Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Tirzah, Cullen Omori, Oh Sees, and more.
Tirzah – Devotion (Domino)
This London-based artist’s debut album is a potent set of minimalist, R&B-inflected electro-pop. Longtime friend Mica Levi of Micachu & The Shapes provided the spare beats and production to accompany Tirzah’s haunting vocals and intimate lyrics of love and devotion.
Cullen Omori – The Diet (Sub Pop)
The second solo album from the LA-based former frontman for Smith Westerns is a well-crafted set of ‘70s-influenced, psych-tinged pop-rock with soaring fuzzy guitars, atmospheric keyboards, airy Beatlesque harmonies and sparkling song hooks.
Oh Sees – Smote Reverser (Castle Face)
The 21st studio album from this LA-based band led by John Dwyer is one of their more eclectic releases, ranging from motorik garage-punk and fiery thrash-metal to prog-tinged psych-rock and more experimental fare.
Jake Shears – Jake Shears (Freida Jean)
The debut solo album from the San Juan Island-bred, New Orleans-based frontman for Scissor Sisters is a colorful, well-crafted blend of glam-rock, funk, disco, country-tinged pop-rock and more, combining a warm, ‘70s-steeped sound with Shears’ soaring vocals and intimate lyrics of love lost and found.
(Various) - HH100 (Hush Hush)
Founded by KEXP DJ Alex Ruder, Seattle record label Hush Hush is celebrating its 100th release with this 14-track compilation of exclusive collaborations between artists who have worked with the label. While the collection’s pretty diverse, ranging from ambient and downtempo grooves to dream-pop and lo-fi-house, it’s all infused with Hush Hush’s dreamy atmospheric aesthetic.
The Beths – Future Me Hates Me (Carpark)
This New Zealand band’s debut album is a promising set of summery, hook-filled power-pop with jangly guitars, driving rhythms and buoyant harmonies accompanying Elizabeth Stokes’ warm vocals and dark, often self-deprecating lyrics.
Gabe Gurnsey – Physical (Phantasy)
The debut solo album from the Manchester-based cofounder of Factory Floor is an impressive set of dark acid house and techno, combining propulsive beats and ominous textures with seedy vocals and suggestive lyrics.
Chanti Darling – RNB Vol. 1 (Tender Loving Empire)
The debut album from this Portland-based project led by Chanticleer Trü is a playful, smartly crafted blend of disco, house, boogie-funk, and electro-soul, combining bright synths and a variety of funky beats with Trü’s elastic, soulful vocals.
The Bamboos – Night Time People (Pacific Theatre)
This Melbourne, Australia band’s eighth studio album is another well-crafted set of ‘60s-influenced soul and funk with a warm sound combining punchy horns, funky rhythm guitar, simmering organ, buoyant beats and breezy melodies with Kylie Auldist’s powerful vocals.
Foxing – Nearer My God (Triple Crown)
This St. Louis band’s third album is a potent set of emotive indie-rock with a dynamic, expansive and richly detailed sound ranging from soaring rock epics and atmospheric post-rockers to beat-driven electro-pop.
Ben Khan – Ben Khan (Dirty Hit)
This British artist’s debut full-length is a solid set of brooding, psych-tinged electro-pop combining moody synths and occasional bluesy guitar with glitchy beats and half-buried vocals.
Dorian Concept – The Nature of Imitation (Brainfeeder)
The second solo album from this Austrian producer (aka Oliver Johnson) is a playful, shape-shifting blend of fusion jazz, funk, prog and various electronic styles, combining a variety of live instrumentation with electronic beats and textures.
Still Corners – Slow Air (Wrecking Light)
This Woodstock, NY-based British duo’s fourth album is a fine set of atmospheric dream-pop with eerie keyboards, slow-churning surf guitars, ethereal vocals and haunting melodies.
El Ten Eleven – Banker's Hill (Topshelf)
This LA duo’s seventh album is another well-crafted set of cinematic post-rock instrumentals with a dynamic, shape-shifting sound combining looped guitar/bass and drums. The album begins with some of their most lively material before falling back into more sedate, atmospheric grooves.
Moses Sumney – Black in Deep Red, 2014 EP (Jagjaguwar)
This LA-based artist’s latest EP is a brief but potent set of politically charged, expansive R&B.
Claw Marks – Hee Hee (PNKSLM)
This London-based band’s debut full-length is a solid set of noise-addled garage-punk and post-hardcore reminiscent at times of The Birthday Party.
Helena Hauff – Qualm (Ninja Tune)
This Hamburg, Germany DJ’s second album is a potent blend of rugged techno, acid house and cold wave with a minimalist sound combining distorted, propulsive beats with squelching synths.
decker. - Better Wake Up (Royal Potato Family)
The latest album from this Sedona, AZ artist is a fine set of psych-tinged, desert folk-rock combining a cinematic, atmospheric sound with often-spiritually minded lyrics.
Katie Ellen – Still Life EP (Lauren)
This Philly band led by Anika Pyle (formerly of Chumped) follows up their 2017 debut album Cowgirl Blues with this 5-song EP of hook-filled indie-pop with jangly guitars and intimate lyrics.
Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from The Love Language, Alejandro Escovedo, Spider Bags, and more.
Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates and DJ Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Santigold, Boy Azooga, Shy Boys, and more.
Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from The Internet, Israel Nash, Ty Segall & White Fence, and more.
