The Big Indie Playlist: The best new releases of the week, curated by Legss
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(Credits: Far Out / Jacob Ray)
It is time to accept the inevitable: the summer months are over, the wind and rain have returned, and the nights are ever-so-steadily drawing in. Still, do not despair at the unstoppable marching of time, or another year’s worth of sunshine and music festivals passing you by.
Instead, hunker down hunker down with a suitably autumnal jumper, and immerse yourself in this week’s Big Indie Playlist.
Keeping on top of new releases can be a rather tricky task, particularly in the chaos and malaise of the post-festival season release schedule. Fear not, though, as all the greatest releases of the past week have been compiled here, in one handy package – you can thank us later.
This week, we recruited London art-rockers Legss to aid in summarising the past week of releases, and the various tracks selected by the band are sure to tell you a lot about their own musical output, including their brand-new album, Unreal, which also hit the airwaves this week.
Outside of the vastly expansive musical appetite of Legss, this week has also seen the return of some old favourites, in the form of Gorillaz, Jade, Saint Etienne, and Lancaster’s favourite punk duo, The Lovely Eggs. It was also a very productive week for the up-and-coming stars of the musical underground, including an incredible single by the Dutch-Indonesian psych outfit Nusantara Beat, which is sure to keep you moving over the next seven days.
As always, The Big Indie Playlist considers all walks of the musical world and compiles them all in one handy playlist for your listening pleasure and ease. So, have a read, hit play, and immerse yourself in all the latest fruits of the music industry, we promise you won’t regret it.
Track of the week:
Gorillaz (feat. Sparks) – ‘The Happy Dictator’: How could it be anything else? The announcement of a brand-new Gorillaz record has been perhaps the biggest music news of the week, and with the release of the fantastic first single ‘The Happy Dictator’, it is easy to get swept up in the hype even if you aren’t the most ardent of Damon Albarn supporters.
Reportedly, the upcoming album will feature a deluge of collaborators, including the likes of Asha Puthli, Johnny Marr, and Joe Talbot. This particular tune, however, is awash with the influences of collaborators, Sparks, whose distinctive sound blends beautifully with that of the cartoon electronic alt-rockers to create an infectious earworm of a single which certainly succeeds in building anticipation for the full release next March. [4.5/5]
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Must-Hear: Curated by Legss
Tracey – ‘Above The Clouds’: If you’re into Jockstrap, then this will be your cup of tea. Super dry electronic beats with playful lyrics. So sick. Chaz from this project also helped us find the place where we recorded our first EP, so the love goes a long way.
Guided by Voices – ‘(You Can’t Go Back To) Oxford Talawanda’: Just another fucking epic car-rock heady riff-driven euphoric minor key longing-for-more banger from the most appreciated under-appreciated band of the last hundred years.
James K – ‘Rider’: Released on AD93, I’m pretty much a fan of everything she does. Her collabs with Yves Tumor and Moin are highlights but her solo stuff is so ethereal and melancholic and uplifting. This song is off her new album Friend and I just love the combination of guitars and granulated production on the vocals.
Famous – ‘Revelation’: Coming with the dreadful news of their split, this is the Famous we started to see more of on their second EP and then their album; fully stripped back to the core essentials of a piano and a tactile/haptic, hapless, stunning vocal. This band will forever have a special place in our hearts.
Feeo – ‘The Hammer Strikes The Bell’: If there’s one new artist to be following right now it’s feeo.
Blue Bendy – ‘Poke’: One of London’s best bands display catharsis and emotional uncertainty in equal measure on this new song. Typically cryptic lyrics from Nolan and the band’s bittersweet melodies perfectly capture that particular millennial/digital longing that we all know so well. We might finally have an indie band who encapsulate the fractured malaise of our post-internet age.
Elias Rønnenfelt – ‘USA BABY’: Produced by himself, I feel like he’s been heavily influenced by Dean Blunt from all the great releases they’ve worked on together over the past few years. Not my favourite of his but every release feels like a piece to a puzzle where almost anything goes.
