I'm trying to listen to as much new music as old these days.It suddenly occured to me early last year that I've, give or take, been listening to the same music since just prior to the Millenium.
As I career through my fifties I feel I need to start keeping a record of this new this stuff. If for nothing else its because my memory is getting worse and I might end up listening to something thinking its new when I've already heard it.
The new year / new album thing kicked off with this:
2nd January
Cartoon Darkness - Amyl & The Sniffers
Released October 2024
This one was on my list for last year but I never got around to listening to it before December closed out. I'm glad in a way because it was a cracking start to the years aural pleasure. I haven't really listened to anything like this for quite some time because middle-aged men are not necessarily the target audience for the likes of the Amyl gang but I'm really pleased I did. For a start its 33 mins which is a great length for an LP (no filler or flim flam) and from the opener it strikes you right in the middle of the forehead. Singer Amy Taylor definately has a bit of Wendy O Williams about her and the music to me feels like somewhere between The Plasmatics and Elastica. The fact that the tracks move effortlessly between the two is a real plus of this record. The sad thing is that is over before you know it. I'm wasn't sure wether to rate these records because I'm just not that knowlegeable but if I was to I'd give this a solid 8.5 / 10.
3rd January
Acts Of Faith - SAULT
Released July 2024 (Download) December 2024 (Streaming)
I'm happy to admit that this is my first taste of SAULT despite this being their eleventh album. This of course meant I had absolutely no pre-conceptions of this one going onto it. What I discovered was really interesting to me. Again its only short at 32 minutes which is no bad thing. What I think would be side one of the actual LP version is a continuous mix moving seemlessly from one track to the next. I thought it was great and in a lovely way made me think of a really great soundtrack to a classic 70's US movie. Its funky with a great rhythm throughout and some beautiful vocals. What I assume will make up side two is a little slower, more atmospheric, perhaps the vocals a bit more prevalent. Again the half an hour or so absolutely flew passed and I really enjoyed it. From me this gets an entertaining 7.5 / 10.
6th January
House Of Love - The House Of Love
Released February 1990
Small caveat here. I may have heard this before but it would have been a very long time ago and I certainly never purchased it in any form. If you're a music fan of a certain age then you'll remember the singles from this album (Shine On, Beatles & The Stones) and listening 36 years or so after its released you can't help but think that commercially speaking there's unfulfilled potential in abundance. I say that because artistically the band and subsequently the individuals involved have been well appreciated. I'd suggest this is a near-the-top example of its kind, early 90's British guitar based melodic pop well worth a revisit. A healthy 8.5 / 10.
8th January
Forward - Bitty McLean
Released April 2023 / Deluxe Version November 2024
This one came recommended by the lovely people at Lion Vibes Records in Brixton via their brilliant Instagram account. For anyone too young to remember Bitty had three Top 10 hits in 1993/94 and has been a stalwart of the UK Reggae scene ever since. The sounds were mixed by legendary producers Sly & Robbie. There's a lovely laid back classic sound to this, comfortable like a familiar pair of shoes would be, smart and well fitting. I really enjoyed this (no doubt it helped splitting it either side of watching Spurs beat Liverpool), its one of those records you'd be happy to put on again straight away. Happy to make this a cracking 8 / 10.
12th January
The Human Fear - Franz Ferdinand
Released January 2025
This is the sixth album from the Scottish indie band and on listening something becomes pretty apparent, to me at least. I think you can definately put FF alongside The Cure and New Order for example, in as much as you know from almost the opening bar who you're listening to. Over the years in a packed field they've developed their own unique style which certainly in the case of this release provides another entertaining listen. I don't suppose anyone who buys / streams / downloads this would be expecting anything different to be fair and there's always something to be said for knowing you're good at something and sticking to it. I liked it and would urge someone teetering to give it a go. A lovely 7.5 / 10.
