FIVE HEARTS! The number of records that demanded 5 Heart from our reviewers in June was 31. And here they are...
AC SLATER & BADGER - SCREENSHOTS (FT. MURKAGE DAVE) - Screenshots 2023-06-29 (Nightbass)
by Tim London
Mr Murkage has a habit of dropping in on the top of a tune as if he’s been chatting to you already for a good five minutes, or picking up a conversation you started three years ago as if the years are seconds. It’s an excellent skill or instinct and it’s a good job he’s not trying to get your pass code cos he would probably be in there right now, sexting your mum and you’d still be blinking. Summer in east London, caught like a Summer moth in a glass.
AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE - A Trip To Bolgatanga 2023-06-02 (On U Sound)
by Agata Makiela
The number of LPs I have that I play back to back? None. Until now. This is brilliant! It's not out until July but parts are streaming I think. I have this weird bass player’s habit of making an ugly face with the corners of my mouth going down when I hear an insanely good groove, I couldn’t stop making that face when I started playing the first song from A Trip To Bolgatanga this morning! My resolution to buying only one record per month is officially cancelled. A July release is perfectly timed for hot lazy summer afternoons or mornings, or evenings, or any time I feel like sitting back, watching the clouds slowly changing shapes or bees collecting pollen, or leaves being gently moved by the breeze or getting up and dancing. Producer Adrian Sherwood said “It’s always a case of getting all the right ingredients sorted for Head Charge, and then having some fun with overdubs and mixing and getting it completely perfect. I think on this one, we have the greatest result." I couldn't agree more.
APACHE ROSE - Cabin Fever 2023-06-02 (Independant)
by Tim Sparks
Apache Rose are part of the Georgia underground Rock scene, and bring us this great vibe rock track with many twists and turns, the guitar work is awesome, the mix and production is spot on, and the vocals hit hard all the way through. I love the Ebb and flow of this track, the Serene verses get attacked by the raging chorus and guitar licks, then the middle 8...a really great idea for a change of pace with cool melody and harmony...but not for long of course! ...wWe exit via the relentless chorus, taking us home from a memorable journey, definitely an act to look out for.
BAD HISTORY MONTH - Breakdown Lane 2023-06-30 (Julia's War)
by Ancient Champion
Love it. It has everything for me. From the True Delusion EP, due out on July 7th, Breakdown Lane, is as onomatopoetic as it suggests. It writhes with fury with no place to go until it descends over the hard shoulder into a swamp of feedback. I think the label is Julia's War. Find this record, you might not regret it.
BAZOX - My Home Ft. Jamila Woods & James Vickery 2023-06-09 (4433764 Records DK)
by Ancient Champion
Alrighty-then. This is so perfectly nothing at all happening here but everything. It's the soundtrack to my collection of short stories where I make sure nothing happens either. Buy several copies, play them slightly out of sync. Twice the beauty. And beauty it is. I love it.
BECK & PHEONIX - Odyssey 2023-06-30 (Fonograph Records)
by Ogglypoogly
There are adults in the world who’ve had time to be born, grow up, settle down and be approaching the oddly awkward age of Thirty in the span of decades for which I’ve been more than a little bit enraptured by Beck. Managing to have a distinctive sound whilst being something of a “genre spanner” is no mean feat. I’ve tried to have the conversation in which I list a Beck song I can’t enjoy or find some merit and found myself beset with some kind of mutism. This collaboration with Phoenix is another addition to the ‘song’s I’ve got immediately excited about and played over, and over, and over again’. This is upbeat Beck, a song of sunshine, wide smiles and dancing. I want to lay in a field of daisies and cry laughing into the summer. Maybe I’m blinded by my own appreciation, or the echo’s of eighties pop that dip into memories of a carefree time, but this song makes me feel lighter.
