The Big Indie Playlist: The best new releases of the week
And we’re back. Crawling out of the new year’s silence, the music world is waking back up. As artists across all genres get back to work, January has suddenly become very noisy, with album releases teased with new singles. Making sure no greatness gets missed, the Big Indie Playlist puts all the best in one place.
It feels like everyone in the world announced a new album this week. Lucy Dacus made her awaited return as she came back to her solo project following a few years of being dedicated to Boygenius. Samia, Perfume Genius, Spacey Jane and more also followed suit, sharing the first teaser as they announce LPs to look forward to.
The world of up and comers was busy too. Ellur released her EP God Help Me Now, proving her worth as a key one to watch, while Brighton’s favourite band Hutch shared feel good tune ‘Rustle’. Across all genres from intense punk to angelic folk, this week offeredup something for everyone.
If it’s a new favourite album you’re looking for, head to our weekly Alternative Album Chart where all of this week’s LPs are gathered. But right here, we’re providing a quick fix of the best new hits, putting all the best singles in one place where all that’s left to do is hit play.
The best new music of the week
Track of the week:
Lucy Dacus – ‘Ankles’ and ‘Limerance’: Returning with not one but two new tracks, Lucy Dacus launched her next chapter with a double dose of sheer beauty. As her new album Forever Is A Feeling will delve into the breakdown of a relationship as Dacus, in her own words, had to “destroy a really beautiful life”, these two opening tracks are a peak into both sides.
‘Ankles’ is sexy, thrilling, and forbidden as she daydreams about the person she wants. Singing “Let me touch you where I want to” before repeating “there and there and there and there”, it’s a gorgeously fun indie tune that reminds the world of her sharp storytelling.
On the flipside, ‘Limerance’ is a masterclass in her knack for subtle devastating. Returning to the relationship she’s tearing apart, she croons, “I’m thinking about breaking your heart someday soon / And if I do, I’ll be breaking mine too,” over what is the most stunning piano ballad of her career so far. Together, they make a perfect pair. [5/5]
Instant Classics – The biggest releases of the week
Perfume Genius – ‘It’s A Mirror’: Perfume Genius announced a new album called Glory this week with this almost country-twanged track that merges his typical cinematic approach to music with a guitar rock base. [4/5]
Samia – ‘Bovine Excision’: Another announcement to get excited about came from Samia, who delivered the news that her third album is coming soon, offering up ‘Bovine Excision’ as a taster. And if this song is anything to go off, the new record will provide the same uniquely storytelling lyrics and expert approach to articulating emotions. [4/5]
Mac Miller – ‘Funny Papers’: Recorded back in 2014, this week saw the release of Mac Miller’s second posthumous release, Ballonerism. Once again, it’s a bittersweet display of everything the world missed out on following his death in 2018. Showing the potential the artist always had and that no doubt would have grown over time, ‘Funny Papers’ is beautifully tender. [4/5]
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – ‘Trouble’: Coming not from Van Etten solo but from her new collaborative project with her band, ‘Trouble’ marks a sonic change, bringing new textures into the mix as the track feels more shoegazey than anything she’s released before. [3.5/5]
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts – ‘big change is coming’: Released only days ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Young seems to be making a political point here, but it’s slightly too neutral to be all that effective. Musically, though, this track is epic. [3/5]
Jungle – ‘Keep Me Satisfied’: Jungle clocked in to provide this weekend’s soundtrack. Perfect for a lazy January return to good times, their classic brand of soulful, feel-good vibes is exactly what we need right now. [3.5/5]
On The Rise – New releases to note this week
Tommy Lefroy – ‘Disbelief’: Offering up an extended version of their new EP, it’s a crime that ‘Disbelief’ was left off the original. Merging elements of Clairo’s old lo-fi bedroom creations, Samia’s regular use of vocal effects and any number of incredible lyricists’ writing abilities, Tommy Lefroy prove they have it all. [3.5/5]
Ellur – ‘Mourning Song’: Song after song, Ellur has been establishing herself as a key one to watch. All coming to fruition on her new EP God Help Me Now, ‘Mourning Song’ is a staggeringly beautiful new offering amongst the songs that first caught attention to her talent. [4/5]
Eliza Niemi – ‘Do U FM’: Eliza Niemi is an if-you-know-you-know name that deserves to be brought into the spotlight. Her 2022 album Staying Mellow Blues is full of unique melodies and gorgeous folkish elements. Now returning with a new track years later, ‘Do U FM’ levels it all up. [4/5]
Jasmine.4.t – ‘Woman’: Jasmine.4.t’s stunning debut album You Are The Morning took our Album of the Week crown this week, so picking one track to highlight is a tricky task. But ‘Woman’ takes the victory as an incredible closing remark that wraps up the record beautifully. [4.5/5]
Inhaler – ‘Question Of You’: Looking for some all-out, no-messing-around indie? Inhaler can always provide that. This is the sort of song that will instantly transport you to a festival in July as a necessary escape from the deep January blues. [3/5]
Spacey Jane – ‘All That Noise’: Aussie indie favourites Spacey Jane also announced a new album this week. As the first treat from If That Makes Sense, ‘All That Noise’ sets the tone for great feel-good fun. [3/5]
Kayla Grace – ‘Berlin’: Teased online literally years ago, Kayla Grace finally unleashed the fully polished version of ‘Berlin’, telling the tale of a disastrous holiday with a lover that ended in a breakup. An example of great storytelling with plain speaking declarations weaved in with poetry; it lives up to the hype the rough demo sparked ages ago. [3.5/5]
Chalk – ‘Afraid’: A song that won’t just brush away the cobwebs of the working week but will absolutely blast them off you. Merging punk and heavy rave energy, Chalk’s latest track demands to be played deafeningly loud. [3.5/5]
HotWax – ‘One More Reason’: As a group that were pedesteled as a buzzy one to watch a few years back, it’s often hard to maintain that interest and excitement while still developing. But HotWax have pulled it off as they only get better and better with ‘One More Reason’ being their best work yet. [4/5]
Independent Spirit – Unsigned release of the week
Hutch – ‘Rustle’: A key part of the live set that’s made them hometown heroes in Brighton and helped spread their name country-wide over the last year or so, Hutch shared ‘Rustle’ this week. Gorgeously nostalgic and twinkling with 1960s psychedelic energy, it’s a fun track packed with the personality and infectious energy the group always deliver. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field sounds
Vaudou Game – ‘Koliko’: Hailing from Aného-Glidji in the West African nation of Togo, Vaudou Game are on a mission to merge 1970s Afro-funk with voodoo traditions. Their new album FINTOU pulls it off with stacks of hooking energy that draw you into their musical world. [4/5]
Blacksea Não Maya – ‘Despertar’: Coming from a North-Lisbon-based trio, it’s hard to even describe what Blacksea Não Maya is doing. Putting a huge array of sounds and influences into one big pot and mixing it up with a sleek production power, ‘Despertar’ is a sonic onslaught but a good one. [3.5/5]
Project Gemini – ‘Darkness Rising’: As the alias of musician, producer and writer Paul Osborne, Project Gemini is a home for his experimentation. On this new song, blues, psyche rock and cinematic funk are all thrown together for a track that gets you moving. [3.5/5]
