New Music Reviews (1/18)

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 Sharon Van Etten, James Blake, Deerhunter, and more.

Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow (Jagjaguwar)
This Brooklyn artist’s fifth album finds her recasting her sound with help from producer John Congleton, setting aside the guitar-driven folk-pop of her previous releases for a powerful set of dark synth-pop, with an ominous, atmospheric sound combining cold, buzzing analog synths and a variety of other keyboards with poignant, often-hopeful lyrics of love, vulnerability, and connection.

James Blake – Assume Form (Republic)
This British producer/vocalist’s fourth album is his most varied solo release and also his warmest and sweetest, combining a variety of beats, adventurous production touches and beatific melodies with his intimate vocals and lyrics revolving around the power of love.

Deerhunter – Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (4AD)
The eighth album from this Atlanta band led by Bradford Cox is a powerful set of often-dystopian songs revolving around the decline of civilization, with the music ranging from baroque psych-pop and propulsive New Wave to spacy synth-pop and haunting atmospheric ballads.

Steve Gunn – The Unseen In Between (Matador)
This Brooklyn-via-Philly artist’s fourth solo album is an excellent set of expansive, psych-tinged folk-rock combining his impressive acoustic and electric guitar work with his most melodic and hook-filled songwriting to date.

Malibu Ken – Malibu Ken (Rhymesayers)
Malibu Ken is the new project pairing New York rapper Aesop Rock with producer Tobacco (who’s also part of Pittsburgh’s Black Moth Super Rainbow). Their debut album is a strong set of offbeat hip hop combining warped analog synths and blunted hip hop and funk beats with densely packed, imagistic rhymes laced with playful humor.

The Twilight Sad – It Won/T Be Like This All The Time (Rock Action)
This Scottish band’s fifth album is a more forceful and direct take on their brooding post-punk, combining loud, shoegazerish guitars, bright, shimmering synths and anthemic song hooks with emotive, often-dark lyrics revolving around isolation, anxiety, loss, and resilience.

Steve Mason – About The Light (Domino)
The fourth solo album from the former frontman for The Beta Band is a potent set of mostly sunny, psych-tinged folk-rock with hook-filled songs that take flight with help from ringing guitars, soaring horns, gospel-influenced backing vocals, and buoyant melodies.

Mike Krol – Power Chords (Merge)
This LA-based artist’s fourth album is a potent set of punkish power-pop with crunchy guitars, punchy rhythms, angst-fueled lyrics, and catchy pop hooks.

Toro Y Moi – Outer Peace (Carpark)
The sixth Toro Y Moi album from Chaz Bundick is a fine if somewhat slight set of slinky dance-pop inflected with house, hip hop, R&B, and other styles.

Juliana Hatfield – Weird (American Laundromat)
This veteran Boston artist’s latest album is a well-crafted set of hook-filled indie-rock combining buzzing guitars, driving rhythms and soaring melodies with lyrics celebrating solitude.

Weep Wave – S.A.D. (self-released)
This Seattle trio’s debut full-length is a fine set ranging from driving garage-rock and brooding, psych-tinged rock to rootsy folk-pop.

Tender – Fear of Falling Asleep (Partisan)
This British duo’s second album is an often-somber set of brooding electro-pop, combining atmospheric synths, fuzzy guitars and downtempo beats with personal lyrics revolving around battling depression, anxiety, and isolation.

Angelo De Augustine – Tomb (Asthmatic Kitty)
This LA-based artist’s third album is a fine set of intimate indie-pop ranging from haunting folk-pop to atmospheric electro-pop, combining an often-spare sound with his gentle vocals and personal lyrics of lost love.

Julian Lynch – Rat's Spit (Underwater Peoples)
The fifth solo album from this Madison, WI-based guitarist/producer (and member of Real Estate since 2016) is a fine set of hypnotic, psych-tinged ambient pop combining his impressive, effects-laden guitar work with dreamy melodies.