Sequoyah Murray "Penalties Of Love 12″ (Thrill Jockey)"
Penalties Of Love is the new EP from Atlanta’s Sequoyah Murray. A mixture of modern soul, hip-hop, east African music, and the music of Arthur Russell. The result is an artistic, soulful collection of songs. So, of course, this release is coming to us from Thrill Jockey… Wait a sec… *checks notes* Uh… yeah… this is a soul EP on Thrill Jockey… huh. You think you know someone, right? I’m glad that we can still be surprised by our friends! His experimentalist and multi-instrumentalist skills are on full display here, as are his smooth baritone vocals–it makes total sense that he’s toured in support of Xiu Xiu in the past. Surely, this is just the start of something big from the talented 21-year-old. So while we wait for a full length check out the slow build of “Penalties Of Love.”
Simon Bonney "Past, Present, Future (Mute)"
Believe it or not, it’s been 25 years since Crime and the City Solution’s Simon Bonney released his last solo album, 1994’s Everyman (which followed 1992’s equally loved Forever.) Somehow, the wait for new music from the Australian mastermind who’s been compared to everyone from Chris Issac to Roy Orbison is back with Past, Present, Future (Mute). This record collects some of his favorites from those two aforementioned releases, as well as 6 new songs! Plus, this comes with the promise of a new full-length release in the near future! What a time! Check out the moody, cinematic sounds of “Eyes Of Blue.”
The Felice Brothers "Undress (Yep Roc)"
“It isn’t hard to find worthwhile things to write about these days, there are a lot of storms blooming on the horizon and a lot of chaos that permeates our lives. The hard part is finding simple and direct ways to address them.” So says Ian Felice of the new Felice Brothers record Undress (Yep Roc). Well, address them they did. This is the bands most direct, emotional release to date. Full of the heartland, indie-folk sounds we’ve come to love them for, but with a definite modern lyrical slant. They, like the rest of us, are obviously pretty tired of the current landscape and are working through it via song. Check out the title track “Undress.”
Jan St. Werner "Glottal Wolpertinger (Fiepblatter Catalogue #6) (Thrill Jockey)"
The latest Fiepblatter Catalog release from Jan St. Werner, Glottal Wolpertinger, is an exercise in oscillating drones that started out life as an art installation. Look, I realize that that sentence is either going to send you running as fast as you can away from this release or get you super interested and pressing play on it immediately. If you are the former, then little I can say will change your mind. If you are the latter, then my job is already done! Oscillate along with “Glottal Wolpertinger Feedback Band 3 / B.”