27fm Album Jukebox – July 2018
LUMP – LUMP
You know what we really need right now? An anti-capitalist manifesto from Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay named after a fluffy ginger yeti, which graces the album cover and also the Curse of the Contemporary video. We’ve got Marling’s lyrical majesty, embracing more surrealist imagery this time, and Lindsay’s droning, pulsating sonics and it’s fun and it’s groovy and it’s got something to say.
Jed Parsons – Midnight Feast
After seeing his supercharged live performance at a packed out San Fran bathhouse, I heard one patron after a few too many IPAs describe the vibe as ‘The new Dunedin sound on meth’. Whether or not that’s accurate you won’t hear it in the album. A controlled, melodic debut that doesn’t risk falling into trap of the saccharine of the sincere of other handsome solo dudes and their guitars. The more resonant moments are when Parsons offers a peak into the chaos, bubbling under the surface and waiting to jump out on stage. Give it a listen, then check him out when he’s performing near you.
Denzel Curry – TA13OO
Maaaaaaaate. Denzel Curry’s gotten a fair bit of hype over recent years but with each subsequent project he only gets better and better. Magnificent delivery, some remarkable lyricism in there (there are some clunkers too but it’s worth it for when his lines really strike) and an unexpectedly diverse blend of production styles too. Curry takes this from light to dark over three inspired acts. This isn’t promise… it’s fulfilment. One of the finest hip hop releases of 2018 so far.
Jim James - Uniform Distortion
The last My Morning Jacket album was a bit disappointing so cool to here frontman Jim James still restlessly searching for new ideas. His latest solo effort is an old fashioned crunch of a rock record, cranking up the guitars to relatively typical song structures. There are deeper themes of misinformation in the digital age, which are pretty relevant, but you can also just drop that foot on the accelerator and get the head nodding with jams like this.
Ovlov - TRU
If you rate some dense, layered guitar walls of the J. Mascis/My Bloody Valentine variety – and really there’s no reason why you shouldn’t – then you’re in for a feast here. Only 30 minutes long but teeming with overflowing energy and emotion, absolutely pulsing with intensity, condensed with noise.
Chelsea Jade – Personal Best
My Auckland electro-pop! Hook it to my veins! Jade is one of Aotearoa’s most accomplished songwriters, having been shortlisted for a Silver Scroll two years coming. Its good, clean, smart, pop that’s fun without ever feeling like empty calories. Perfect for a one person dance party when everyone else has gone to bed.
Ty Segall and White Fence – Joy
Combo albums can be pretty hit and miss but you won’t find two more reliably on-form jokers than Tim Presley of White Fence and Ty Segall of… Ty Segall. Super prolific and always interesting garage rock icons, linking for their second full length album together. Such an easy blend. Tim’s psych-pop stylings and Ty’s guitar swinging Mark Bolan jams. Rock is dead, they sing, while simultaneously proving that to be a lie. Shout outs to Fanny the dog on the cameo too.
Holly Arrowsmith – A Dawn I Remember
Aotearoa is fast becoming a hub for blossoming folk musicians. Queenstown troubadour Arrowsmith brings a gorgeous wavering voice to her gentle pastoral tunes, sparkled with acoustic guitars and only occasionally anything else. There’s a connection with the land here that shines through. There ain’t a bad track among ‘em.
Gwenifer Raymond – You Were Never Much of a Dancer
Cardiff guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Raymond drops a debut here that strolls that line between blues and folk, the ol’ American Primitive as they call it. Same scope as Marisa Anderson so excellently peruses. Got some twang and pluck but not a lyrical word among it, just those dense introspective instrumentals. Super stuff.
Polyester – Polyester
The debut effort from the Auckland Band formerly known as Kip McGrath follows in the vein off Aotearoa’s recent run of successful dream-folk releases, adding in a few dashes of disco and dancefloor sensibilities to keep it interesting. Drawing on the themes of touch, effect and love, you’ll feel the emotion come and go but you won’t escape the groove.
serpentwithfeet – soil
Josaiah Wise with that absolutely unique voice, casting spells of love and lust on his full length debut. Got some of that Perfume Genius vibe with it… except more unsettling. It’s a gorgeous record, really slickly produced, but it’s intense too and deceptively vulnerable. His words flutter and they rise and fall as if carried upon the breath he used to conjure them. Captivating. Enchanting.