Hey, hi, and hello everybody! I hope you’re all feeling fine and happy on this lovely Friday. I have a healthy serving of New Music, in that it’s small in size, but packed in nutrients. 7 titles, totalling 30 songs for this week. Are you ready?
I can thank MuchMusic (the Canadian equivalent of MTV) for my introduction to Sonic Youth, back when I was sixteen. I became an instant fan with the band’s embrace of dissonance and endless kool. It’s nearly thirty-five years later, and Sonic Youth is no more, but bassist/vocalist Kim Gordon is teasing her second solo album. The lead off single is BYE BYE and it’s a captivating and mysterious Electronic track where Gordon lists her necessities for a quick getaway.
The specifically UK Music genre that I like to call Lad Punk (or Geezer Punk) has a few shining lights releasing New Albums in 2024. Not the least of which is Bristol’s IDLES. In anticipation of the February full-length TANGK, they’ve put out their third teaser single. Gift Horse opens with thunderous elastic bass leading into vocalist Joe Talbot’s engaging voice. Not exactly sure what he’s on about, but it rocks, and you’ll be singing along to the chorus. Look at him goooooooo!
Speaking of not understanding the singer’s lyrics, I found a Pop-Punk quartet from Bilbao, Spain. Not only do I not understand Spanish, but BLESSURE performs the four tracks on la manière in French. I also don’t know French, but their singer sounds urgent and confident, the bass is crispy, and the crowd-chant backing vocals are universal.
Some more noisy Rock comes this week from Lethbridge, Alberta’s SENTRIES. It is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Kim Elliott, and the new full-length Snow As A Metaphor For Death jumps out of the gate with piercing guitars and insistent drums. Extended tracks lend themselves to dreamy thoughtful exploration.
A vocalist and Producer from Ghana caught my attention this week. Delasi has just released his first collection of songs since 2015. Audacity of Free Thought is an EP of five tracks, and it harnesses the sounds of R&B, Afrobeat, and Experimental Electronic. Delasi’s voice is cutting and clean.
An Experimental Hip-Hop duo from San Diego, California is giving my brain a deep mental floss. Wolves In Sheepskin’s new full-length ppl in cars is five provocative tracks of smart sampling and looping, ending with the twenty-minute meditation Bingo Boogie.
My Feature Pick this week comes from a solo Artist from London, UK. Dan Jones, as UKAEA, has assembled a collection of musicians and together they have created Birds Catching Fire In The Sky. Through six tracks, they picture a dystopic future that we’d be lucky to avoid. Various vocalists lead, with Agathe Max on ominous violin throughout. Jittery Electronic beats give a daunting presence, with aggressive clanging metallic insistence.
I hope I was able to find something that connects with your inner being. Enjoy it in good health and take care of yourself!
New Music Jason’s Picks 