New Music Reviews (9/30)

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 Ezra Collective, Merce Lemon, TSHA, and more. 

Ezra Collective - Dance, No One’s Watching (Partisan)
The latest offering from jazz fusion extraordinaires Ezra Collective is all about movement. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, the London quintet pull no punches on this third studio album, delivering an inventive blend of jazz, afrobeat, funk, soul and hip-hop that captures the spirit of a night out in their city. With arrangements tight enough to provide structure yet loose enough for endless grooves and perfect vibes, Dance, No One’s Watching propels their sound and vision to new heights. –CS

Merce Lemon - Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild (Darling Recordings)
The third studio album from Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter Merce Lemon is truly something behold; there’s a little bit of magic in every song. With rich soundscapes composed of acoustic and electric guitars, fiddle, pedal steel, banjo, harmonica and propulsive percussion, her poetic storytelling paints vivid pictures of love, loss and her beloved hometown. A master of crescendos, she builds layers of sound and emotion as she skillfully navigates through sparse and explosive moments while showcasing her dynamic, emotive vocals. With her expert fusion of timeless Americana and contemporary folk rock, there’s no doubt that Merce is bound to drive each listener wild by the end of this phenomenal album.  –CS

TSHA - Sad Girl (Ninja Tune)
The sophomore album from London-based producer and DJ TSHA absolutely DELIVERS. While maintaining an entirely fresh, modern, and unique sound, she throws it back to early 2000s R&B, house, pop and techno. Wearing her emotions on her sleeve, this Sad Girl serves up nothing but bangers, providing space for listeners to work out their feelings on the dance floor. –CS

Being Dead - EELS (Bayonet)
The sophomore album from Austin, TX duo Being Dead is a compelling journey through contemporary art-pop and garage rock, infused with a retro feel that incorporates elements of ‘60s pop and folk rock. Their dreamy harmonies carry listeners through dark, witty lyricism, revealing a glimmer of light around every turn. Each track is immediate, urgent and adventurous, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats as they anticipate where EELS will take them next. –CS

Crows - Reason Enough (Bad Vibrations)
The third studio album from London quartet Crows is a solid collection of driving, tenacious post-punk. Weaving hints of new wave throughout, the melancholic lyrics are propelled by searing guitars, powerful drums and anguished vocals. Reason Enough provides an engaging, melodic listen that keeps the momentum flowing. –CS

Kit Sebastian - New Internationale (Brainfeeder)
The third album and Brainfeeder debut from the London-based duo of Kit Martin and Merve Erdem is a vibrant and kaleidoscopic blend of ‘70s psych, ‘60s pop, Tropicalia and jazz. New Internationale offers a sonic global trip with incredible movement and rhythm, incorporating a rich tapestry of layered instrumentation including Turkish clarinet, santour, oud, gangsa, zither, harpsichord, bubul tarang, congas, bongos, organs and so much more. The result is nothing short of mesmerizing. –CS

Mediocre - Growth Eater (Dangerbird)
Far from mediocre, the debut album from this LA-based duo composed of guitarist/vocalist Piper Torrison and bassist/vocalist Keely Martin is a fantastic set of punchy, catchy, soaring indie rock jams with a power-pop streak that finds inspiration in the thrilling early-catalog energy of millennium-era bands like Broken Social Scene, Tegan and Sara, Rilo Kiley, and Sleater-Kinney. -AR

Naima Bock - Below A Massive Dark Land (Sub Pop)
The sophomore album from UK’s Naima Bock is a breathtaking collection of ornate indie folk rock. Equal parts intimate and expansive, the songs on Below A Massive Dark Land carry extraordinary weight. Initially crafted with just her voice, guitar and violin, these songs have been fully realized with dynamic arrangements that incorporate horns, strings and a choir, resulting in a lush, imaginative soundscape that swirls through space, time and emotion, keeping the listener enraptured at every turn. –CS

Orion Sun - Orion (Mom+Pop)
The new album from Philly-born, LA-based singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist is an oft understated but always compelling collection of introspective R&B, neo-soul and indie-pop. Her smooth, expressive vocals guide the listener through tales of hardship and joy, while the varied, layered instrumentals create a vast, atmospheric soundscape perfect for getting lost in. –CS

