FIVE HEARTS! The number of 5 Heart records in September was 34... They're all here.
AAYUSHI - Beach Pockets 2023-09-15 (Bandcamp)
by Lee Paul
Aayushi does this with ease and elan. Beach Pockets is a tail end of summer joy for sure. Layered vocals, intimate and warm. Laconic lyrics crafted so wispy and delicious. An intoverted inflection. Like a West Midlands Norah Jones at her ind-demand peak really. It's difficult to understand why this woman isn't a commercial giantess because musically she is for sure. Idiosyncratic and almost perfect, and it's in the lack of perfection where the beauty lies.
ADELE H - Impermanence 2023-09-29 (Obsolete Recordings)
by Toon Traveller
AL GREEN - Perfect Day 2023-09-01 (Fat Possum)
by Ancient Champion
Your favorite singer sings your favorite song. What could possibly go wrong?
ALINE HOMZY - Eclipse 2023-09-01 (Elastic Records)
by LamontPaul
Aline Homzy has been hailed by none other than Jean-Luc Ponty as "sensitive and musical…original” and here she is with her band Aline’s étoile magique, effortlessly fomenting let' say sensitive magic on her new LP Éclipse. Of course Aline's violin dominates proceedings, leads teh melodies all the way, but come on if you are a value shopper... there's theremin, vibraphone, marimba and way more besides as Aline visits a world way too esoteric for your average rocker. It's breathtaking and joyous and a refreshing musical equiv. of getting yourself off the grid for a few days in a few minutes. That much good.
ARUAN ORTIZ AND ASSOCIATES - Pastor's Paradox 2023-09-22 (Clean Feed Records)
by Toon Traveller
Every now and again, something lands in my inbox that's so far off the usual Outsideleft fayre, you wonder if there's been a huge solar storm that's disrupted the internet superhighway, and something crashed up on a wrong turn, ending up in Toon Traveller's inbox. Well, here's a "blow-in", and it's magnificent. Brilliant piano and a pensive opening which is supported by a playful, low register saxophone, deliciously miked-up to capture the keys being pressed: all which creates a great sense of being there. Of course; there's a cello/bass with scraped strings - that I'm a sucker for - and all those low register piano chords, fears and tears, and cymbals splashed in the very best Jazz tradition. There's jagged single notes, edginess, darkness at noon, drizzled in pensive, awkward pauses, where your ideas add to the music, and it breathes in your heart and head. If this track were a day, it would be a snowed-in Thursday in January, waiting for the boiler man to get the heating on. Dark and lonely, but not in the ‘Hollywood Horror’ sense; more that stark winter wood whose trees will shelter from the gathering snow flurries and gathering storm.
BABY FIRE - Year of Grace 2023-09-22 (Coeur sur toi)
by Alan Rider
You come across some good stuff browsing through Bandcamp. It's often a lot better way of discovering interesting new music than any PR Agency can offer. This is a case in point. Brussels trio Baby Fire are a new name to me, but on the evidence of this, are innovative in their approach. The video is a little stingy, being a mere 40 seconds of teaser for the EP, so give the whole track a spin on the Bandcamp link below and see what you think? This is coming out on cassette and digital only in October (cassettes being the new retro chic items of desire) as the final part of a trilogy of releases including a previous album and an EP, but you can pre-order it now on the link below. It's intriguing, this, and temporarily restores my faith in the ability of people to at least try something a bit different.
https://coeursurtoi.bandcamp.com/album/a-year-of-grace
BACAO RHYTHM AND STEEL BAND - How We Do 2023-09-08 (Big Crown Records)
by Ancient Champion
I suppose you'd say the Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band are talking up a couple of west coast bangers with their steel drums. And I say a couple cos this is a double A. First off, The Game and 50's How We Do from The Game's 2005 LP The Documentary; and then Nuthin' But A G Thang the Dre/Snoop hit - which sampled Leon Haywood's epically incredible I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You. And truly, it's all there on the pans, and it's the most incredible oh probably since I recorded my super synthetic Anarchy in the UK. But anyway How We Do is worth the five hearts alone what with all... Well you'll hear it. It's dancey that's for damn sure.
