The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
It’s frankly hard to think about music when there’s a bloody missing princess somewhere out there, but we’ve tried our best to navigate a tricky week at Far Out. There are times when you get sick of hearing that these are dark and strange times, especially when you look through a history book for as little as a minute and realise the garbage fire has always been burning since the world’s been turning; then there are other times when you think, no, this truly is the epoch of batshit.
Given that music usually channels the times, it is notably tough for artists to figure out what the hell they are meant to do. I recently spoke with veteran legend John Lurie for a forthcoming interview, and even he was wondering what on Earth the point of art is in 2024. That same day, I went to a gig at Cobalt Studios in the evening, and its purpose was blissfully affirmed.
So, the times might try to quell the creative flame, but artists are burning as bright as ever. Good news abounds in the world of music with album announcements from the likes of Pet Deaths and a bumper bounty of releases due from the Jesus and the Mary Chain, Julia Holter, Saint Saviour and more next week.
In the meantime, as ever, we’ve waded through the singles to bring you everything from fresh debut tracks to instant classics and our song of the week. We’ve wrapped all these up in a playlist, too; there are beauties from Vampire Weekend and taste-expanders in the form of an oddity from Jlin. Enjoy…
The best new music of the week:
Instant Classics – The best new hits of the week:
Vampire Weekend – ‘Classical’: A solid hint of ‘M79’ reimagined makes for a nostalgic single as Vampire Weekend offer up a slice of indie ran through a waltzer soundscape to create an odd funfair anthem. Their new album sounds like it’s going to be a good one. [4/5]
The Lemon Twigs – ‘A Dream Is All I Know’: The brothers and their buddies delve back into the late 1960s with another bopping piece of baroque pop. It might not be their tidiest effort, but it is an endlessly listenable serving of upbeat fun all the same. [3.5/5]
Pet Deaths – ‘Love Has Won’: A lovely piece of jazz-inclined indie looks at the misguided words of a psychedelic cult leader. However, its hypnotic property is so captivating that it will likely have you signing up for whatever sham the bastard narrator is spinning. Beautiful, ethereal and strange. [4/5]
Mount Kimbie and King Krule – ‘Empty and Silent’: Brooding ambience akin to Twin Peaks is suddenly inundated with a beat that pushes it closer to shoegaze. This gathering approach then welcomes King Krule’s unique vocals for a dark-synth adjacent anthem. [4/5]
Hana Vu – ‘Hammer’: At its heart, it’s just a simple strumming acoustic guitar that drives ‘Hammer’ along, but there is something about Hana Vu’s understanding of melody, the spacing of notes and where to lay her toplines that elevates this into an instantly catchy and emotive weight that glides seamlessly. [4/5]
Slow Hollows – ‘Tired’: “I’m tired of everybody but you” is a lyric that illuminates how the track might sound before you’ve heard it. With a sonic sigh, Slow Hollows whisk up a flowing piece of indie that seamlessly gears towards a haunted ending. [3.5/5]
Villagers – ‘You Lucky One’: “Sugar and spice and all things nice,” mightn’t be the most inventive lyrics of the century, but Conor O’Brien’s charming voice could croon just about anything and get away with it. This time, he’s backed by a simple swelling folk flutter, and it’s a sweet, seamless gem. [3.5/5]
Liz Lawrence – ‘Big Machine’: A humble and agreeable intro about the healing power of a week in the sun suddenly conjures a different type of nod from the listener as Liz Lawrence channels the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for an invigorating second mode. [4/5]
On The Rise – The best new music from new names to know:
Cousin Kula – ‘The Sun’: Bootsy Collins bass, swirling War of the World vibes, and a solid hook make for a strange, danceable weekend hit. The song is otherworldly both in its aesthetic and execution. It’s the sort of song that changes the way you strut. [4/5]
Bobby Oroza, Max Shrager – ‘Queen of the Barrio’: Bobby Oroza teams up with Max Shrager this time out to suddenly add drama to your bedroom. The lounge track is effortlessly cool, as a mystic protagonist of idyllic proportions is the object of the beat’s affection. [4/5]
Ben Chatwin – ‘Dolmen’: Heavy synths stir up a deeply profound futurist oblivion. This slice of hauntology is broken up with the sort of sub-booms that Hans Zimmer now seemingly adores. Ben Chatwin’s emotionally effective modular work continues to impress. [3.5/5]
The Sign of Leo – ‘Feeling Better’: Dutch indie outfit takes things back to a simpler time in indie. ‘Feeling Better’ is exactly the sort of song you loved in 2011; it went off for a bit when you thought post-punk complexity was the future but is now recalibrating as unavoidably catchy and great. [4/5]
First Spins – The best debut singles of the week:
Charlie Rowe – ‘On The Corner’: London-based Charlie Rowe croons a tale of regret with a Beatles-like piano melody. With an accomplished middle eight and few stirring key changes, it might be very early days, but Rowe certainly showcases that he knows his way around an Abbey Road pop song. [3.5/5]
Mouse Teeth – ‘Rituals’: In an entirely different manner, Mouse Teeth deals with regret in a much more dramatic, almost-unhinged way when it comes to ‘Rituals’. the brooding debut from Leicester’s Nancy Dawkins is a fierce piece of songwriter baring teeth far scarier than a mouse’s. [3.5/5]
Cyn Cwsg – ‘Lôn Gul’: Someone call Bill Ryder-Jones, there’s a new Welsh band he may like. In the poetic language of the valleys, this young group of lads offer a bit of blissful indie reminiscent of elements of the fellows in Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. You can’t beat a debut that doesn’t try too hard. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field cuts and global sounds:
Hermanos Gutiérrez – ‘Low Sun’: The Ecuadorian-Swiss duo are at it again with a sweet serving of duelling guitar. It’s not the most astounding piece of work, but it’s as peaceful as ever. For example, it’s an idea to pop on in the background while doing a tax return. [3/5]
Jlin – ‘Summon’: They say you can’t avoid channelling the world around you into your art; well, self-professed math nerd and former steel factory worker Jlin creates a scary soundscape that sounds like Dr Frankenstein turning rusted metal into man. [4/5]
