Weekly Release Spotlight
That one perfect album that we (and you) almost missed.
Covers by Cat Power
Cat Power a.k.a. Chan Marshall stuns with her tenth studio album and third cover album entitled Covers, ambitiously taking on songs by artists ranging from Lana Del Rey to Nick Cave and making them her own. Marshall reinvents each track to the point where they are nearly unrecognizable in the best way possible, adopting a very intimate, stripped-back and emotional performance style.
by Lexi Sather
Child's Play by Alice Phoebe Lou
Only nine months after the release of her third album, Glow, Alice Phoebe Lou chose to drop a surprise follow-up entitled Child’s Play. The Berlin-based singer-songwriter completed the album in only 10 days with help from close friends, using analog gear and vintage instruments which resulted in a very lush, old-school sound. Child’s Play, much like her previous work, incorporates elements of jazz, dance, and indie pop in a refreshing and hypnotic way that makes it the perfect soundtrack for dancing in your bedroom for hours.
by Lexi Sather
KicK iii by Arca
KicK iii is one of four new album releases from Venezuelan-born electronic musician Arca. The “Kick” series has highlighted her ability to span genres, and contains 59 tracks which combine elements of club music, reggaeton, and ambient techno. KicK iii stands out with its pounding, experimental club beats and fierce, in-your-face lyrics. Arca is a visionary within alternative pop music, having produced and co-written groundbreaking albums for artists such as Kanye West, FKA Twigs, and Björk. The “Kick” series is her most ambitious and captivating solo work to date, emerging as a hypnotic and lush catalogue.
by Lexi Sather
Shout Out! to Freedom by Nightmares on Wax
Shout Out! To Freedom is the latest album from Nightmares On Wax, the musical project of George Evelyn that has been brilliantly blending together the sounds of electronica, funk, soul, hip hop, and techno since 1991. The LP is a reflection of the past few years in Evelyn’s life — a deeply introspective period where the world slowed down and he felt like he had finally found himself. Thematically the record also represents the question of defining freedom in the modern world, with each song containing a different shout out to freedom and all that it represents. Even though Shout Out! is a profoundly personal album, its lyrics and instrumentation are remarkably relatable and its production is guaranteed to make your head bob.
by Paul Schoening
CROSSOVER by Dua Saleh
Dua Saleh’s new EP CROSSOVER is the Minneapolis-based rising star’s most ambitious project to date. Aptly titled CROSSOVER, the EP features songs with Amaarae, Duckwrth, Chester Watson, and Haleek Maul. Each collaboration feels personal and purposeful, a testament to Dua’s ability to complement the various styles of her musical peers with ease. The production is razor-sharp — seamlessly shifting from symphonic dark instrumentation to more rhythmic dance beats — but the most impressive instrument on display is Dua’s voice. Augmenting and altering it throughout the EP’s 7 tracks, Dua also effortlessly switches between singing in English, Spanish, and Arabic. CROSSOVER is yet another reminder that no one is doing it quite like Dua.
by Paul Schoening
9 by Pond
Consisting of nine songs, 9 is Pond’s aptly-named ninth studio album. Having felt they’d mastered the art of psych pop, frontman Nick Allbrook decided to take Pond in a different direction for their latest record. To accomplish this, the band held improvised jam sessions where they filled up countless tape reels with hours of music before editing them into individual songs. The result is a funked-out abstract journey taking you to a techno club one minute and a rock opera the next with no time for explanations.
by Paul Schoening