BIG THIEF - Born For Loving You 2023-09-15 (4AD)
by LamontPaul
2nd track to be previewed from the vinyl single due in late October (the other was Vampire Empire). Born For Loving You. Because. "From the first kiss, to the first fuck, I don’t think it’s just good luck. Take me to the back of your pickup truck, Show me a thing or two." That there is poetic. It's all pretty linear and no so bad for all that. Great even.
BLACK PUMAS - More Than A Love Song 2023-09-01 (ATO Records)
by Ancient Champion
It's a return of sorts for Black Pumas and oh wow is it! It's a cliche but true, Eric Burton could sing the phone book and the world would swoon (although the national anthem at the World Series game - less so). The video features extensive line drying action which of course I have in the past written about extensively, and could go on about here and maybe because some of the extremis psychedelic soul Black Pumas promise is so so muted. The only mild criticism I have though - truly it's okay for dudes to hang out the laundry and could even do that while singing at the same time instead of being tasked with mesmerising dogs. I can do it.
CANDIDATE - Saturation 2023-09-29 (Candidate)
by Jay Lewis
Stewart Lee once described Candidate as '... Britain's most tasteful, witty and thoughtful band'. He was, as he so frequently is, utterly correct.
Having been absent since 2007, Candidate started to think about making music again during the pandemic and finally, these are the results. And, if you could imagine a band that effortlessly blends together the loveliness of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and even XTC at their pure poppiness and more, much more, then you're close to how splendid Candidate are. This is irresistibly great. A new album, 'Point Clear' is due in October 2023.
CARLOS FERREIRA - Living a Metaphor 2023-09-08 (APK Records)
by Toon Traveller
CASH AND CARTER - Letting Her Go 2023-09-15 (Soundcloud)
by Toon Traveller
CAT POWER - Any of these Dylan's Live at Albert Hall Things 2023-09-22 (Domino)
by LamontPaul
Ballad of a Thin Man is the one I listened to this morning from 'Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert'. It's a lovely idea, right there on a par with me wandering around stopping people in the street and asking them to read from Wayne Dean Richards' collection, It's A Mad World But Funny, while videotaping them. So that's the idea here, Cat Power was passing the Albert Hall and recalling Dylan's mid 60s concerts there, thought it would be fun to sing Dylan's set in full. One of the better ideas of the entire year because, this is Cat Power. Perhaps only Cat Power has the authority to bring simultaneously some entirely new joy to her reading of these songs while honouring Dylan's majesty. It's Cat Power's legacy now she can be the one touring this set for the next 50 years, keeping Dyland alive. Like a restoration project peeling back the decades and revealing new reason, new layers, a-new. The whole LP arrives on Nov 10. My final advice, line up for it at the record store like you would've did decades ago.
CITY GIRLS - Face Down 2023-09-15 (UMG)
by Ancient Champion
A folk music riposte to the positivity about Barbieland's brand of feminism? "I'd never do that to you." Are words I am very familiar with. This is a follow up to one of the most essential of summer hit riff on LLCoolJ's I Need Love, I Need A Thug. While I Need A Thug had pastiche hallmarks Face Down is the way we do pure pop fun now.
CLEO SOL - Go Baby 2023-09-22 (Forever Living Originals)
by Ancient Champion
Beautiful. Not even inadvertently so, that I so often like the most. Dreamy, dippy, languid with the nerve to be quiet. What a wonderful record to be alive to hear. Wow!
COURTNEY BARNETT V BUSTA RHYMES - Start Somewhere, Life Balance & First Slow V LUXURY LIFE 2023-09-10 (Various Labels)
by Tim London
Open up another tab, play these together and enter the 21st century.
DAVID SYLVIAN - Do You Know Me Now? 2023-09-01 (Samadhisound )
by Jay Lewis
Jay spends a whole day listening to the complete Samadhisound recordings of David Sylvian. You can read what he has to say about that, here.
