New Music Reviews (7/6)

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 Ibeyi, Margo Price, proun, and more. 

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Ibeyi - Offerings (AWAL)
French-Cuban twin sisters Naomi Diaz and Lisa-Kaindé Diaz return with their fourth studio album and first independent release as Ibeyi. With a dynamic fusion of neo-soul, jazz, alt-R&B, and traditional Afro-Cuban and Yoruba soundscapes, Offerings showcases the beautiful interplay of their vocals as they bask in the glow of regained creative control and a renewed focus on their craft. The result is an expansive collection that features hypnotic rhythms and compelling peaks and valleys, moving fluidly between intimate reflection and moments of grandiose release. –CS

Margo Price - Days Of Unrest (Loma Vista / Concord)
Nashville-based singer-songwriter and disrupter Margo Price returns with a surprise mixtape of protest music, with a portion of proceeds from the vinyl edition benefiting the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (FIRRP). Featuring guest appearances from Memphis Mariachi, Joan Baez, and Billy Swan, alongside powerful interpretations of songs by Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Blaze Foley, Charlie Daniels, and the traditional Mexican folk song “De Colores,” Days Of Unrest is a touching tribute to the communities and causes near and dear to Price’s heart.  –CS

proun - Maybe Luck (Good English) 
The debut album from Austin-based trio proun is bursting at the seams with personality, vision, and an air of nonchalant confidence. Relaxed yet structured, immediate yet restrained, Maybe Luck boasts intricate guitar lines, remarkable drum patterns, and emotive lyricism, with each track carving out its own identity. Written, recorded, and produced by the band in their practice space and homes, this sensational debut proves there’s nowhere to go but up.  –CS

44go - D1 (self-released)
The debut EP from this Seattle band is a solid set of '90s-influenced alternative rock that carries the shadowy swagger of breakout UK bands of that era alongside a fuzzy, gritty, grungy streak soaked in the PNW’s seminal, seismic stamp on the decade.  –AR

Andrew Sa - American Rough (Bloodshot) 
The debut album from Chicago-based singer-songwriter Andrew Sa is a timeless slice of endearing cosmic country. Led by his bittersweet croon, American Rough tiptoes the line between traditional Americana and contemporary alt-country, with lush arrangements of strings, horns, guitars, pedal steel, and drums that welcome listeners into his warmhearted storytelling exploring themes of queer love, masculinity, and connection. –CS

Dari Bay - Surprise Wish (Double Double Whammy)
Dari Bay is a project spearheaded by Burlington, Vermont-based musician Zachary James, a versatile artist who’s worked closely with Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Robber Robber, Lily Seabird, and Greg Freeman. His second Dari Bay album is a promising set of shimmery, fuzzy, kaleidoscopic indie rock inflected with slacker rock, psych-pop, grunge, and power-pop styles.  The early single “We’re Gonna Be Okay” is an awesome entry point. –AR

Fuses - Sawdust in the Transmission (Having Fun Records)
Transatlantic duo Fuses, composed of Gothenburg-based drummer and bassist Moa-Linn Rosenlöf and NYC-based guitarist Craig Fahner, arrive with their exceptional debut album. Sawdust in the Transmission is a transportive set of folk rock, alt-country, and Americana, honoring the traditions of the ‘60s while putting a contemporary spin on these familiar soundscapes. With colorful storytelling, breathtaking vocal harmonies, and richly textured arrangements, these eight tracks make for a stellar introduction.  –CS

Myra Lee - Capture the Flag (self-released)
The debut album from this NYC trio fronted by Tahlia Amanson is an impressive set of sweeping, brooding, arty indie rock with post-rock and chamber-rock flourishes. Formerly operating under the name Dino Expedition, the band’s new namesake comes from Cat Power’s 1996 sophomore album title and they reference Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Electrelane, and Pavement as inspirations, and there’s indeed a refreshing late '90s/early '00s indie-meets-underground vision to their evocative, expressive, dynamic, and unhurried songs.  –AR

Pearl & The Oysters - Monkey Mind (Stones Throw) 
The sixth studio album from LA-based French duo Pearl & The Oysters is a vibrant set of kaleidoscopic art-pop. With sparkling synths, bouncy basslines, fluttering flute, and saccharine vocals, Monkey Mind encapsulates their dreamy, blissed-out sonic universe. –CS

R. Missing - Turning Off Lights Is My Destiny (Terminal Echo)
The latest album from this NYC project composed of vocalist Sharon Shy and musician/producer Henry “Toppy” Frost is a solid set of icy synth-pop, atmospheric darkwave, and dreamy trip-hop distinguished by Sharon’s airy, ethereal vocals and Frost’s old-school synths and hypnotic beats. –AR

Tasha - You Are Spring! (Bayonet) 
Chicago-based singer-songwriter Tasha has a way of making her listeners feel like they can breathe deeply again. Through sweet, tender, and intimate lyricism, she welcomes you into her world built from delicate, acoustic guitar-driven arrangements with ornate flourishes of keys, clarinet, flute, strings, and percussion. Co-produced with her frequent collaborator Gregory Uhlmann, You Are Spring!, her fourth studio album, is a rich, warm collection filled with vivid imagery and a whole lot of heart. –CS

Temples - BLISS (V2)
The fifth album from this British band is a bold and bombarding set of synth-heavy technicolor dance-rock that filters their widescreen neo-psychedelia template through a big-room dancefloor-minded electronica prism. –AR