groovy, colourful, full of authentic soul and often mind-bendingly astonishing, St. Vincent/Annie Clark presents her own take on classical psychedelia and 70s vibes, never boring and always offering new perspectives and charming surprises packed into cohesive stories - even if you think you’ve already seen it all. served with a certain intimate feel, it can be oh-so-deceiving at first, because “Daddy’s Home” is definitely a big-scale album with a kaleidoscope of magic ... read more

just a collection of really bland/corny indie tunes with some lyrical outtakes that make you cringe for a good while

honey, we get it, you’re horny, heartbroken and melancholic - it’s not exactly anything new under the sun. actually, the problem with “if i could make it quiet” is strictly not even the choice of themes girl in red presents on her debut album, it’s how she presents them.
so far, I’d heard some of her singles before and although not a ... read more

a mixture of amusing camp; psychedelic philosophies; unapologetic, mindless hedonism; mad-hatter-type synth discos and a handful of cinematic neon fantasies under the streetlights, never without a twist of surprising brilliance.

firstly, I was somewhat caught off guard by this new alternate album version of “Paradigme”; but it was rather a positive surprise. considering it was their first single off the new album, it definitely sets the tone well, inviting you to a 54-minute ... read more

Juilliard-trained jazz pianist/multi-talent Jon Batiste is far from being just the cool guy behind the Steinway in The Late Show, but on WE ARE, he makes perhaps his boldest musical statement so far. considering that the blueprint for this album was worked out in a mere week, it’s impossible to not admire Batiste’s wide artistic grasp and vision.

Batiste has been organizing his trademark Love Riots (!) with Stay Human for quite a few years, but this album is so much more than a ... read more

what happens when a bunch of post-punk melancholics flirt with a folkish spring romance? sadly, nothing too spectacular in this case

Craig Dyer and the Manchester/Berlin gang are back with their eleventh (!) album, The Falling. sound-wise, it’s quite a remarkable departure from their trademark dark psychedelia, opting for a more refined soundscape and introducing us to their take on folk-noir.

Craig Dyer’s baritone, which I could usually describe as ‘Ian Curtis goes to ... read more

of sinister feels and prayer-like love songs, of brutality and beauty, of thoroughly intertwined and poetry-immersed thought webs

“Hand of God” starts with a slightly haunting narration backed by minimalistic-sounding piano and deep strings…but give it half a minute and it’s transformed into something entirely different. there’s a slightly frantic pulse constantly beating in the background, like the heartbeat of the narrator travelling down to the river and ... read more

nah I'd be shocked if this was actually good // washed out, boring and literally offers nothing to the listener. billie sings about "doing some damage", but boy, has green day done some massive damage to their own music recently
if this is yet another example of 'pure uncut rock', I simply do not want to hear any more of that

an album that consists of pretty solid ideas, but doesn't really flesh them out and thus falls flat

“Man Alone” could be described as a slowly growing sensory overload. it’s the subtly present blend of an underground slow rave and a poetry reading.
the lyrics “falling into this ceiling / falling into this life” are mixed with the sound of a thunderstorm and a heavy downpour, while there’s just a single bass note repeated
underneath and all over the ... read more

…yeah, I don’t think I’m gonna get up from the floor today // what’s a better choice for valentine’s day anyway

I don’t think there’s much point in repeating what’s already been said a thousand times about the guitarworks and the overwhelming noise, so I’m mostly just handpicking some thoughts and wrapping them in personal ties

so, for this to make any sense, I have to go back to the point where I first heard anything from this album: the ... read more

where worlds collide, all colours bleed out on the palette and harlequin fantasies are set free

on 'For the first time', we start off with an unrelenting instrumental piece consisting of a really tight drum groove and repeating, slightly feverish melodies. the background is repetitive in its nature, but never boring - you’re hit by the sheer driven energy for the track’s whole length and drawn in almost instantly.

“Athens, France” begins with a slightly ironic riff and ... read more

a walk through some personal highlights from the anticipated debut album of British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks:

after Arlo has narrated you into the album, "Hurt" gives us a groovy drumbeat and bassline to start with. the bridge is a reflection on a postmodern, slightly lost-in-your-20s outlook. it's an offering of future solace to someone who’s stuck on their past and trying to get past a painful personal experience; it assures you that it's alright to dwell on your regrets ... read more

Kissing Rosy in the Rain is the debut album from NYC composer/guitarist Mason Lindahl, who draws inspiration from classical and minimalist influences, but is also deeply familiar with folk. Lindahl is joined by longtime friends Jai Pellici, Robby Moncrieff and Ben Greenberg

the magic of this album can be sensed through the minimalist concept, the use of repetition and the fact that it’s purely instrumental. it allows the listener to let their fantasy off the hook, to think along with the ... read more

...and we have yet another great addition to post-punk so early in 2021

a track-by-track run-through:
sound-wise, "Alphabet" - the album opener - reminds me the very beginnings of original late 70s/early 80s post-punk/new wave - great way to establish the beginning to an album, if you ask me. "Nigel Hitter" is a somewhat groovier track - the repeating guitar riff during the verses is definitely catchy, growing into a bigger-feeling chorus and throwing in interesting ... read more

oh, man. it's really been five years? as in the song from the Ziggy album? funnily enough, I still remember the release of ★ so clearly...

David Bowie, one of music's greatest pioneers (remember the slogan "there's old wave, there's new wave and there's David Bowie"?) released a new album, three years after "The Next Day", put out after quite a lengthy pause from the public eye and music scene. while ★ wasn't a comeback album, it is definitely a true landmark feature ... read more

so, 2021 definitely starts off pretty great for post-punk

the album begins with a banger and then takes you on a journey loaded with sax screeches, sardonic jabs and a handful of canine references - among other things. Viagra Boys didn't also forget to add an alternative dancefloor blast (Girls & Boys) in the middle of everything else. overall, the feel of this album sort of makes me want to read Irvine Welsh's stuff over again
that being said, "Welfare Jazz" as a whole is pretty ... read more