DOPE LEMON - Kimosabe 2023-09-29 (KMG)
by Toon Traveller
EYESORE AND THE JINX - Nocturnal Athletes (Ode to Bruno) 2023-09-01 (Own Label)
by Alan Rider
Describing themselves as "a fidgety trio" there is a lot of the classic postpunk sound of the mid 80s about Eyesore and The Jinx. Think Gang of Four, think Swell Maps, think The Fall. Look those up if you have to. I'm sure Eyesore and The Jinx know them. Its a cool set of comparisons though. The scratchy guitar, muscle flexing bass with a hint of funk, rattling drums that sound as if they are out in the garage to avoid annoying the neighbours, all topped off with yelping half spoken vocals. Its perfectly done (those of you with longish memories may recall we also gave a glowing review to their previous single 'An Ideas Man'). E&TJ (yes, I'm being lazy now!) were clearly born out of their time. In a previous decade they'd have been huge.
GHOST WOMAN - Alright Alright 2023-09-01 (Full Time Hobby)
by LamontPaul
I think John Peel once described a piece of music as mean, moody and magnificent. Ghost Woman's Alright Alright could wear that imprimatur well. Latter day guitar swamp small gods with a constant mesmerising and very satisfying thump going on at the bottom. You can't imagine them telling a joke. Oh well. Can't do everything well. At least we'll have the music.
HANIA RANI - Don't Break My Heart ft Duncan Bellamy 2023-09-22 (Gondwana Records)
by Jay Lewis
Hania Rani always seems to be rather busy. After releasing the quietly captivating 'On Giacometti' soundtrack earlier this year, she's delivered a series of beautiful tender, and transfixing songs as tasters for her forthcoming 'Ghosts' album. An earlier, jazz-tinged full-band version of this song can be found as part of her extraordinary concert at Invalides in Paris last year, but this version takes the song into a more haunted, lonelier place. The opening line 'Don't break my heart with truth' lures you into a tale of a delicate, maybe too delicate, love. Portico Quartet's Duncan Bellamy adds the mesmerizing loops.
A fabulous record.
IRREVERSIBLE ENTANGLEMENT - Protect Your Light 2023-09-15 (Impulse )
by Toon Traveller
JOHN - A Life Diagrammatic 2023-09-29 (Brace Yourself/Pets Care)
by Alan Rider
You have to laugh at two guys called John who decide to call their band John. Its funny. It just is. Sound-wise its pretty intense stuff, with that punky loud/quiet thing going on, hammering drums that kick you in the stomach, slabs of kitchen sink guitars thrown in and no quarter given at any point. OK, its a bit Killing Joke-y in parts, scratch that, VERY Killing Joke-y all the way through, but having said that, this is a blast played out loud and to my somewhat jaded ears sounds pretty damned good. Considering there are just two of them, drummer and guitarist, they make one hell of a noise together too. Live, I gather they are equally intense (UK tour starting in November following a US jaunt). 'A life Diagrammatic' will blast anyone out of bed any day of the week, but has plenty of light and dark mixed in there too. Five hearts well earned.
KID CONVENTIONAL - Rambling Roses 2023-09-01 (Independent)
by Ogglypoogly
After a Summer dominated by local heroes roaring victory laps round our aural circuits, it’s an absolute delight to have filled my ears with the latest release from another of Sheffield's finest, Kid Conventional. If you’re hurtling into Autumn in a state of discombobulation, Rambling Roses is a musical panacea, slowing the spin of the earth whilst you regain your senses. A welcome reminder that it’s not all about big bands and bright lights, sometimes simplicity is more than enough. A gently picked melody, beneath a vocal as warm and soothing as an open fire - I cannot recommend this highly enough, and strongly urge you to listen to this (and his other releases). (Artwork by Jack Weston, based on adaptation of an original photo by T.Kiya from Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
KING TUBBY - Dub My World ft. Johnny Clarke, The Ring Craft Posse 2023-09-01 (Patate Records)
by Ancient Champion
King Tubby so gorgeously melodic here. Taking everything easy. I could listen all day. I don't know what the Ring Craft Posse do but they're doing it well and Johnny Clarke. Oh man.
