The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
Another week has come and gone, and with it, another huge dose of new music lands. As always, artists on all scales have been busy from the biggest names in the industry to the newest. To ensure nothing gold is missed, the Big Indie Playlist boils it down to the must-hear picks.
Right as summer draws to an end, some of the most hotly anticipated albums of the year finally landed. CMAT shared her third record, EURO-COUNTRY, while Blood Orange delivered the collaboration-heavy Essex Honey.
As always though, it was the world of new music where the most vibrant, varied and interesting new offerings lay. TTSSFU continue to be need-to-know indie risers, David Keenan continues to be one of Ireland’s most dynamic stars and The Man The Myth The Meatslab keep getting us in our feelings.
Whether you’re into good old fashioned indie, punk, rock, pop or folk, or even left-field sound from around the world, there is something for everyone. All point in one place where all you have to do is hit play, find a new favourite tune right here.
Track of the week
Blood Orange and Caroline Polachek – ‘The Train (King’s Cross): A true musical match made in heaven, Blood Orange and Caroline Polachek team up twice on Essex’s Honey and both become the album’s highlights.
In this case though, things get serious cinematic. This song sounds like a movie you’d watch at 17 that would change your life forever, staying with you and suddenly opening you up to a world of beautiful art. It’s euphoric yet thoughtful, moving but light, subtle yet endlessly evocative. [4.5/5]
Instant classics – the biggest release of the week
Hayley Williams – ‘Parachute’: As Williams finally released her new solo album as an actual album on streaming services, rather than a scattering of random singles, a new track appeared. ‘Parachute’ is more than just a devastating look into her personal life that has broken fans’ hearts, but is a deep feeling heartbreak anthem. [4/5]
Alabama Shakes – ‘Another Life’: After an on-stage reunion, Alabama Shakes are now back releasing music as a unit. Not quite as good as their earlier works, but still, it’s great to have them back. [3/5]
CMAT – ‘Lord, Let That Tesla Crash’: The entirety of CMAT’s third album EURO-COUNTRY is star making, but this track is something else as CMAT gets into the weeds of grief in her own unique way. [4/5]
Geese – ‘100 Horses’: Cameron Winter’s supremacy continues and his fans remain well-feed as the new Geese tunes keep on coming and stay high in quality. [3.5/5]
IDLES – ‘Cheerleader’: As Caught Stealing hits the cinema, IDLES’ new soundtrack for the movie is unleashed too, including this high tension punk number. [3.5/5]
Flyte – ‘Hello Sunshine’: There is never any doubt that a new Flyte record is going to be beautiful. Between Me And You is no different. [4/5]
Must-hear: The best new music of the week
TTSSFU – ‘Forever’: New euphoric indie banger just dropped from a new rising star name to note. TTSSFU are a band we’d be betting on. [4/5]
David Keenan – ‘Poison Water’: Irish artist David Keenan seems to evolve with each and every new release. This time round, the poetry meets a more all-encompassing beat to scoop you up and along. [3.5/5]
Divorce – ‘Wendolene’: With the release of the deluxe version of their debut, Divorce have shared even more greatness including this track where Tiger Cohen-Towell sounds better than ever. [3.5/5]
The Man The Myth The Meatslab – ‘I Thought About You Last Autumn’: If you don’t like the direction Bon Iver has gone in, you’re in luck! Find yourself a brand new Bon Iver right here. [3.5/5]
Chartreuse – ‘Bless You & Be Well’: The entire Chartreuse record demands to be heard so here, have the opening and title track to lure you in. [4/5]
Elias Rønnenfelt – ‘USA Baby’: A song that defies easy categorization from an artist who has always shaken off any attempt to pin him down. Tense and cinematic and fascinating, all we know is that it’s intoxicating. [3.5/5]
Off The Beaten Track: Left-field sounds, curated and written by Ben Forrest
Rudy De Anda, The Jack Moves, William Corduroy – ‘Like A Memory’: Drenched in the lush romanticism of retro Latin soul, California’s Ruby De Anda reportedly found the inspiration for this track while on a trip to Mexico. The collaborative power of The Jack Moves and William Corduroy add entirely new layers to that sound, rounding it off into a generation-spanning, velvety slice of soul. [4/5]
GA-20 -’Hold On, I’m Coming’: Boston’s GA-20 take on one of the greatest soul songs ever recorded, Sam and Dave’s ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’, transforming the Stax masterpiece into an endlessly cool blues-driven instrumental effort. Another treat from the ever-generous folks at Colemine Records in Ohio, the infectious track takes the often-covered classic into a bold new direction which doesn’t get old even after many repeated listens. [4/5]
Orchestra Mambo International – ‘Mi Mambo’: Old-school salsa euphoria from the UK’s premier mambo outfit, ‘Mi Mambo’ might have arrived too late to capitalise on the sunshine months, but its incredible rhythm is enough to keep bodies moving well into the Winter. [3.5/5]
Los Zheros – ‘Caminando’: Madrid’s Vampisoul label continue their quest to preserve and share the timeless rhythms of the Latin world with Psychedelic Cumbia Party, a new compilation surrounding the often-overlooked masters of Peruvian cumbia, Los Zheros. ‘Caminando’, originally released in 1975 on the band’s Tu Cuñado Quiero Ser record, remains perhaps the greatest introduction to the incredible rhythm of the band’s cumbia sound, and now it is widely available for a new generation of audiences to get stuck into. [4.5/5]
