Sufjan Stevens has announced the release of his eighth solo studio album ‘The Ascension’ (out on 25 September via Asthmatic Kitty Records – pre-order here) and shared the record’s 12-minute closing track, ‘America’. Sufjan describes the single as ‘a protest song against the sickness of American culture in particular’ and even though it was written…
Every year London label wiaiwya (where it’s at is where you are) asks seven acts to each record a 77-minute track/album to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The project is called #sevenat77 and experimental post rock band firestations are the latest actto take part. They have also contributed a 77-second and 7-minute version…
Ben Kweller discusses the state of the world – and especially his homeland – in new single ‘American Cigarettes’. A metaphoric tale of one person yearning to keep an old love alive while the other is ready to talk out the door, it captures the way ‘we’ve been brought to our knees by a dual…
Porridge Radio have collaborated with Lala Lala (Chicago-based musician Lillie West) to write, record and release brand new song ‘Good For You’. Porridge Radio’s first new music since their highly acclaimed debut album ‘Every bad’ was released back in March, the song came to Dana of the band when she was eating breakfast during lockdown: …
Spring King members Peter Darlington and James Green’s new project Meadow Meadow have shared ‘Fireworks’ ahead of the release of their eponymous debut EP on 19 August (pre-order the limited edition cassette here). Recorded remotely between Manchester and London, the song finds both members of Meadow Meadow singing lead vocals (James: ‘It can be nice…
Fontaines D.C. follow up the blisteringly intense ‘A Hero’s Death’ with new single ‘Televised Mind’ ahead of the release of their new album, also called ‘A Hero’s Death, on 31 July. The new song’s video is directed by Hugh Mulhern and finds the band tackling the concept of the echo chamber and ‘how personality gets…
Isle of Wight-based Burger Records signings Reminders have shared the fittingly titled ‘Seaside Scampi’. The trio found the tune in the form of an old demo while rummaging through boxes while the island placed a ban on local beaches during lockdown. Singer Leo Dyke says: ‘I can’t help but reminisce about hanging out with friends…
Dizzy have shared ‘Roman Candles’ ahead of the release of new album ‘The Sun and Her Scorch’ via Communion Records on 31 July (pre-order here). The song finds Katie Munshaw reflecting on her choice to pursue a career in music and the jealousy she sometimes feels towards friends who ‘have gone to university and have…
Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award-nominated singer-songwriter Hannah Georgas has shared new single ‘Dreams’ ahead of the release of new album ‘All That Emotion’ on 4 September. The record has been produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner and has already seen Hannah gain support from Stereogum, Rolling Stone, The Line of Best Fit and many…
New Alcopop! signings Snow Coats have shared ‘Pool Girl’, the first single to be taken from their forthcoming debut EP of the same name (out 11 September). The Dutch four-piece’s vocalist and guitarist Anouk va der Kamp says the song is ‘about how I reflect on myself. Some silly things and some more serious. Like…
Wolverhampton-based singer-songwriter Bryony Williams has signed to our friends at Beth Shalom Records and shared ‘I Can Be’ – the lead single from her upcoming third EP, ‘State I’m In’ (out on 25 September). A song about fleshing out your inner confidence and owning who you are, the assertive anthem has an indie-rock sound but…
Ben Folds sums up all of our feelings about the past six months in his new single ‘2020’: ‘New Year’s Eve, don’t it seem like decades ago? Back in 2019, back when life was slow’. A piano ballad with relatable lyrics for anyone who’s been socially distancing and obeying all the rules, Folds compares the…
I Like Trains have shared the video for ‘Dig In’, the second single to be taken from their long-awaited new album ‘KOMPROMAT’ (out on 21 August via Atlantic Curve). The timely song is one ‘for those morally bankrupt schemers who have managed to leverage extraodinary power and wealth while never being on the ballot’ according…
‘In my mind, the Transfiguration Highway is a road that runs from my hometown of Petrolia, through the small southern Ontario towns I grew up in, through to larger and larger Ontario cities, like London, until it reaches me here in Toronto. Along that path, there’s a movement from quiet to loud. From slow to…
Mansions fourth album ‘Big Bad’ signals a new beginning for the now duo of Chris Browder and Robin Dove. Honing in on a more atmospheric sound with plenty of textures, the song finds Chris trying to make sense of getting older and making the most of what’s ahead of you: ‘The real freedom is when…
