Young Fathers Are Back and Getting ‘Heavy Heavy’
Young Fathers declare their awareness of what’s going on but take it a step further. Heavy Heavy urges the audience to do the heavy lifting and “have fun”.
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Junior Boys Move in a Gentler Direction with ‘Waiting Game’
On Junior Boys’ Waiting Game, the sounds are slowed down significantly, and we’re pulled into a far tighter space than in the past, reflecting our melancholy.
Sylvan Esso Evolve Their sound on ‘No Rules Sandy’
Sylvan Esso’s No Rules Sandy disavows much of electropop’s iconography, preferring to disrupt the well-trodden paths of radio-friendly bangers.
Hot Chip Hone Their Electronic Songcraft on Anxiety-ridden ‘Freakout/Release’
Hot Chip’s Freakout/Release is an extraordinary display of synthpop versatility and invention, born of collaboration, improvisation, and the psychological mess of lockdown.
ODESZA’s Superb ‘The Last Goodbye’ Performs Great Emotional Work
ODESZA’s The Last Goodbye is impressively diverse and wide-ranging; there are moments of elysian pop, broody angst, thrilling dance, and smart wit.
Joywave Find Their Heart on ‘Cleanse’
A shift to focusing on world-sized problems pays huge creative dividends for Joywave on Cleanse, as they create their most moving work yet.
Trentemøller Resubmerges Into the Dark with the Massive ‘Memoria’
Trentemøller’s Memoria is intended to be listened to in the dark: total darkness, total immersion. Added visuals would just be sensory overload.
The Wombats (Again) Deliver One Hell of a Dance-Rock ‘Fix’
After an extended break and freak TikTok hit, the Wombats are back at their dance-rocking best on Fix Yourself, Not the World.
Absolutely Free’s ’80s Style Synthpop Is a Little Too Reverent on ‘Aftertouch’
Absolutely Free are back with their first album in years, Aftertouch, and have fully embraced ’80s synthpop as their music template.
The Brilliance of Brothertiger’s Secret Instrumental Masterpieces
After a year of livestreaming and a personal setback, there’s no better time to appreciate the quietly underrated instrumental trilogy Brothertiger created amidst the pandemic.
Josh Rouse’s Isla Visit “12 Bars” on a Magic Night
Josh Rouse’s Isla release their latest single, “12 Bars”, a tune as gentle as a walk in the garden by the sea. It evokes feelings of careless love.
CALICA’s “Letting Go” Is a Swirl of Glittery Laid-back Disco
Los Angeles-based electropop artist CALICA finds an intoxicating groove for fickle seasonal romances with her new single “Letting Go”.