LOS DEDOS - Tres Margaritas 2023-09-29 (Own Label)
by Ancient Champion
If anything could get me back in the water, frozen margarita in hand, it's Los Dedos. And so, for the twangiest guitar and mellowest cymbals, God love them. And all you readers love them too I hope.
MOMUS - Krambambuli 2023-09-22 (Darla Records)
by John Robinson
Momus is reliably unreliable, never the shape you imagine he should be. Perhaps that's part of what makes him great John Robinson succinctly says, here⇒
MORLOCKS - Praise the Iconoclast 2023-09-29 (Metropolis)
by Alan Rider
Get a dose of the Morlocks, 'Praise The Iconoclast' alongside Alan Rider, right here
SUN JUNE - Easy Violence 2023-09-08 (Run For Cover)
by Ancient Champion
Is it possible as an older man to love a band too much? From the forthcoming LP, Bad Dream Jaguar on Run For Cover, unavailable until October 20th, comes a double single, this, Easy Violence and the more languidly beautiful John Prine. It Ain't Nuttin but a Double Single Thing... So lets get with the Easy Violence... Where can I get a spectacular head fix like that? And damn a Paramount electric guitar too. It's wondrous what young people can imagine. Imagine it.
TEEN IDLE - Saccharine 2023-09-01 (H1 Massive)
by Lee Paul
Unsure why big record labels are not giving Teen Idle the big push. Everything that gets released is wonderfully understated, idiosyncratic and creative. The lives shows are exceptional. Saccharine keeps the quality quotient. Here's a star flying mainly beneath the radar.
THE HANDSOME FAMILY - Hollow 2023-09-08 (Loose Music)
by Ancient Champion
TK: Perhaps best known for the song “Far From Any Road” (the opening theme for HBO’s True Detective), The Handsome Family have been defining the dark end of Americana for over 30 years. Returning with their first record since 2016’s ‘Unseen’, ‘Hollow’ arrives as their 11th studio album. A record that delves into the natural world at the edges of the man-made, the duo of songwriting and marriage partners Brett and Rennie Sparks conjure a record lush with leaves and shadows that echoes with occult mystery. With Brett describing the new tunes as “Western gothic”, its dark, tangled sounds take insoriation from the abandoned strip malls of desert America where "cracked pavement shimmers with heat and thorny weeds slowly reclaim the land”.
THE JOY FORMIDABLE - Share My Heat 2023-09-29 (Hassle)
by Alan Rider
We've blown hot and cold at OL on The Joy Formidable over the past couple of years. I'm definitely blowing hot for this one though. Its stabbing post punk pulse is both hypnotic and hyperactive, evolving over 15 minutes of multiple twists and turns with nods to indie, alt rock and more than a nod to Prog, but updated to the 21st Century. Coupled with a jitteringly complicated and epic video, the Welsh trio have produced a truly impressive work here that surpasses anything I've heard from them previously. If this was 25 years ago 'Share My Heat' would be enjoying a good long stint sitting at the top of the indie charts. As it is, this deserves streaming to a few million Spotify accounts instead to earn them the credit this so clearly merits. Epic and impressive, is hard to envisage where Joy Formidable will go next after this. I'm kicking myself that I missed their Norwich gig now.
THE SORCERERS - Exit Athens 2023-09-01 (ATO Records)
by Ancient Champion
Ethiopian jazz approximations from Leeds. High drama for your ears. From ATO Records a high watermark for quality soul for sure.
WOODS - Little Black Flowers 2023-09-01 (Woodsist)
by Ancient Champion
Woods. Redolent of James in their heyday. Vaguely hippy-dippy. Packed with hummable melody. Little Black Flowers is just one part of a double single alongside Day Moving On. available ahead of the new LP Perennial. If its music this page talks to then Woods are something to feel vaguely optimistic about. A broom closet ELO. Believe me it's the broom closet that you're looking for, the broom closet what matters.
Essential Information
Main image, Aayushi
