The Predatory Wasp
I’m a bit late to the party on this one as it feels like everyone’s been singing the praises of Liv.e’s new album Girl In the Half Pearl for some time now, but I just couldn’t risk the ire of the music blogging community so am jumping on the appreciation bandwagon. Also: it’s really great, and about as varied an album as you’re likely to find anytime soon, from the full on soul balladry of Wild Animals to the arpeggiated chaos of Snowing!.
Recorded in Crown Heights, Brooklyn over a three-year period from 2019 to 2022, Nappy Nina’s new LP Mourning Due is billed as “a record that considers grief a currency and questions who is owed what”. Her voice throughout is hushed and contemplative, backed up by nicely varied production characterised by dreamily looped samples and raw, complex drum patterns. Weeping Waltz featuring a guest spot from Cavalier is a stand out, but the entire album is definitely worth a listen.
Following collaborations with artist like Space Afrika, Ben Vince, and Elena Isolini, Bianca Scout’s new album The Heart of the Anchoress started life as a three day recording session at St Giles Church in Camberwell. Dark, dreamy and hypnotic, it sits somewhere between TPW favourites Grouper and Andy Stott, with opening track Empty space nicely setting the tone for the gloomy euphoria to come.
https://firstterracerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-heart-of-the-anchoress
Mike Paradinas just really loves making music. Not content with putting out two brilliant albums last year on his own Planet Mu label, he recently announced a new LP, 1977, that will land on the excellent Blamat in April. 4am is the lead single, and it’s a softly billowing delight.
This is exactly the vibe I need for today. Unhurried, gentle melodies bubbling over warm pads alongside soft 8-bit bleeps and the occasional purred ‘yeah’. Like Boards of Canada without even a shred of existential angst. Taken from Khotin’s new album Release Spirit which landed last week on Ghostly.
A lot of good music has been released today, but nothing excites me more than Keep Up The Good Work, the new album from Danish group Lowly. I love their previous two LPs, and on first listen it sounds like this new one is keeping the bar just as high. Happen is vintage Lowly, with warm, haunting melodies and Soffie Viemose’s distinct vocal becoming ever more anguished as it progresses.
https://bellaunion.ochre.store/release/338316-lowly-keep-up-the-good-work
Taken from Tennis’s sixth album Pollen, Forbidden Doors is absolutely brilliant: gently propulsive and instantly hooky, with some really beautiful melodies half-hidden under its hazy sheen.
https://www.crashrecords.co.uk/products/tennis-pollen-pre-order
It’s Valentine’s Day, so what better way to spend it than by cooking yourself an enormous steak and listening to Caroline Polachek’s deeply romantic new album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You. I know that’s what I’ll be doing. It’s only a matter of time before Pitchfork inevitably names this Best New Music, so get it now while it’s HOT.
Six(!) years after her last LP, Raven finally landed today. To quote Loraine James: “It’s Kelela day today, don’t talk to me about anything else”
I have so few accurate reference points for this kind of stuff that I’m not even going to bother trying to relate it to anything: I just kinda like it, ok. Pitchfork says it’s post-punk, so I guess that’s about right.
The Predatory Wasp 