SOPHIE - SOPHIE (Transgressive/Future Classic)
SOPHIE is, has been and will always be the future. The posthumous, aptly self-titled final album from this hyperpop visionary was close to completion before her tragic passing and was finished by her brother and trusted collaborator, Benny Long. SOPHIE continues her legacy of sonic shapeshifting with her distinct production style, intoxicating muddied synths, propulsive beats, frenetic song structures and a wealth of exceptional vocalists. This remarkable final offering leaves her adoring fans with something to truly cherish. –CS

Sunflower Bean - Shake EP (Lucky Number)
The new EP from New York’s Sunflower Bean is a strong set of infectious, melodic, heavy indie-rock. With gnarly guitars, ferocious drums and powerful vocals, the trio have shaken out their Headful of Sugar for a darker, weightier sound, venturing into exciting new territory. –CS

Trace Mountains - Into the Burning Blue (Lame-O Records)
The fourth studio album from Dave Benton’s Trace Mountains finds the singer-songwriter processing the aftermath of an eight year romantic relationship through lush, cinematic soundscapes that incorporate slide guitar, synths and drum machines. Ranging from ‘80s maximalist rockers to sparse, delicate folk numbers, Into the Burning Blue examines the process of grief, healing and growth, inviting listeners to embrace each shade of blue that comes with it. –CS

Alan Sparhawk - White Roses, My God (Sub Pop)
The debut solo album from Low’s Alan Sparhawk is devastatingly beautiful. Through distorted, droning electronics, driving drum patterns and manipulated, distressed vocals, he processes grief in a truly innovative and engrossing fashion. Born out of improvisation and experimentation with new musical outlets, White Roses, My God marks a new chapter for Sparkhawk as he honors the late Mimi Parker, embraces the present and looks to the future. –CS

bloococoon - bloococoon (Little Cloud)
The debut album from this Seattle band led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Sharim is a solid set of dreamy shoegaze, enveloping psych-rock, and PNW-steeped grunge. -AR

Efterklang - Things We Have In Common (City Slang)
The seventh studio album from this veteran Danish band is a strong set of sweeping chamber-pop and sophisticated art-rock that finds their orchestral, widescreen vision enhanced by rich instrumentation, frontman Casper Clausen’s delicate falsetto, and assists from Mabe Fratti, Beirut, South Denmark Girls’ Choir, and more. -AR

Jake Blount & Mali Obomsawin - symbiont (Smithsonian Folkways)
The stunning collaborative album from Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin is a profound expression of Black and Indigenous futurism. As they examine the landscape of colonization in the US, the duo crafts captivating contemporary folk tunes rooted in tradition feeaturing driving percussion with hand claps, banjo, synths, fiddle, drum machines and their incredible voices. –CS

Jerry Paper - Inbetweezer (Stones Throw)
There’s truly no one like Jerry Paper. Their songwriting embodies the sonic equivalent of “everything but the kitchen sink,” always bringing pure joy into the world in a way only they can. Inbetweezer is no exception to the “no rules” mentality that defines Jerry Paper. Featuring woozy, psych-tinged indie-pop with introspective lyrics celebrating those spaces between beginnings and endings, their latest effort is another exhilarating and peaceful journey. –CS

John Davis - JINX (Lost in Ohio)
The latest solo album from veteran Knoxville-based musician and Superdrag frontman John Davis is an assured set of catchy, fuzzy, no-frills rock that taps into his intuitive blend of power-pop and 90s-steeped alternative rock. Originally intended to be a new Superdrag record, JINX went through too many starts-and-stops with the band to reach completion. Determined to flesh-out the WIP songs, Davis teamed up with longtime friend and fellow seasoned Knoxville bassist/producer Stewart Pack and Stewart’s drummer/engineer son Henry to help bring these sharp songs across the finish line. -AR

MC Lyte - 1 of 1 (My Block Inc.)
The ninth studio album (and first in nine years) from legendary NYC rapper MC Lyte is a commanding set of soulful, seasoned, spiritual-tinted hip-hop with MC Lyte lyrically flexing and reflecting upon her singular history, vision, and perspective in life and the music industry to claim truth to 1 of 1. Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah, Common, Big Daddy, Raheem DeVaughn, Cheryl “Salt” James, Muni Long, Lil Mama, and more make guest appearances. -AR

