New Music Reviews (9/9)

Each week, Music Director Chris Sanley and Associate Music Director Alex Ruder (joined this week by Albina Cabrera, Latin Partnerships and Editorial Manager and co-host of El Sonido) 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 Fcukers, Hinds, MJ Lenderman, and more. 

Fcukers - Baggy$$ EP (Technicolour)
The exhilarating NYC electronic trio Fcukers finally drop their debut EP, delivering a contemporary spin on ‘90s dance music with a mesmerizing fusion of house, indie-pop and club influences. Completely captivating through all six tracks, each feels like an instant classic in its own right. Their energy is palpable, the hooks are undeniable, and their sound is unmatched. Fcukers are just getting started, and Baggy$$ sets the stage for something truly exciting. –CS

Hinds - VIVA HINDS (Lucky Number)
The fourth studio album from Madrid outfit Hinds, and first since Ade Martin and Amber Grimbergen left the band in 2022, sees co-founders Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote delivering THE GOODS. Whether subtle or blatant, hooks permeate their endearing fusion of garage-pop and surf-rock featuring layered guitars, classic drum patterns, lively vocals, and for the first time, Spanish-language tracks. Over ten years since their inception, this album proves the duo remains as strong and dynamic as ever. “VIVA HINDS” indeed! –CS

MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks (ANTI-)
Equal parts slacker rock and alt-country, the fourth solo album from North Carolina’s MJ Lenderman is a rich and warm yet dark collection of songs that flex his impressive storytelling and guitar work. Manning Fireworks centers around Lenderman’s distinct vocals, offering a dynamic range from twangy, electric rockers to acoustic ballads accompanied by fiddle. This album is an exceptional showcase of one of today’s most compelling songwriters, blending heartfelt lyricism with a raw, authentic sound. –CS

Toro Y Moi - Hole Erth (Dead Oceans)
The eighth studio album from Chaz Bear’s Toro Y Moi project is a thrilling exercise in genre-bending and mood-shifting, executed with effortless flair. Bear cascades through pop-punk, hip-hop, indie-rock, emo and electronic soundscapes, utilizing manipulated vocals, distorted guitars, synths and beats. His expert production illuminates a clear, innovative pop vision that, in lesser hands, could have sounded directionless and disjointed. Instead, Hole Erth emerges as an engaging, cohesive project that offers listeners a vivid picture of Bear’s diverse influences and creative prowess. –CS

Claude Fontaine - La Mer (Innovative Leisure)
The sophomore album from sultry reggae chanteuse Claude Fontaine is an intoxicating blend of Brazilian Tropicalia, bossa nova, ‘60s French pop and psychedelic soul. The rhythms on La Mer are fresh and captivating, with Fontaine’s stunning vocals rightfully commanding the spotlight. Collaborating closely with her co-writer and producer Lester Mendez, the duo crafts a smooth, breezy, and seductive soundscape that feels like it can wash away any troubles, offering a serene and immersive listening experience. –CS

Dummy - Free Energy (Trouble In Mind)
The stellar sophomore album from LA outfit Dummy is a spellbinding display of trip hop-infused post-punk magic. With dizzying psychedelic undertones, excellent pop hooks, compelling drum beats and hazy guitars, Free Energy is further enriched by synths, samples, saxophone, and ambient interstitials. Each track seamlessly flows into the next, showcasing a band that has confidently and playfully hit their stride on this second outing. –CS

Fat Dog - WOOF. (Domino)
The debut album from experimental London outfit Fat Dog is a frenetic blend of electro-punk and industrial pop, delivering a visceral listening experience from the first to the last note. High in intensity, the album offers relentless chaos, save for a brief, string filled respite on “I am the King.” Dark synths, bombastic sax, explosive drumming and theatrical vocals drive their raw energy, creating a soundscape that is as thrilling as it is overwhelming. WOOF. is not for the faint of heart, but it’s sure to get listeners howling for more. –CS

Oso Oso - life till bones (Yunahon)
The latest from Jade Lilitri’s Oso Oso project is an irresistibly catchy collection of melodic indie-rock tunes with hooks so profound they pull the listener back time and time again. The guitars, vocals and song structures evoke echoes of early Bright Eyes and Death Cab For Cutie, but there’s more to these tracks than mere nostalgia. Each song on life till bones is a memorable, well-crafted jam that finds Lilitri exploring themes of life, love and death. –CS

Pale Jay - Low End Love Songs (Karma Chief)
The second album from this mysterious, mask-adorning Los Angeles-based musician is another strong set of dreamy nostalgic soul songs highlighted by his feathery falsetto vocals and lush, sophisticated, orchestral-tinted arrangements. Released just over a year after his stellar 2023 debut album Bewilderment, Low End Love Songs is another assured collection of timeless, unhurried soul songs with an intermittent Latin-influenced streak that consistently delights. –AR

