Like a stripped-down Slowdive, or a somewhat more commercial Grouper, Madeline Johnston with her Midwife project positions herself as one of the leading figures in the slowcore genre at the moment. In the dreamy soundscape, there are so many sublime layers that surface if you just listen carefully. With a background in post-metal, there comes a natural darkness, but the nods to ambient make the album feel peaceful and almost meditative to listen to.
Following up on the masterful An Overview on Phenomenal Nature can't have been easy, but the fact is that Cassandra Jenkins manages to outdo herself. The New York-based singer-songwriter's musical expression has been further refined. Jazzy, smooth, or to use an extremely bourgeois word: sophisticated, pop with elements of indie rock makes the '60s meet the '90s in a completely natural way. Not to mention Cassandra's singing voice, which is one of the most pleasant things you can treat your ears to right now. One of the absolute best albums of the year.
I never thought I would listen to a whole album by Jack White again but I was proven so wrong. Currently on repeat, matching my brain (that is on vacation).
That it's been fifteen years since How To Dress Well was one of the first in the then blogosphere to crank up the reverb on soulful collage-pop is almost too much to grasp. It feels like yesterday. That Tom Krell would still be relevant this far later was honestly never a given, but the fact is, on I Am Toward You, he feels vital. The soon-to-be 40-year-old Colorado native delivers lyrics filled with philosophical references, soundscapes with unexpected and intricate elements - but also beautiful falsetto singing as only he can.
With a timeless expression and a nasal singing style, one can go far, as we have learned from the American folk tradition. Jessica Pratt also adds a dreamy, reverb-filled layer that expands the sound image beyond what the genre is used to. Here in the Pitch is truly an album for the retro-nostalgic listener, in a California-in-the sixties-kind of way.
Linnea Siggelkow, also known as Ellis, grew up moving around a lot in Canada, where she lived in four different provinces. This rootlessness and the ability to feel at home somewhere is something she explores on her second full-length album no place that feels like. Musically, she sometimes sounds a bit like a poppier version of Phoebe Bridgers, but she also has a slightly darker and a more ethereal side where her friend Ethel Cain feels like a natural reference.
Leeds-based English Teachers' eclectic debut album This Could Be Texas grows organically on the listener. The strength lies in the detailed sound landscape, in the unwillingness to adhere to genre conventions, in Lily Fontaine's fantastic lyrics and expression, but perhaps most of all in the musical skills. An epic album by a group of youngsters whose future looks bright.
"They say these would be the best tears of your life"
The dramatic feeling in Grace Cummings' music probably stems from the fact that this Melbourne-based multi-talent is also an actress. On her new album 'Ramona,' produced by Jonathan Wilson, it's a full performance from the first drum intro (magical) to the last note. The sound is as graceful as it is powerful, and Cummings' characteristic voice is hitting right at the heart. An extremely addictive and well-written record. And yes, the title comes from the Dylan classic "To Ramona".
Partly americana, party indie rock, Katie Crutchfield continues her road trip towards the absolute top. On the sixth album as Waxahatchee, she enlists MJ Lenderman - which is a true match made in heaven. Rarely has the collaborative work of two major talents sounded this good, as underscored by the duet "Right Back To It".
SPRINTSkicked off the year in a big way with the bulldozer 'Letters To Self'. In the quieter parts, the sound is sometimes reminiscent of PJ Harvey's classic 'Rid of Me', but when the tempo is cranked up, it brings to mind contemporary post/pop punk bands like Savages and Mannequin Pussy.