The Predatory Wasp
Cannons defined the summer of 2022 for me, when barely a day went past without me listening to at least part of Fever Dream, thanks in large part to it being one of the few albums my kids were happy to listen to in the car in its entirety. So with the sun starting to remind us of its existence, here’s a shimmery new Cannons single for me to relentlessly overplay. Hazy dayz.
I don’t think I’ve posted a big, brash pop banger on here for a while, so this might come as a bit of a shock to anyone who’s got used to my meandering ambient leanings. One of four new songs on Tei Shi’s new EP BAD PREMONITION, FAMILIAR is sparse, taut and immediately satisfying.
The Glastonbury line-up poster was revealed last week, so obviously I am spending quite a lot of my time fanatically listening to everyone I’m not already familiar with. Fever Ray was vaguely on my radar before, but I just didn’t really connect with them. Their latest single is amazing though, and I also only just realised that they were one half of The Knife! Which considering I loved them, and also consider myself vaguely musically attuned is a fairly major oversight. Also: that video.
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.
I’ve never paid any attention to Yo La Tengo releases before, but I really like this new single, so perhaps that has been a mistake. Something about the name maybe? Can it be that I think they make music to which you can tango, so dismissed them? Possibly. They’ve only released about 300 albums anyway, so sure it won’t take long to delve through their catalogue. Anyway, Aselestine reminds me of the recent Weyes Blood album, and it’s really nice and relaxing.
Recently longlisted for the BBC’s Sound of 2023 – which seems a bit late to the party, given she’s been putting out, often very well-received music for at least half a decade now – Biig Piig’s Bubblegum came out last week, and it’s great, although I’m not entirely sure why it’s a mixtape, rather than an EP. People cleverer than me will know, but like I said: it’s great, and Only One is a low-key vibe.
Sunshine vibes from the Swedish retro-pop group, taken from their new album Oas which is landing in February. I’m hungover and have nothing more to say about this. Happy Friday!
Released with zero fanfare (or at least none that I could find) is this beautiful two-track EP from TWP favourite Corrina Repp in collaboration with Rachel Blumberg as Arch Cape. Produced a while back “as a way to explore working together again after years of playing and conjuring”, they are available on streaming platforms for the first time today.
Alice Boman’s new album The Space Between is an extremely relaxing way to start your day. Stripped back and subdued and sitting somewhere between folk and very chilled electronic pop, Bowman has cited Brian Eno, Thom Yorke and Angel Olsen (amongst others) as artists who influenced the LP, which should give you a pretty decent idea of what to expect. Honey actually out a couple of months ago, but it’s the album opener and my favourite, so here it is.
I will continue posting John Moods records until his new album lands in November, so don’t even think about trying to stop me! Described as appealing to “fans of “So”-era Peter Gabriel” (tick), Everyone is a soft-focus pop/rock ballad inspired by the Amazon and packed full of shimmering melodies and existential yearning. Melt.
The Predatory Wasp 