Peel Dream Magazine - Rose Main Reading Room (Topshelf)
The fourth album from this LA-based band led by Joseph Stevens – and currently joined by vocalist Olivia Babuka Black and multi-instrumentalist Ian Gibbs – is a fantastic set of warm psych-pop, spacey lounge-pop, and lush indie-pop that’s beautifully enhanced with a cinematic, feathery, colorful orchestral touch. With Stevens’ previous home of NYC serving as the album’s backdrop, Rose Main Reading Room captures a nostalgic, sophisticated, and consistently charming mood that would sound right at home nestled within a Wes Anderson film. -AR

Ravyn Lenae - Bird’s Eye (Atlantic)
The sophomore album from Chicago’s Ravyn Lenea is an alluring journey through alternative R&B, blending a diverse array of soundscapes including electronic, jazz, bossa nova, reggae and soul. Her smooth, flawless vocals and jaw dropping range shine across these eleven shapeshifting tracks as she gives listeners a “Bird’s Eye” view of her vibrant and expansive sonic landscape. –CS

The Heavy Heavy - One of a Kind (ATO)
The debut full-length album from this rising London-via-Bristol duo composed of Will Turner and Georgie Fuller is a masterful set of soulful, celebratory, nostalgia-soaked rock songs that brilliantly captures the communal, wide-eyed sounds and richly detailed production techniques of 1970s classic rock. Expanding upon the Laurel Canyon folk-rock of their 2022 breakout debut EP and shifting towards their British roots, with a specific referential nod to the Rolling Stones’ 1973 album Goats Head Soup, The Heavy Heavy may not be mining uniquely new sonic terrain, but their ability to refashion the energy, hooks, and sound of 1970s icons on One of a Kind is truly impressive on this filler-free record. -AR

Adriana McCassim - See It Fades (I’m Into Life Records)
The debut album from Asheville-born, LA-based Adriana McCassim is an intimate and brooding exploration of sound and emotion. Blending indie-rock, folk and garage influences, See It Fades showcases McCassim’s emotive vocals and deeply personal lyricism. The album is marked by expertly crafted crescendos that achieve both delicate and dramatic effects, making it an excellent first outing from an artist who is just beginning to tell her story. –CS

Cimafunk - Pa’ Tu Cuerpa (Terapia Productions/Thirty Tigers)
Cimafunk’s third album, Pa' Tu Cuerp’a, is a beautiful fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Caribbean beats, and classic funk, infused with soul and New Orleans brass. Collaborating with legends like George Clinton, Trombone Shorty, and Big Freedia, Cimafunk pushes boundaries, blending tradition with contemporary sounds. Tracks like "Cuchi Cuchi" showcase his most prized talent, funk-driven groove, while songs like "Dime" reveal his softer, soulful side but with a catchy melody. Pa' Tu Cuerpa is a must-hear for funk lovers and beyond, and his collaboration with Monsieur Periné, “Catalina,” stands out since its release. –AC

LL COOL J - THE FORCE (LL COOL J)
For his 14th studio album and first in 11 years, NYC rapper/actor LL Cool J (aka James Todd Smith) teams up with fellow NYC icon Q-Tip for an all-caps, largely back-to-basics hip-hop album that pairs Q-Tip’s stellar beats with LL’s commanding flow and features assists from a handful of fellow marquee rappers. While the guest superstars bring some additional intrigue, particularly Nas on “Praise Him,” THE FORCE (an acronym for Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy) is at its best when the two NYC legends are left alone to flex their undeniable, decades-in-the-game talents on tracks like “THE FORCE,” “Passion,” “Post Modern,” “Runnit Back,” and “Basquiat Energy.” -AR

Lollise - I hit the water (Switch Hit)
This debut album from NYC-via-Botswana multi-disciplinary artist Lollise – a former member of Underground System and the FELA! Band – is a radiant and often-hypnotic set of Afro-futurist pop informed by R&B, Afro-beats, art-pop, and traditional African folk music. Colorful instrumentation, lively rhythms, and Lollise’s rich voice that finds her singing in English, Setswana and Kalanga blend together harmoniously, yielding a unique sound from an artist who emigrated to the US to study chemistry, worked in a spinal cord injury lab in Philadelphia post-college, left science to become a handbag designer in New York, and then joined a band to pursue her own expressive musical vision. -AR

Mestizo Beat - Jaraguá (F-Spot)
The sophomore album from Los Angeles ensemble Mestizo Beat is an endlessly funky fusion of Latin-jazz, psych, soul, funk and Afrobeat. Jaraguá features frenetic arrangements with dynamic horns, groovy basslines and kinetic percussion, resulting in a lively and captivating display of instrumental soul revival.  –CS

Molchat Doma - Belaya Polosa (Sacred Bones)
The fourth album from Belarusian post-punk/synth-pop outfit Molchat Doma is a lush and expansive exploration of dark wave. With sinister synths, pulsing drum machines and hazy guitars, Belaya Polosa delivers an atmospheric sound that is both brooding and danceable, making it perfect for night owls. –CS