Mt Fog - ultraviolet heart machine (Save the Forest For the Trees)
The third album from the enchanting music project of Seattle’s Carolyn B. is a captivating collection of haunting synth-pop. With artful arrangements that feature bouncy bass lines, sinister synths and acrobatic vocals, ultraviolet heart machine offers vibrant, cosmic soundscapes that surprise and delight. –CS

Mustafa - Dunya (Jagjaguwar)
The long-awaited debut full-length album from this Sudanese-Canadian poet, activist and singer-songwriter cuts straight to the heart. The songs on Dunya rightfully center Mustafa’s breathtaking voice and powerful words as these gorgeous folk tunes explore a number of personal themes including devotion, trauma, violence and romance. Waves of emotion crash through each of these delicate, intimate songs, showcasing the power of poetry alongside expertly crafted song structures. –CS

Yung Bae - 6AE (Future of Funk)
The latest album from LA-based, PDX-raised electronic DJ/producer Dallas Cotton (aka Yung Bae) is another high-energy set of party-starting grooves that deftly blends disco, house, funk, R&B, and City Pop into technicolor dancefloor jams. Vantage, Life on Planets, Ric Wilson, Imad Royal, Huron John, and axxa* pop into the celebration for guest appearances. -AR

Allysha Joy - The Making of Silk (First Word)
The third solo album from this versatile Naarm/Melbourne-based singer, songwriter, poet, producer, keys players, and frontwoman for 30/70 is a lush, earthy, and deeply-expressive blend of R&B, jazz, and neo-soul with a cool, classic, and (yes) silky touch. -AR

duendita - the mind is a miracle (FREEDOM DR)
The latest EP from Queens, NY’s duendita is another immersive, honest, free-flowing set of experimental R&B that sways between spectral ballads and slinky grooves with duendita’s expressive, elastic, aching vocals and adventurous songwriting tying the varying styles together. Written between NYC and Berlin, the mind is a miracle adds another evocative entry in her soul-searching catalog that lyrically tackles themes of faith, community, and their Puerto Rican-American/Afro-Latinx ancestry. -AR

José Junior - Spanish Leather (self-released)
The debut solo album from this Brooklyn-based, UK-raised, British-Hispanic musician is a solid set of dreamy indie rock, exploratory psych-rock, and melancholic Latin folk that hits a pair of highs on the psych-heavy songs “Dust” and “Projections.” Featuring lyrics sung in both English and Spanish and an expansive sonic palette, Spanish Leather arrives after a life-altering near-death bike accident that fueled José’s desire to fully embrace his musical passions and complete his first solo record after years of corporate jobs and playing guitar and keys in other bands. -AR

Kito - BIMYOU (Mad Decent)
The latest solo EP from Australian-born, LA-based electronic producer and DJ Kito (aka Maaike Kito Lebbing, also one-half of IS U IS U alongside Chrome Sparks) is a strong set of vibrant, seductive, and addictive electronic/club jams that finds her confidently jumping around different sub-genres with ease. Nigerian artists Kah-Lo and brazy slide over the Afro-House-tinted “take your vibes and go,” Australian artist Wafia and Nigerian artist Nonso Amadi duet on the sleek pop-leaning “back 2 love,” St. Panther serves a commanding mantra on the breaks-infused “die 4 you,” and emerging London-born, India-raised artist Beau Nox adds his glistening falsetto on “don’t leave,” a moody closer that contains shades of Burial and Fred again.. -AR

Tara Lily - Speak in the Dark (Tru Thoughts)
The debut album from London-based British-Bengali singer-songwriter Tara Lily is an impressive blend of smoky trip-hop, moody alt-R&B, and jazzy electronica with a super subtle undercurrent of classical Indian elements. With its eclectic range from smoldering slow jams to euphoric club-tinted grooves, Speak in the Dark is an album about “speaking your truth - things that go unsaid — secrets and desires” as Tara captures the emotional highs and lows of living with ADHD and finds inspiration in her travels through Asia and her journey of reconnecting to her roots in India. -AR