BETTY DAVIS - Crashin' From The Passion 2023-06-30 (Light in the Attic)
by Toon Traveller
Light in the Attic on the label always leads to high expectations, and of course this correlates. This new lost Betty Davies single comes from the forthcoming remastered collections from the label out on August 25th. I'd heard about Betty Davis, but never consciously heard or remembered her music, so this is a fresh as it gets. Immediately confronted with astonishing 70's street funk, there's a kicking band driving the song, and a sense of hi-energy before it became a club staple. The bass lines are amazing, fast and furiously funky. A fuzzed wah-wah'd guitar flashes in and out. There's a lot of ideas, synths and hi-pitched vocals. Betty's rasping raw voice matches the music's hard, heavy, beats. This is a super slab of, beat you to the floor funk, with a raw, hard as diamond spat out vocals, and just the funkiest horns, backing vocals, just the funkiest everything. “When I created the music, I just did it from my heart and from my soul. I didn’t really think about, ‘Well, who’s gonna like this, who isn’t gonna like it?’ I just created the music.” — Betty Davis
BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND - Harbour (Song For Elizabeth) 2023-06-22 (Transgressive Records )
by Katherine Pargeter
The beauty of this simple love song is devastating. A gentle piano introduction by Nicholas Dourado (such a multi-talented young musician), sets the scene before Copeland’s warm, almost spiritual, voice enters. And it's profound. As the title suggests 'Harbour' is a love song to his wife, the honesty is there in his delivery and, what could easily be so sentimental in other hands, is genuinely touching. You will be moved. Now in his late 70s, recognition came late to Beverly Glenn-Copeland, he recently describing his years of being overlooked as: “I was transgender in a straight world, a Black person in a white world, and an artist in a business world.” After you've been moved by 'Harbour' try and find a copy of 'Transmissions' the compilation of his long, and appallingly overlooked, career. It is music that you need to hear.
BONNY DOON - Let There Be Music 2023-06-16 (Anti Records)
by Toon Traveller
CAMP BEDFORD - Our America 2023-06-29 (CBRS)
by Tim London
Here’s a pledge, to do what’s necessary to change the United States of America, including burning the place down, which the climate probably doesn’t need help with. Strangely hopeful, probably communist and sweetly sneaky. I can imagine this being sung in a small venue and persuading an extra ten percent of the punters to get up in the morning to go and stand somewhere shouting and hoping the cops have had their coffee. It’s a modern, classic political killer of a tune, all wrapped up in rainbow harmonies.
CREEP SHOW - Yawning Abyss 2023-06-16 (Bella Union)
by Alan Rider
There are some acts whose members just have such a gold plated reputation and history that they can almost do no wrong and have the enviable quality of making everything they do effortlessly brilliant. Creep Show are they one of those acts? Alan Rider say so, here⇒
DAKOTA JONES - Heartbreakers Space Club 2023-06-09 (findout)
by Ancient Champion
Dakota Jones' Heartbreakers Space Club is a pretty exceptional record - read their track by track right here⇒
FEEBLE LITTLE HORSE - Sweet 2023-06-23 (Saddle Creek)
by Alan Rider
Winner of this weeks rubbish band name competition, Feeble Little Horse, follow up their previous four heart earning 'Steamroller' single with this one, also sucked off their album 'Girl With Fish', which will be out sometime soon I guess (we will probably get a copy sent when it does so I will let you know then). Like 'Steamroller' this is a sprawling and wonderfully disorganised bit of lo-fi Pixie/indie rock stuff, that contrasts wildly with the glossy, over produced crud we get thrown at us every week at OL like so many custard tarts. I love them for having unshaven rough edges and not caring, looking so geeky and caring even less, and leaving the gloss and polish behind in the studio broom cupboard and not even noticing. Death to glossy production I say! Big claps and pats to Feeble Little Horse! I even like the name now.
GRIZ GREEN - Costa Brava 2023-06-09 (Acama Records)
by Ancient Champion
Hard rock miner turned easy 60s superstar. Costa Brava, produced by Jose Granson. It's the greatest. My timing on the tambo. This is fucking sensationally brilliant.
HACKEDEPICOTTO - Schwarze Milch 2023-06-15 (Mute)
by Alan Rider
For over 20 years Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten) and artist, musician and filmmaker Danielle de Picciotto (co-founder of Love Parade) have been working together as Hackedepicotto, which has made for a wildly creative partnership, capable of producing something as sublimely wonderful as 'Schwarze Milch' from the forthcoming album 'Keepsakes'. Languid horns, a sinuous anaconda beat drawing it along, topped with a delightfully bonkers video to accompany it. This is music for hot summer nights, but with a distinctive twist. As promised, we will dissect the album when it arrives to see if it meets the early promise of this and I may even see if they fancy having a chat about it with OL over a tequila.
HANIA RANI FT. PATRICK WATSON. - Dancing with Ghosts 2023-06-30 (Gondwana Records)
by Jay Lewis
Hania Rani is full of surprises. After releasing the quietly captivating 'On Giacometti' soundtrack earlier this year, a series of piano led pieces, reminiscent of Nils Frahm's more introspective moments, her next single was the intoxicating 'Hello' an enticing pop song that ruminated on restlessness and repeated the one word title over and over. It was intriguingly different. 'Dancing With Ghosts' is a return to more ambient textures. Rani and Canadian singer/songwriter share the hushed vocals over the fragile glow of echoey keyboards. A beguiling wooziness, the song (alongside 'Hello') a taster of her forthcoming 'Ghosts' album. The Paris based video is enthralling as a group dancers moving unnoticed, ghost like, through the city's busy streets and weave elegantly around each other. It's rather breathtaking.