16th January
Who Let The Dogs Out - The Lambrini Girls
Released January 2025
Every now and then something comes along musically that whacks you straight between the eyes. And this is one of those things. Just under 30 minutes in length its like a throwback, loud, raucous, political and very rude (I guarantee the final track will never be played on the BBC). Its in a similar vein to the Amyl & The Sniffers album but I reckon this one is a level above. At one point the tempo slows albeit temporarily but thats just restbite for a few seconds until the whole shouting match (literally) kicks in again. Surely this is the sort of thing the young should be listening to because the point of 'pop' music is to annoy Daily Mail readers isn't it? A splendid 9.5 / 10 for me.
19th January
Blue Lake - Weft
Released January 2025
This is actually described as a 'mini' album despite it being slightly longer than two of the albums I've already reviewed this month. It is unique from a certain point of view in as much as its an instrumental only recording. The man behind Weft is musician Jason Dungan a very obviously talented multi instumentalist who publishes his recording and collaborations under this label. I suppose some people might describe lyricless records as 'background music' but this definately isn't. Each track is easily identifiablly different for the others. It certainly peaks your interest because it leaves you wandering whats coming next. A very enjoyable 7 / 10.
20th January
Slowly, It Dawns - Victoria Canal
Released January 2025
This is the debut album from an artist I knew absolutely nothing about until after I'd heard it. The German born Canal learned to play the piano at a young age. Not a particularly remarkable fact until you realise that she was born with no lower right forearm. I would say that this is the kind of record that you'd really enjoy sitting on a beach watching the sun go down on one of those rare English summer days when the weathers good enough to do that. There's some gentle rhythms juxtaposed with some pretty heavy lyrics delivered by Canals rather haunting but tuneful voice. A nice summery 7 / 10.
24th January
My Method Actor - Nilufer Yanya
Released September 2024
This was another artist I knew nothing of before playing the album. I've subsequently discovered this is the British artists third LP and after hearing this one I'll be checking out her previous efforts sometime soon. I picked up a kind of chilled out North African vibe throught the record. There's some lovely melodies and although the theme seems pretty consistant each track is noticeably different to the rest. The lyrics are mainly subtle but at some points harder hitting, all delivered with a very tuneful vocal range. There's a very crowded field of female solo artists these days but I reckon Nilufer Yanya is offering people will appreciate. A comprehensive 8.5 / 10
25th January
Where We've Been, Where We Go From Here - Friko
Released February 2024
I found there was a little bit of everything in this one. Its the debut album from the American duo which actually came out almost a year ago. At the risk of sounding like a wine taster, playing this I was getting that Monkees style sixties pop, a bit of Radiohead thrown in, well blended with some shoegazy stuff as well. While all nine tracks have their merit I though the production across the whole record was outstanding, absolutely making the most the artists talent. 'For Ella' which I understand was released as a single could easily be described as a ballad. Not in the Mariah Carey / Celine Dion style but a contemporary one. Overall another excellent record 8 / 10.
28th January
Its Only A Love Song - C. Duncan
Released January 2025
I first became aware of C.Duncan back in 2020 when I heard they track ' Garden '. I thought it was great and stuck it on one of those playlists that gets a run out on long journeys in the car. I happened to catch on social media last week that there was a new album out, and I was pretty sure it would be worth a dabble. Whereas the above track had a sound that had an early 80's vibe, I found this to be a stage further back. To explain, if someone told you this came out in the mid 70's you wouldn't be shocked. Its high quality pop music with that kind of American sound from that era. Some swirling orchestral sounds alongside more straightforward rhythms make this a really entertaining listen 8 / 10.
31st January
Hallucinating Love - Maribou State
Released January 2025
Research tells me that Maribou State (Chris Davids & Liam Ivory) have been making music together since 2011 and I think that experience shows in this record. Its like 'grown-up' dance music, another record with a really high production quality. It has a kind of late 80's feel to me, so much so that its the kind of record The Style Council should have made between The Cost Of Loving' and the ill fated 'Modernism', not the not very good 'Confessions'. Not really heard anything much like this in January so it was nice to sqeeze this in right on the cusp of February. A really great driving record 7.5 / 10.
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