Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Hope Downs

Those bloody Aussies. Their cricket team’s in all sorts these days but they’re still churning out quality tunes in every direction. RBCF’s debut LP is a cracker of churning rhythms and piercing guitars, full of undeniable catchiness. Not too many albums can win you over completely in the space of only to songs but opening batsmen An Air Conditioned Man and Talking Straight are absolute yorkers. Dig ‘em out.

Snail Mail – Lush

People have been waiting for this one. Bit of a heralding of a new voice in indie rock. What’s most alluring about the record is how it’s able to stir up the usual 90s touchstones (Liz Phair, Pavement, etc.) while still sounding fresh and modern. Even more amazing because Lindsey Jordan was only born in 1999, but hey that’s what the internet’s for. Also refreshing is that the album lives up to its title, this is definitely not another lo-fi bedroom pop experiment. These songs are too vibrant, too catchy, too empathetic for that. If Lush had been the complete soundtrack to Lady Bird then nobody woulda argued.

Boycrush – Desperate Late Night Energy

Some Aotearoa electro-pop for ya’ll from Auckland producer Boycrush (aka Alistair Deverick). Eleven tracks featuring some of NZ’s finest voices, including Yumi Zouma, Chelsea Jade and Benny’s Videos. Filled with lush synths and smooth percussion to match the vocals, get ready to hear this album at 3am in a dimly lit house-party basement near you soon.

Black Thought – Streams of Thought, Vol. 1

See, this is why Black Thought is an all-timer. Dude’s 46 years old, he’s got nothing to prove, he’s getting dollars with The Roots as the house band on a late night show and he comes out with an EP like this with only a handful of hooks, just seventeen minutes of furious and astounding verse. Who else rhymes like this? Nobody.

Melody's Echo Chamber - Bon Voyage

All sorts of treats hidden in this one, there’s just so much going on with the production and the instrumentation… no wonder it took an age to finish the record. Melody Prochet’s first and prior album was released six years ago and the wait between records was extended when Prochet suffered a near fatal accident last year. But she’s all good now and laying down tracks that twist and expand like kaleidoscope visions. She sings in three different languages. Don’t bother trying to unpack it all, simply enjoy the journey.

Kanye West – Ye

Not the greatest Kanye record ever, not even the best of Yeezy’s series of recent 7-song releases otherwise known as the ‘Wyoming Tapes’ (that honour goes to Pusha T’s Daytona - the best crime novel of 2018), but still it has moments of vintage Kanye with big production, crass bars and unexpected cameos. Recent Twitter rants aside, I’m glad Yeezy season is back, long may it continue.

MOURN – Sorpresa Familia

Tell you what, there’s some top shelf stuff coming out of Spain these days. The new Hinds album got the Jukebox treatment a little while back and now here’s a beauty from Barcelona’s MOURN. Huge step up from their last record. This one’s heavier and, naturally for a Catalonian band, quite overtly political. Damn and it rocks hard… right on, compañeros.

Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth

Come on. It’s Kamasi Washington, mate. Clear three hours from your schedule, get yourself into a meditative mindset and take the trip.

Jorja Smith – Lost & Found

Breakout star of the Black Panther soundtrack (cheers, Kendrick) and now a breakout star of the R&B world. The English songstress has a way with words that’s simple yet affecting, with a stunning voice to bring it all out. Refreshingly nuanced production allows the jazzy elements of that voice to swim to the surface. This is the first statement of a long and acclaimed career.

Father John Misty – God’s Favourite Customer

Everyone’s favourite narcissist is back. After building a world of importance for his alter ego (Father John) to play in over his first 3 albums, his 4th EP serves to tear it all back down through an exercise of humility and restraint. It’s a new side of Father John and after stripping off the self-mythologizing it’s clear that naked sentiment is a good look for him and a great sound.

Jay Rock – Redemption

We’re so far past the point of anything but complete trust when a TDE artist puts out a new project. Jay Rock’s latest is no exception, in fact it’s so good it even stands out among the crowd. Jay lays it down about second chances and resilience. He raps with the conviction of a man who refuses to compromise his talent and with Redemption he keeps true to his vision.

Smack an ad if you found something here that you rate and jump on over to Patreon to reward The Niche Cache's hustle.