JAZ COLEMAN AND ANNE DUDLEY - Songs From The Victorious City 2023-06-02 (China)
by Alan Rider
Who'd have thought Killing Joke frontman and Art of Noise mainstay Anne Dudley could come up with something so tinglingly sublime back in 1990. This is music to wake up to.
JESSE RAY AND THE CAROLINA CLUB - Sweet Like Sugar 2023-06-16 (Soundcloud)
by Toon Traveller
JOEY MAC - Ferdinand 2023-06-09 (Independent)
by Ogglypoogly
‘As our love withered, your leaves grew…’ It’s always a good day when you find out Joey has something in the works, and (for me) it’s hard to resist a song described as being “an unexpectedly warming picture of a failing relationship through an ode to a chilli plant”. Joey Mac has cracked the midas code, with her distinctive style her music is instantly recognisable, without falling into the trap of being the same song in a different tempo with new lyrics draped over the top. Ferdinand is as catchy as a very catchy thing, and activates the toe-tapping reflex within seconds of opening, this is the kind of tune that leaves me wanting to dance round a campfire as the sun sets. It leaves a listener wanting more, and I’m prepared to look beyond the inference that she’s naming plants and award this all of the hearts.
KEVIN MORBY - City Music 2023-06-09 (Dead Oceans)
by Ancient Champion
This isn't music from back home. This isn't music from the country, but from the city.
KEVIN MORBY - Bittersweet, Tennessee ft. Erin Rae 2023-06-09 (Dead Oceans)
by Ancient Champion
The thing with Kevin Morby is that he requires Constant Appraisal and Reappraisal. What he did before doesn't sounds like it did anymore. It's like art that can never be told it is finished. It lives and I love that. And I love this.
LUSH - Triangle 2023-06-16 (Advance Music Ru)
by Ancient Champion
Less than nothing happening here. Bit of hi hat to be pondered. Bit of bass drum and a swirly thing. OMG What's not to love. Redefining minimalism. Lovely.
PALE JAY - In Your Corner 2023-06-02 (Karma Chief/Cole Mine)
by Ancient Champion
This Pale Jay dude would give a Rockin' Your Baby George McCrae run for his money... actually the whole Russell Thompkins Jr. led Stylistics shit show too. And I don't mean that in a bad way. What's been going on with me is, I have been tempering my writing after a potential lawsuit showed up in my in box. But oh fuck it. I am back and this is a great, great record, by twists pop perfection, by turns mild-hybrid-afro-jazz inflections. Pale Jay's By The Lake with Okonski rated five hearts back in January and this has gotta go the same score too. So go shop dudes. For this.
PET SHOP BOYS - SMASH - The Singles 1985 - 2020 2023-06-23 (Parlophone)
by Katherine Pargeter
Back in 1985, pop irritant, Jonathan King wrote in his column in a leading British tabloid newspaper that, although he quite liked the number one single 'West End Boys' by the Pet Shop Boys, he really didn't think that they would last or bother the charts much more. I'm certain that Mr. King has had some far more pressing matters to attend to in the ensuing 38 years and I imagine that he really doesn't give a hoot about some hack piece he wrote to some long-forgotten deadline. But, should he get the time he may enjoy listening to the 55 tracks on 'Smash', particularly the 39 that made it to the top twenty. Although a couple of PSB's 14 studio albums probably don't warrant much re-examination, the quality of their singles has rarely dipped. 'The Pop Kids' and 'Monkey Business' are as elegant and essential as any of those that King was aware of when his life was, well, a little less complicated.
SHAKIRA, MANUEL TURIZO - Copa Vacía 2023-06-30 (Some Huge Major)
by Tim London
Shakira: “Have we done yodelling mermaids yet?” Team: “ No! Great idea!” Shakira: “Can I wear a long pink wig that covers my bare breasts?” Team: (whispering) “Always the nipples… (louder) great idea! Water? Beefy rapper in a white shirt?” Shakira: “ That’s why you’re my team! Make it happen!” Oops, song is over. I wasn't paying attention so will presume it's brilliant.
