New Music Reviews (9/2)

Each week, Music Director Chris Sanley and Associate Music Director Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP's rotation. These reviews help our DJs decide on what they want to play. See what we added this week below (and on our Charts page), including new releases from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Yannis & The Yaw, Los Bitchos, and more. 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild God (Play It Again Sam)
The aptly-titled Wild God finds Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds soaring through cinematic, orchestral rock masterpieces. These lush arrangements ebb and flow from grand and bombastic to deeply intimate, while Cave’s distinctive storytelling cuts straight to the heart, leaving listeners hanging on every word. What a triumph. –CS

Yannis & The Yaw - Lagos Paris London EP (Transgressive)
The exhilarating collaboration between Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis and the late, great Tony Allen is an explosive, groove filled fusion of rock, jazz, funk and afrobeat. Showcasing Allen’s incomparable drumming with complex patterns and time signatures, alongside Philippakis’s smooth vocals and knack for infectious hooks, the Lagos Paris London EP is a total stunner. –CS

Los Bitchos - Talkie Talkie (City Slang)
The sophomore album from London’s Los Bitchos is a funky, global exploration of instrumental psych rock. Through infectious guitar riffs, shimmering synths and driving bass lines, Talkie Talkie spans genres and generations for a dynamic, timeless and thrilling listen. –CS

Oceanator - Everything is Love and Death (Polyvinyl)
The third album from Elise Okusami, aka Oceanator, is bursting with anthemic and melodic indie-rock magic. On Everything is Love and Death, Okusami delivers emotional and vulnerable lyrics with fiery guitars and propelling percussion, complemented by touches of keys, trumpet and cello, striking the perfect balance of grunge with a pop sensibility. –CS

OHR - Afterglow (Head State)
The latest from Seattle-based Craig Klein’s project, OHR, is a mesmerizing journey through electronic, psychedelic and art-rock landscapes. Afterglow features hazy textures, manipulated vocals, dizzying drum patterns and layered samples that come together to create a wonderfully trippy and immersive experience. –CS

The Bug Club - On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System (Sub Pop)
The third full-length from Welsh outfit The Bug Club is a playful fusion of punk, garage and indie-rock. With tongue-in-cheek lyricism, infectious hooks and lo-fi production, On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System ranges from searing rockers like “Quality Pints” to ‘60s-tinged bops like “Pop Single,” offering an engaging listen that invites many repeated plays. –CS

Why Bonnie - Wish on the Bone (Fire Talk)
The sophomore album from Brooklyn-based trio Why Bonnie is a captivating blend of Americana, indie-rock and dream pop. Wish on the Bone finds Blair Howerton and co. exploring big feelings through rich, textured sonics as they expertly tiptoe the line between delicate and robust with their intimate reflections and foot stomping barnburners. –CS

Wunderhorse - Midas (Communion/Mick Music)
The sophomore album from UK four-piece Wunderhorse is a strong set of moody post-punk with ‘90s Brit-rock influences, featuring big hooks and an emotive vocal performance from Jacob Slater. With its solid songwriting, impressive guitar and drum work, and a well-crafted balance of loud and soft moments, Midas hits all of the right marks. –CS

Buzz’ Ayaz - Buzz’ Ayaz (Glitterbeat)
Based in Cyprus’ divided capital of Nicosia, Buzz’ Ayaz is a four-piece outfit founded by Antonis Antoniou, leader of the bands Monsieur Doumani and Trio Tekke. A colorful melding of cultures and genres that draws from the cities dualling Greek and Turkish influences, their debut album is a knockout set of fuzzy, kaleidoscopic, Eastern Mediterranean psychedelic jams that’s full of vibrant instrumentation, lively rhythms, and charismatic vocals that yields a sound that’s heavy and funky in equal measure. -AR

COLD GAWD - I’ll Drown On This Earth (Dais)
The second full-length album from this Southern California band fronted by singer and principal songwriter Matthew Wainwright is an immersive set of enveloping shoegaze infused with dream-pop, noise-pop, and post-hardcore styles that’s aptly described as “crushing downer bliss.” From the opening angsty scream of “Gorgeous” to the towering heights of stellar lead single “All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned For A Thing I Cannot Name” to the gauzy ethereal balladry of “Tappan,” I’ll Drown On This Earth confidently blends the heavy with the light throughout their eclectic, melodic, wall-of-sound songs. -AR

dog eyes - holy friend (Grand Jury)
The sophomore release from the Oakland duo of Davis Leach and Haily Firstman is a charming collection of lo-fi indie-rock with folk, electronic and bedroom pop influences. Sharing lead vocal duties, the pair craft warm, intimate songs born out of a trusting friendship. –CS

Easy Sleeper - A Sacred Way of Living (self-released)
The long-awaited debut album from LA’s Easy Sleeper is a solid collection of catchy, energetic post-punk. Blending elements of jangle-pop and ‘90s alternative, the nine tracks on A Sacred Way of Living feature electric vocals, memorable guitar licks, and a compelling sense of urgency. –CS

Enumclaw - Home in Another Life (Run For Cover)
The sophomore album from Tacoma four-piece Enumclaw is a brooding set of timeless indie-rock with nods to iconic bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Built To Spill. On Home in Another Life, the outfit craft memorable songs with compelling guitar riffs, explosive drums and emotive vocals that shift seamlessly between anthemic rockers and lo-fi ballads, showcasing their range and depth. –CS

