Human Heat "All Is Too Much"
If you’ve enjoyed Alex Schaaf’s work with Yellow Ostrich in the past, then buddy, do I have some exciting news for you! (and no, the exciting news isn’t that I’ve taken to calling you buddy. I’ve always felt that way!). No, the news is that Alex is back as Human Heat! Whereas YO was a jangly, sometimes horn-driven indie-pop, Alex’s Human Heat project finds him indulging in his obvious love of R&B. Somewhere between the recent keyboard-heavy excursions of the experimental Moon King and the Top 40 sounds of James Blake at his most soulful we have All Is Too Much. If you ever wondered what would happen if Siri and Alexa formed a band have we got that record for you! For proof of that, check out the piano funk-balladry of “Remember When.”
Lee Ranaldo "Electric Trim (Mute)"
Founding member of Sonic Youth Lee Ranaldo is back with his first solo-alum since 2013’s Last Night on Earth. Electric Trim (Mute) finds Lee moving in a bit of a new direction. A little lighter in sound than his previous work (but every bit as experimental), this is a joyous collection of tunes. Think of it as somewhere between an acoustically led late-era SY mixed with… well… mixed with a little bit of everything-which makes sense since the album features guest turns from Sharon Van Etten, News Cline, Steve Shelley, and more! Look, Lee has made a career of being hard to pin down, and this is no exception. No amount of describing I do here is going to do these songs justice, so check out the victorious Soundtrack Of Our Lives-esque sounds of the first single “Circular Right As Rain.”
Annie Hart "Impossible Accomplice"
Annie Hart, she of Au Revoir Simone, has stepped out with her debut solo record. Impossible Accompliceis full of the vintage synth sounds of ARS, as well as the soft spoken vocals that band was known for. Stripped down more then ARS tunes, these basement-crafted tunes only include sounds needed to convey the emotions of each song. Hypnotic and raw, this is an unfiltered Annie-which, thankfully, is as lovely a sound as all the other Annies! Check out “I Don’t Want Your Love.”
Alvvays "Antisocialites (Polyvinyl)"
When I asked Derek, the office’s biggest Alvvays fan, what song he thought the focus track of their newest album Antisocialites (Polyvinyl) should be, he listed 8 songs. Not very helpful in narrowing down the selection, but a great vote of confidence for the record! The 10 tunes on their sophomore followup to the much-beloved 2014 self-titled debut are full of ups and downs, break-ups and break-ins. Shimmery, beach-tinged new wave vibes here, art-punk vibes there, full of clever Scot-pop turns and Molly Rankin’s melodious vocals. It’s like Camera Obscura covering The Smiths, which sounds just as lovely as that sounds. As for the focus track (no thanks to Derek) check out “Dreams Tonite.”