Paul Weller – On Sunset
The Modfather himself comes through will a late career gem in the form of On Sunset, the 15th solo album from the former The Jam frontman. Across a surprisingly groovy tracklist with heavy flourishes of disco, blue-eyed soul and yacht rock, Weller looks back on his earlier years through a sentimental yet overly optimistic lens, with his vocal performances bearing significant semblance to latter-era Bowie and his worn drawl. Opening track ‘Mirrored Ball’ sets a heavy precedent for the album, while guest turns from The Staves and French singer Julie Gros contribute to make On Sunset a pleasant surprise for Weller enthusiasts.
Gordi – Our Two Skins
Arriving last Friday, Gordi’s new LP Our Two Skins is a revelation: it’s undeniably Sophie Payten’s most startling work to date. Recorded on her family’s farm in Canowindra, NSW with engineering dream team Chris Messina and Zach Hanson (best known for their work with Bon Iver), Our Two Skins is a sparse, moody effort that strips its tracks down to the bare necessities to spotlight Payten’s striking lyricism and vocal performances. Album opener ‘Aeroplane Bathroom’ is a certified tearjerker that documents a crippling anxiety attack 10,000 feet above land, ‘Volcanic’ is a genuine folktronica gem, and the album ends with a slippery slide guitar solo that wouldn’t be out of place on a Blake Mills album. One of the most unique Australian records of 2020, without a doubt.
Holiday Party – Holiday Party
Brisbane dream pop duo Holiday Party really have made quite a first impression with their self-titled, independently released debut album. Holiday Party is a collection of eight ultra danceable tracks, with Mel Tickle’s charismatic vocals floating atop of Luke McDonald’s lucid productions for an irresistibly groovy half-hour runtime. Album centrepiece and lead single ‘Let Down’ is a huge highlight from the album, but keep your ears open for some subtle magic on the sample-driven ‘I’m Still Here’ and the bombastic opening track ‘Spending My Life’. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.
Henry Green – Half Light
Bristol-based electronic producer Henry Green delivers an introspective follow-up to his 2018 debut Shift with new album Half Light, displacing both his maturity as a producer and a vocalist. Comprised of nine chilled-out tracks, Half Light sees Green hone in further on the Bonobo-tinged grooves of his debut offering, with soaring strings, muted keyboards and driving kick drums forming a soft bedrock for his whispery vocals to do their thing. Guest appearances from Andreya Triana and Ghosty Kisses help to flesh out Half Light to show Green’s prowess as a producer, and while some moments on the album ultimately play it a bit too safe, it’s nevertheless a solid release from the emerging producer.
Father John Misty – Anthem + 3 EP
The enigmatic Josh Tilman has returned to his Father John Misty alias for a surprise EP of covers, Announced overnight to coincide with Bandcamp’s Friday artist fee waiver, Anthem + 3 is led by Tilman’s take on Leonard Cohen’s 1992 track ‘Anthem’, as well as Link Wray’s ‘Fallin’ Rain’, Yusuf Islam / Cat Steven’s ‘Trouble’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘One of Us Cannot Be Wrong.’ All proceeds from sales of the EP will go to CARE Action and Ground Game LA, so head on over to Bandcamp and grab it when it drops later today – it’ll also arrive on streaming services on Tuesday July 14.
Also check out: Kanye West feat. Travis Scott – ‘Wash Us In The Blood’, Twin Peaks – Side A EP
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