New Music Reviews (3/17)

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 Ali, Circuit des Yeux, clipping., and more. 

Ali - Patterns EP (self-released)
Jakarta, Indonesia trio Ali follow up their 2023 debut album Malaka with a stellar EP of intoxicating instrumental-heavy grooves that fuses Indonesian/Malay and Middle Eastern influences – “Middle Eastern Beats with South East Twists” – through a funky psychedelic prism. Full of sweet basslines, transportive guitars, and hypnotic rhythms, Patterns carries cool worldly grooves that are reminiscent of Glass Beams and Khruangbin at their most extroverted. -AR

Circuit des Yeux - Halo On The Inside (Matador)
Halo On The Inside, the eighth studio album from Chicago-based musician, composer, and multidisciplinary artist Haley Fohr, plays like a dark opera. Rife with emotion, her commanding, theatrical vocals (which span four octaves, no less), moody synths, gauzy beats, propulsive percussion, and experimental manipulations create a dense, sinister soundscape. Not for the faint of heart, this expansive, all-consuming collection is nothing short of stunning. –CS

clipping. - Dead Channel Sky (Sub Pop)
The fifth studio album from innovative trio clipping. is another incredible showcase of their jaw-dropping fusion of experimental hip-hop, industrial noise, and cyberpunk. Featuring Daveed Diggs’ distinct vocals, pointed lyrics, adventurous arrangements, and expert production, Dead Channel Sky is a wild, invigorating ride that inspires listeners to keep pushing.  –CS

Courting - Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’ (Lower Third/PIAS)
Liverpool outfit Courting pack a lot into their third studio album. Featuring excellent guitar riffs, infectious pop hooks, vibrant percussion, and experimental flourishes, Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’ is an intriguing blend of post-punk, brit-pop and indie rock. –CS

Ménades - Sur Leurs Cendres (Le Cèpe Records/Modulo)
The debut album from French feminist punk outfit Ménades is fierce and ferocious. With sharp lyricism, urgent delivery, and excellent hooks, they blend punk, shoegaze, post-punk, garage and psych for a fantastic, frenzied collection that oozes energetic swagger. –CS

Neal Francis - Return To Zero (ATO)
The third album from Chicago-based musician Neal Francis is a supremely groovy record that joyfully blends a 60s/70s-steeped soup of funk, psych, soul, disco, rock, and pop goodness. “Equal parts heady and hedonistic, pensive and euphoric,” Neal shows out on Return To Zero with a stellar A-side and a smart, fun, nostalgic sound that likely shines even brighter in a live setting. -AR

Yves Jarvis - All Cylinders (In Real Life)
The latest solo album from Montreal musician Jean-Sébastien Yves Audet (aka Yves Jarvis) is a fantastic evolution of his funky, homespun, psych-tinted R&B-pop vision that finds him embracing a more confident, song-focused, “one-man band” mentality. With magnificent electric guitar solos, dynamic songwriting, and his magnetic voice reaching new heights, All Cylinders is reminiscent of Mk.gee’s recent level-up and contains shades of D’Angelo, Steve Lacy, Cody ChesnuTT, and Prince. -AR

AJ Suede - The Duke of Downtempo (Knowhatimean Incorporated)
The latest album from prolific Harlem-raised, Seattle-based rapper/producer AJ Suede (his 35th album released in the past eight years!!) is a stellar set of cerebral, jazzy, dank hip-hop that pairs his hypnotic flow and charismatic wordplay over syrupy downtempo beats inspired by his time digging through record shops overseas, namely Bristol, UK and its shelves lined with trip-hop/downtempo pioneers. Swiftly moving through 10 songs in 19 minutes, The Duke of Downtempo serves as a perfect entry to AJ Suede’s deep catalog and a standout offering within Seattle’s underground rap scene. -AR

Alabaster DePlume - A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole (International Anthem)
The latest album from acclaimed London-based saxophonist, singer, songwriter, composer, activist, orator, and poet-philosopher Alabaster DePlume further explores his cerebral, poignant, powerful intersection of evocative, spiritual jazz compositions with painterly art-pop, the latter distinguished by his distinctive croon and sophisticated, reflective wordplay.  -AR

Anoushka Shankar - Chapter III: We Return to Light (LEITER)
The third and final installment within acclaimed British-Indian sitar player, composer, and musician Anoushka Shankar’s trilogy of geography-minded mini-albums for Nils Frahms’ LEITER label is another sublime set of lush, hypnotic, supremely beautiful instrumental pieces. Written entirely in collaboration with London-base Indian multi-instrumentalist Sarathy Korwar and composer and sarod player Alam Khan, son of the famed Indian classical guru, Ali Akbar Khan, We Return to Light was created with “mindfulness of India” at the root of each piece and features a boosted rhythmic pulse with a highlight in the Goa trance-influenced early single “We Burn So Brightly.” -AR