Joya Mooi - Open Hearts EP (Unity Records)
The new EP from South African-Dutch singer-songwriter Joya Mooi is a seductive fusion of alternative R&B and neo-soul with electronic undercurrents. Featuring a strong pop sensibility and smooth production, Open Hearts is a collection of free flowing, uptempo tracks that highlight her gorgeous vocals. –CS

Kerosene Kream - Buying Time (PNKSLM Recordings)
Following a few self-released EPs, this Stockholm-based band make their PNKSLM Recordings debut with a blistering 4-song EP of energetic, scrappy, anthemic garage punk that carries with a touch of psychedelia and it all feels right at home on the lauded Swedish label. -AR

Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk (Mom + Pop)
The sophomore album from the Miami duo of Mica Tenenaum and Matthew Lewin is a captivating collection of textured, dreamy pop. Including standouts like “Image” and “Death & Romance”, Imaginal Disk showcases enticingly groovy hooks, Mica’s breathy vocals and the duo’s masterful production. –CS

Sean Henry - Head (Double Double Whammy)
New York’s Sean Henry delivers an engaging sophomore album that seamlessly blends elements of bedroom pop, indie-rock and grunge. Drawing clear influences from late ‘90s and early aughts artists like Elliott Smith, HEAD still maintains a fresh and distinct sound. Across ten groove-laden tracks, Henry creates an engaging listening experience with catchy hooks, lo-fi production and enticingly subtle nuances. –CS

Tycho - Infinite Health (Mom+Pop)
The sixth studio album from San Francisco producer, songwriter and composer Scott Hansen is a boundless exploration of electronic music that draws from a diverse range of influences, including psych, pop, house, disco and ambient. Infinite Health boasts hypnotic synths, beats and breaks for an expansive soundscape, providing endless chill vibes. –CS

We Are the Willows - IV (Youngbloods)
The fourth album from this Minneapolis-based band led by singer-songwriter Peter Miller (aka Peter M.) is a nice set of soaring art-pop with an experimental, dynamic, orchestral folk-pop streak with peaks that recall the inventive output of adventurous indie bands such as Dirty Projectors and tUnE-yArDs in the late 2000s and early 2010s. -AR

Casino Hearts - Lose Your Halo (self-released)
The debut EP from this LA-via-Reno trio is an impressive set of fuzzy, enveloping, widescreen guitar-pop tunes that deftly blend shoegaze and dream-pop into its densely melodic sound. Previously operating as a Reno-based duo and putting out a handful of albums that have largely been wiped off the internet, Lose Your Halo marks the band’s first offering since adding vocalist/keyboardist Forest Holter and her ethereal vocals and pop sensibility bring a magnetic new dimension to the band’s foundational palette. -AR

Cecile Believe - Tender the Spark (ambient tweets)
The latest EP from Los Angeles-based artist Cecile Believe (fka Mozart’s Sister) is a sweet set of adventurous synth-pop that pairs her acrobatic, ethereal, charismatic vocals with sleek technicolor productions. A secret weapon within the avant-pop and hyper-pop scenes who has collaborated with SOPHIE, A. G. Cook, Magdalena Bay, TR/ST, Austra, and more, Cecile Believe continues to forge her own addictive sound on this concise and confident solo outing. -AR

​​Chelsea Bridge - K (Whited Sepulchre)
The debut album from this solo project of Chicago-based musician Mallory Linehan – an integral figure in Chicago’s DIY scene who has collaborated with Ratboys, Circuit Des Yeux, NNAMDÏ, and more – is a promising set of brooding string-enhanced indie rock that pairs her background as a classically-trained violinist with an evocative art-rock sensibility. -AR

DJ TR1N1TY - ASTRO GIRLS EP (Lost Palms/Shall Not Fade)
Best known for her lush lo-fi beats released under her saaaz alias, London-based electronic producer Sara Paris officially introduces her house/UKG-leaning alias DJ TR1N1TY with a sharp debut EP of glistening electronic grooves that filters her warm, textured, sample-heavy aesthetic through steady lo-fi house beats. With each track named after a strong female character from TV shows she watched when growing up, ASTRO GIRLS captures a nostalgic charm through its introspective dancefloor rhythms. -AR

Starflyer 59 - Lust for Gold (Velvet Blue Music)
The 17th album from this long-running solo project of Southern California musician Jason Martin is a sharp return to form that revitalizes his widescreen shoegaze and brooding alternative rock sound through a potent mixture of epic guitars, massive hooks, reflective lyrics, and husky vocals. 30 years since the release of his self-titled debut album, Starflyer 59 resurges on Lust for Gold and delivers a consistent run of timeless, sweeping, nostalgia-soaked songs. -AR 

Susanna - Meditations on Love (SusannaSonata)
Meditations on Love from Norwegian singer and composer Susanna is completely captivating. Her enchanting arrangements feature a rich blend of clarinet, piano, saxophone, layered percussion and vocal acrobatics, resulting in a chamber-pop soundscape with electronic flourishes and dynamic rhythmic cadences. –CS