Sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. For a film like Far From Home, however, there’s a whole bunch of parts that don’t really add up to much. This wouldn’t detract from the fact that the film is altogether enjoyable in a way that films today no longer are. If you’ve never heard of the film, you can be forgiven. An old, forgotten Drew Barrymore vehicle that was meant to help her transition from child star to adult actress, this feature came as quickly as it went, appearing for just a flash in theatres during the summer of 1989.

The Kenn Morr Band’s sixth album, Worth Imagining brings a variety of instruments together to create a warm, soulful sound. Accordion, violin, harmonica, and mandolin flirt with guitar, piano, bass, and percussion. Moor’s deep, succulent voice (often accompanied by backing vocals) calls to mind folksingers like Richard Thomspon and John Prine. On the record, Morr spins ten poignant yarns about love, friendship, and loss. Despite its contemplative nature, Worth Imagining is earnest and uplifting. It may make you want to take a long drive into the sunset.

Anxiety begins and ends with cliché. Grandiose opener “Play by Play”, after washes of synthesizer, kicks off with Arthur Ashin doing a dynamo Prince impression: “I said, baby!” he cries, falsetto in full effect. The melancholy “World War” ties the album up with Ashin lamenting, “Not gonna be, no way / No way you’re gonna be my baby.” Of all the possible words an artist doing R&B—experimental or otherwise—could lean on, “baby” is definitely the default choice. It’s a tired-if-true term of affection, and its prime placement in pop music’s lexicon has ensured that even the most daring of artists will find a way to use it. Ashin, the driving force behind the Autre Ne Veut name, is now only on his second LP and, he can be pardoned for devolving to such basic word choice.

“Nip It in the Bud” is the band’s new single and it’s front-loaded with crunchy power riffs and punk attitude. The band says, “We wanted to write something that people could swing to like the cats in the ‘60s, but which was a bit rough round the edges. It’s a bit of a nod to the Sonics as well.”

“Nip It in the Bud” releases 15 April via Once Upon a Time Records.

You know that young German shoegazers the History of Colour TV have a way with conjuring up trippy soundscapes, considering how they seem to transform a plain old rehearsal space into what seems like another dimension. Just check out the video of the extended live version of “Let’s Get Sick”, the leadoff track from their recently released album Emerald Cures Chic Ills. Despite the no-nonsense performance, the band whips up enough reverb that it’s no optical illusion that they look as if they’re actually vibrating, the feedback rippling like heatwaves off asphalt.