New album: Joyously playful, colourful, flamboyant, humorous, dynamic, grandiose but also tender pop-rock by the supergroup of solo artists, Orla Gartland, dodie, Greta Isaac and Martin Luke Brown, whose vocal harmonies exude emotion, but also unsinkable joie-de-vivre
Read moreViji: So Vanilla
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
Read morePip Blom: Bobbie
Pip Blom: Bobbie
New album: This third album by Amsterdam sister-and-brother-based band brings more catchy and engaging indie, but with move from guitar-written songs towards synth pop, using producer Dave McCracken in a co-writer role
Read moreBalming Tiger: January Never Dies
Balming Tiger: January Never Dies
New album: Hugely enjoyable debut LP by the South Korean K-pop and hip-hop collective, who bring a heady mix of slick delivery and experiment with funk, pop, indie rock and playfully inventive changes of pace
Read moreVanishing Twin: Afternoon X
Vanishing Twin: Afternoon X
New album: Mesmeric, meditative, mercurial – an experimental, dream-like release by the London trio of singer and multi-instrumentalist Cathy Lucas, drummer Valentina Magaletti and bassist Susumu Mukai with folky electronica, minimalism, cosmic post-punk and psychedelic pop
Read moreBlonde Redhead: Sit Down For Dinner
Blonde Redhead: Sit Down For Dinner
New album: The New York trio of Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace return with their 10th but first album together for nine years, one about the inescapable struggles of adulthood: communication breakdown in enduring relationships and trying to hold onto your dreams
Read moreStornoway: Dig The Mountain!
Stornoway: Dig The Mountain!
New album: After splitting in 2016 the Oxfordshire indie folk band of Brian Briggs and co return with a very fine fourth LP of clear-voiced, catchy, vivid songs themed on the fragile relationship between humans and the environment
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