Cheekface - Middle Spoon (self-released)
The fifth album from LA trio and “America’s local band” Cheekface is another cheeky, clever, kitschy collection of acerbic power pop and arty indie rock. Distinguished immediately by Greg Katz’s talk-singing delivery and nerdy, witty lyrics, Cheekface’s specific sound and memorable musings on everyday anxieties and sociopolitical unease has spurned an adoring, growing “Cheek Freaks” fanbase. Closing track “Hard Mode” offers a standout highlight that manages to recall LCD Soundsystem, Death Cab For Cutie, and The Cars, but is still undeniably Cheekface, while McKinley Dixon appears on rap/rock hybrid "Military Gum.” -AR

cootie catcher - Shy at first (Cooked Raw)
The debut album from cootie catcher is an endearing introduction to this Toronto-based quartet. Influenced by twee, power pop, electronic, bedroom pop, and more, these charming songs boast memorable hooks, lo-fi production, and alternating vocalists, resulting in a compelling, unforgettable listen. –CS

Darci Phenix - Sable (Get Loud Recordings)
The third studio-album from Portland-based singer-songwriter Darci Phenix is a gorgeous collection of dreamy indie-folk magic. With lush instrumentation featuring acoustic guitar, banjo, pedal steel, keys, and strings, Phenix’s sweet, melancholic vocals float effortlessly through these intimate treasures. –CS

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Yarın Yoksa (Big Crown)
The fourth album from this Berlin-based outfit led by Turkish singer, bağlama player and multi-instrumentalist Derya Yıldırım is another mesmerizing showcase of their Anatolian psychedelic folk music and poetry that fuses Derya’s stunning, magnetic voice with the band’s colorful, trippy arrangements. Yarın Yoksa also marks the band’s debut album for Brooklyn’s Big Crown Records with label founder Leon Bridges on production and perfectly handling their groovy, global, retro-futuristic psychedelic/soul sound. -AR

Florence Adooni - A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity) (Philophon)
The official debut album from Ghanaian soul singer Florence Adooni is a joyful, jubilant display of Frafra songs, a traditional Ghanaian language and music genre that’s rooted in highlife and features upbeat rhythms and lively melodies. Produced by her longtime collaborator and Philophon Records founder Max Wiessenfeldt, who stumbled upon Florence and her self-released debut collection while traveling through Ghana over 10 years ago, Florence’s magnetic falsetto shines bright over her band’s richly orchestrated, horn-fueled arrangements. -AR

Franklin Gothic - Echoes (self-released)
The second album from this solo project of Portland’s Jay DiBartolo finds him teaming up once again with producer Erik Blood for another solid set of dreamy indie pop, dynamic indie rock, groovy psych-pop, and atmospheric shoegaze with a distinctive PNW sheen. -AR

hey, nothing - 33° EP (Music Soup/Good Luck Have Fun Record)
The new EP from Athens-via-Atlanta duo hey, nothing is an outstanding showcase of their raw, engaging emo-folk. Sharing lead vocal duties, Tyler Mabry and Harlow Phillips guide listeners through these intimate songs with vivid lyrics, ranging from acoustic ballads to dynamic rockers. These two twenty-year-olds are certainly ones to watch as they rip at your heartstrings. –CS

Marina Zispin - Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (Scenic Route)
The debut full-length album from this UK duo composed of Bianca Scout and Martyn Reid delves in a dark, dancey, dreamy experimental synth-pop zone infused with No Wave, Electroclash, and New Wave styles. It’s a super cool leftfield vibe primed to soundtrack unpredictable nighttime excursions. -Alex Ruder-

Roller Derby - When The Night Comes (self-released)
Hamburg dream-pop duo Roller Derby shine on their debut album. These transportive tracks boast ethereal vocals, wistful lyricism, and a captivating blend of ‘80s synth pop and contemporary dreamgaze, making When The Night Comes an impressive first full-length. –CS

Star 99 - Gaman (Lauren)
The second album from this San Jose, CA-based band is a sharp set of fuzzy power-pop, punky garage rock, and anthemic twee pop that’s full of soaring hooks and enhanced by the band’s duelling male/female vocals. -AR

Throwing Muses - Moonlight Concessions (Fire)
The latest from iconic Rhode Island-based indie-rockers Throwing Muses is a true triumph. With Kristin Hersh’s masterful vocals, lyricism and production at the helm, Moonlight Concessions is delightfully left of center, with brilliantly textured arrangements, dynamic acoustic guitar strums, and vivid storytelling. –CS

Two-Man Giant Squid - Two-Man Giant Squid (Mint 400)
The new self-titled album from Brooklyn’s Two-Man Giant Squid is an electric fusion of post-punk, art-rock, and psych. Led by frontman Mitchell Vinokur and his theatrical vocals, the outfit delivers a playful and energetic set of guitar-driven rippers. –CS