SWANS - The Beggar 2023-06-23 (Mute/Young Gods)
by Alan Rider
Swans' The Beggar is released in all formats on 23 June. It's heartening that they are still making challenging records. Alan Rider has a full review right over here⇒
TEKE::TEKE - Hagata 2023-06-02 (Kill Rock Stars)
by Alan Rider
Teke::Teke are a very unusual and a very cool band indeed. Taking their name (I assume) from the 2009 Japanese film about a schoolgirl who fell on a railway line and ended up sliced in half by a train. Missing her lower extremities, she is said to walk on her hands or her elbows, making a scratching "teke teke"-like sound as she moves. If an individual encounters Teke Teke at night, she will chase them and cut their body in half with a scythe! Creepy eh? Teke::Teke are a crazy 7 piece Canadian Japanese psychedelic rock band, who sing in Japanese and throw all sorts of influences into the mix; 70's Surf Rock, Orchestral, Prog, Punk - you name it basically, using a Shinobue (traditional Japanese Bamboo flute), a Koto and a trombone alongside fuzzy guitars and drums. The result is a wonderfully varied, expressive, and unpredictably bonkers sound that is immediately likeable and unique, and also very Japanese. The 70's film soundtrack-ish 'Doppleganger' is a highlight, but there are so many on this album that its hard to single any one track out. Imagine a Japanese Frank Zappa, mixed with a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack and you might be halfway there in attempting to categorise this. Pretty wonderful actually. Hagata is out on 6th June.
THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD - News From The Invisible World 2023-06-02 (Spencer Park Music)
by Alan Rider
'News From The Invisible World' is The Fierce And The Dead's first album in 5 years (their fourth) and is the first to feature lead vocals (provided by bassist Kev Feazey). Lets unpack that statement a bit. This is a rock band that formed 13 years ago, have released three albums and various EPs and live albums, have played across the UK, mainland Europe, and the US and supported the likes of Hawkind, and yet this is their first to feature vocals? That marks them out as an unusual band to say the least. "Yeah, it’s been weird, but we want to keep trying new things" band leader Matt Stevens tell me and the inclusion of vocals has meant that they have had to develop their sound a little to accommodate them rather than plunge into instrumental proggy-ness and I'd say its all the better for that. 'News From The Invisible World' is an assured and confident album, full of the sort of hidden depths contained in songs like the excellent 'Golden Thread' and the single 'Wonderful' that have made the likes of Muse into household names. Influences range (they say) from Shoegaze to Psychedelia via Death Metal, and their sound has been described by others wiser than I as "The Flaming Lips meets Bolt Thrower and King Crimson". I have no idea what that really means, but I didn't write it so don't blame me. All I know is that 'News From The Invisible World' is an album that the visible world needs to hear.
News From The Invisible World releases in all formats on 28 July. Pre-order it on Bandcamp here
THE HIVES - Countdown To Shutdown 2023-06-14 (FUGA)
by Tim London
Straight to the point, totally meaningless. Beautiful.
THE LILAC TIME - The Long Way 2023-06-22 (Poetica)
by Jay Lewis
‘We took the long way, we found our tribe…’
‘The Long Way’ Stephen Duffy reflects upon the very long and rather winding road that he has taken … and having seen and experienced so many, ahem, ups and downs, he seems fairly content nowadays. And he’s here to share some of that wisdom, Stephen’s matured folk singer voice is accompanied by lovely acoustic and pedal steel guitars and wife Claire on backing vocals. There may even be one of Jack Nicholson’s best lines from the film ‘As Good as It Gets’ in the lyrics too. What is certain is that, following the triumph of their last album (‘Return to Us’, 2019), The Lilac Time are making some of their most heartfelt music to date. If you're unfamiliar with their work, now might be a good time to join their tribe. The Lilac Time’s forthcoming album ‘Dance Till All The Stars Come Down’ is available to pre-order here.
VOICES OF FIRE - Joy 2023-06-16 (Topic)
by Tim London
What does god think of this bouncy (dare I say, sexy?) beat jigging around underneath a song that seems to double as a relationship Beyonce thing and a doubting the existence of the big guy type thing? Once it would have been enough to get the whole lot of the choir kicked off the official gospel circuit and death threats from ladies who church (I’m lying about the latter). Pharrel has managed to make that most organic of musical experiences into a series of Japanese mobile alerts, sampling away and sprinkling his fairy plastic particles over every element until you might as well just go and drink straight from the ocean and become one with the Umibozu before striding across Croydon destroying its authentic brutalist skyscrapers.
Five for the beat.
Essential Information
Main image Beverly Glenn-Copeland Youtube screengrab