Nox Novacula - Feed the Fire (Artoffact)
The second album from this Seattle band is a strong set of anthemic, propulsive, gloomy deathrock that confidently revels in the genre’s distinctive gothic brew of punk, glam, and post-punk styles. Oozing with huge hooks, ripping guitars, icy synths, pummeling rhythms, dramatic vocals, haunting atmospherics, and plenty of charismatic macabre, Feed the Fire is an enveloping force of dark energy that marks the band’s debut for Canadian label Artoffact Records following the organic success of their self-released 2021 debut album Ascension and the strength of their live shows. -AR

Party Dozen - Crime In Australia (Temporary Residence Ltd.)
The latest offering from Sydney duo Party Dozen is a gleefully chaotic adventure that knows no bounds. Featuring explosive drumming, menacing saxophone and manipulated, indecipherable vocals, the album takes listeners on a jarring and wonderfully wild ride through a thrilling fusion of post-punk, jazz, psych, doom, hardcore and more. ‘Crime In Australia’ is an exhilarating, genre-bending experience that offers something truly unique. –CS

Prim - Move Too Slow (Sunday Drive)
The debut album from Seattle outfit Prim delivers eleven hard-hitting, fuzzed-out power pop tunes. Boasting infectious hooks, ripping guitars and alternating lead vocalists, Move Too Slow is an energetic and captivating introduction to the band’s irresistible blend of grit with a pop sensibility. –CS

The The - Ensoulment (Cineola Limited/earMUSIC)
This is the day … that The The release Ensoulment, their first album in nearly 25 years. While themes of love, politics, life and death are often wrapped in dark, eerie undertones, the overarching message of the album is one of hope. These artfully crafted progressive pop tunes highlight Matt Johnson’s pronounced vocals, which oscillate from spoken word and melodic singing. The songs are driven by layered piano, guitars, percussion, strings, horns and backing vocalists for a rich, almost theatrical landscape that feels both expansive and deeply personal. –CS

Blxst - I’ll Always Come Find You (Red Bull/Evgle)
Following an impressive string of singles, EPs, collaborations, and guest appearances on tracks by Kendrick Lamar, Larry June, Drakeo the Ruler, Roddy Ricch, and more over the past five years, Los Angeles-based artist Blxst (pronounced “Blast”) unveils his debut full-length album, a cinematic 20-track journey split up into four chapters that showcases his sleek, catchy, and expansive R&B/ hip-hop sound. Kamasi Washington, Anderson .Paak, 2 Chainz, the late Fatman Scoop, Becky G, Ty Dolla $ign, Joyce Wrice, Offset, and more make guest appearances on this conceptual record centered around a character named Birdie, a young man who inherits his father’s chauffeur car service upon his sudden passing. The album’s storyline narrative keeps things moving along at a steady pace with a few undeniable standout tracks interspersed along the way. -AR

Masok - challenge accepted (Raw Tapes)
The second album from this Tel Aviv-based four-piece band fronted by vocalist Jenny Penkin is another solid set of dreamy, airy, organic neo-soul and lush, jazzy, groovy R&B that’s accented by the group’s live instrumentation and Penkin’s warm, welcoming vocals that lyrically tackle romantic pursuits, existential questions, and the mundane absurdity of everyday life. -AR

Tall Juan - Raccoon Nights (self-released)
The third album from NYC-based Argentinian singer-songwriter Juan Zaballa (aka Tall Juan) is a fine set of eclectic psych-pop with touches of New Wave, power-pop, post-punk, psych-folk, and more. Featuring guest appearances from Mac Demarco, Juan Wauters, and the late Cola Boyy, as well as co-production from MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden on album opener “The Dark Hole,” Raccoon Nights roams a woozy and winsome sound inspired by the early 80s’ DIY scenes of NYC and London.  -AR

Sex Week - Sex Week (Grand Jury)
Sex Week is a NYC-based duo composed of musician/actor Pearl Amanda Dickson and musician Richard Orofino, the two connecting following Richard’s love for a mixtape (long live mixtapes!) that Pearl made for her friend (and Richard’s eventual roommate) to soundtrack her cross-country drive to New York. Quickly bonding upon meeting IRL, Sex Week was soon birthed and together they’ve created a promising debut EP of chic indie rock, moody art-rock, dimly-lit alt-pop, and a slight hint of trip-hop that carries a smoky, cinematic, nocturnal vibe through their noir-tinted atmospherics and sultry dualling vocals. -AR

Shovels & Rope - Something Is Working Up Above My Head (Dualtone)
The latest from Charleston-based husband and wife duo Shovels & Rope is a fiery display of their signature alt-country and folk-rock fusion, infused with a raw, punk sensibility. Featuring engaging and heartfelt harmonies, Something Is Working Up Above My Head delivers compelling arrangements that stand as an essential addition to their ever-evolving canon. –CS