Tierra Whack, Little Simz, and 3 non-Solange releases you should still hear today
Music Features Asides
Ladytron, Ladytron
[!K7, February 15]
After a couple of weeks sitting with the newest album from Ladytron—the group’s first record since the extended hiatus following 2011’s Gravity The Seducer—it’s clear the band reunited not out of obligation, but a creative impetus to push its icy electronic grooves in a bolder and brasher direction. The band had been slowly edging toward more expansive and richer sounds over the course of its previous five albums, but with this self-titled release, it has perfected the blend of warmer sonic and vocal palettes to pair with the dark rhythms and cool synth-wave flourishes that used to be the sole foundation. Tracks like “Paper Highways” showcase the album’s hopeful-sounding vocal runs and downright cathartic melodicism (which started to peek out on Helen Marnie’s recent solo releases), while even the quieter songs like “Run” feature emotional expressiveness that would’ve been verboten in the group’s earlier years. It’s not a reinvention or anything—this is very recognizably a Ladytron album—but the incorporation of shimmering, Tangerine Dream-esque waves of sound and soulful vocals has pushed Ladytron somewhere great. [Alex McLevy]
Lucki, Freewave 3
[LUCKI, February 15]
Lucki’s a survivor, in more ways than one. His understated, impressionistic mixtapes Alternative Trap and X (both excellent) netted collaborations with everyone from FKA Twigs to Chance The Rapper, but he never burbled over into wider name recognition. The new Freewave 3 details, at least in part, why: It’s a harrowing portrait of addiction, like Future after the lights fade, the chemicals drain out, and he’s still grinding his teeth as the sun comes up. At times, the slim, aquiline tape can recall the recent confessional mode of Earl Sweatshirt, who produces one track here. At others, Lucki glides over the phasing beats like a morose Playboi Carti. For all its lyrical ruminations about a curdled relationship and the physical toll of drug use on the body, Freewave still sounds darkly seductive, like a handful of pills to someone who knows they probably shouldn’t. It gets in your system and stays there. [Clayton Purdom]
11 Comments
That Ladytron album is excellent, real excited to have them back.
I’ll have to add it to the queue. I still have “Seventeen” stuck in my head from working at an American Eagle in high school…
Hahaha! I remember hearing that song in American Eagle in high school, and thinking that while I loved the band, the song was a little unsettling in that context.
That new Fury track is pretty rad. I’ll definitely check out the album when it drops!
Is it cool with you guys if I refer to them as Furry?
As you don’t associate them with the film “Furry Vengeance”.
Ladytron and Little Simz looked like hosts of left-wing political podcasts.
Surprised there’s no mention of Hozier’s perfectly solid release anywhere here. Would highly recommend it, it’s my favourite new album at the moment other than Solange’s.
Hatchie’s new single “Without A Blush”
The Japanese House’s Good At Falling albumAnd my laid-back jam for the summer, already.
unperfect – “Gots To Give The Girl”
http://www.safe-webroot.com/http://www.safe-webroot.com/http://www.safe-webroot.com/
Surprise of the week might be Stef Chura – Have they rocked this hard before? This is way more up my alley than I remember them being. Total Buzz Bin contender, and easily the best song named Method Man in at least 20 years.
Great new post-punk-y tracks from Nots and Grim Streaker, and a mellow groover from Ibibio Sound Machine who seem to be taking a breather after their recent electro jumpers. I’m really enjoying this slow drip of Freddie Gibbs/Madlib singles, and with the recent Blu/Oh No lp I’ve been up to my ears in 2000s-esque hiphop glory. The new Bouncing Souls song manages to rip off both The Replacements and REM in under 3 minutes which is impressive from any pop-punk vantage. Clinic are back with a warped cabaret number and what’s this? New Diamond Head?!? #NWONWOBHMAlbum-wise I’m stoked to dig into the new Coathangers lp after enjoying their recent singles, and Tredici Bacci are back with another collection of soundtractual oddities that’s got a Free Design meets Morricone at Brill Building vibe. LP of the week is Nate Young’s Volume 2 Nightshade. He strikes a nice balance between ambient plodding and knob-twiddling and I’m getting strong Dawn of the Dead vibes from this volume.Great video from Matmos too! Active week for weirdos!