The best new releases of the week:
Little Simz – ‘Don’t Leave Too Soon’: Taken from the upcoming film Steve, in which Little Simz also stars, the songwriter unveiled this building, suspenseful effort this week, drawing both from classic film scores and the golden age of dance music and jungle. [4.5/5]
The Lovely Eggs – ‘The Grind’: There’s nothing quite like a Lovely Eggs album announcement to give your week a boost, and the cult Lancaster duo were kind enough to unleash the album’s infectiously abrasive title track, ‘The Grind’, too. What more can you ask for? [4.5/5]
Home Front – ‘Light Sleeper’: Another incredibly exciting album announcement within the punk realm came from Home Front this week, with the synthwave-come-hardcore anthem ‘Light Sleeper’ forming the first single from Watch It Die, due out in November via La Vida Es Un Mus Discos. [4/5]
Stealing Sheep (feat. Meduulla) – ‘Dancing In the Rain’: Stalwarts of Liverpudlian alt-pop, Stealing Sheep, teamed up with Mancunian rapper Meduulla for this endlessly replayable earworm of a track, taken from their newly released EP of the same name. It just goes to show what can be created when historic city-based rivalries can be put aside for the good of the art. [4/5]
Twilark – ‘A Piece Of You’: Changing pace slightly, North Carolina-based songwriter Twilark has crafted a beautiful collection of indie-folk efforts on his new album, The Taming Ties Create, including the pulchritudinous ‘A Piece Of You’, with the emphasis on folk, rather than indie. [4/5]
Jade – ‘Unconditional’: Soaked in the timeless appeal of 1980s-era synth music, the performer’s pop perfectionism, and a healthy level of club appeal, Jade’s storming new single ‘Unconditional’ speaks to her ever-expanding power as a solo performer and pop force of nature. [4/5]
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – ‘Salsa Verde’: Aussie psych masters Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have returned with a fuzzy, adrenaline-fueled jaunt through Mexican cuisine, with the added influence of a Beatles classic. We’re all simply along for the ride, whether we like it or not. [3.5/5]
Saint Etienne (feat. Confidence Man) – ‘Brand New Me’: Returning to their Heavenly Records roots, Confidence Man join the indie dance icons Saint Etienne for a lush new single, perfectly capturing the enduring appeal of Etienne in addition to showcasing the beautiful vocal qualities of Janet Planet. Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop dancing. [4.5/5]
Jerkcurb – ‘Larchmont’: After a six year absence, Horsey frontman and King Krule collaborator Jacob Read returns with new material under his solo moniker, deftly evoking the atmosphere of smoke-filled lounges with his usual wistful and pensive style. [4/5]
The Boojums – ‘Burnin’ Up’: The second track to be taken from the much-anticipated debut album from Nova Scotia-based trio The Boojums, ‘Burnin’ Up’ reflects the band’s genre-defying blend of old-school garage rock, moody post-punk, and pop-centric songwriting. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field sounds, curated by Ben Forrest:
Noura Mint Seymali -’Ch’tib (Naha)’: Undoubtedly the most powerful vocal performance of the week comes from master of Mauritian griot Noura Mint Seymali, whose endless dedication to sonic experimentation has made her one of the most sought-after figures in modern griot and desert blues. This is the second single taken from Yenbett, set to be her first album release since 2016, and the compelling nature of the track certainly sets the stage for what will surely be one of the most captivating releases of the year. [5/5]
Nusantara Beat – ‘Tamat’: Harking back to gritty, old-school rock and roll with that incredible bassline, the Indonesian psych rock outfit Nusantara Beat have released the first single from their self-titled debut, due out in November, and the song’s blend of down and dirt psych guitar riffs and the ethereal voice of Megan de Klerk creates the kind of atmosphere that is adept at keeping you coming back for more. [4.5/5]
Nemessio – ‘Hey Hey’: Barcelona’s Rocafort Records continue to reaffirm their position as one of the world’s greatest funk and soul labels with a long-awaited reissue of the Colombian obscurity ‘Hey Hey’, originally released back in 1979 and now, at long last, available once again on a glimmering slice of seven-inch wax, backed with a high-energy rework by GarcyNoise. [4.5/5]
Blue Earth Sound – ‘Gia’s Point’: Chicago’s James Weir takes us on an intergalactic trip through the lens of instrumental jazz on the new album Cicero Nights, and the lush, laid-back sounds of ‘Gia’s Point’ are a definite highlight. [4/5]
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