I've really been liking the new Hundred Waters
The Moon Rang Like a Bell in the last couple weeks, not completely electronic, lots of processed piano, and it does have very nice female vocals making it somewhat reminiscent of Portishead, and it is pretty enchanting overall. Been stuck on repeat lately, just feels too good to stop.
Also saw it mentioned in the "What are you listening to right now?" thread, but the new debut from The Glass Animals is pretty fun too,
Zaba.
And Willy Vlautin from the great Richmond Fontaine has another band now with singer Amy Boone handling vocals, and their debut
Colfax is great. Below from The Line of Best Fit review ...
It’s a relief to note that
Colfax matches both the songwriting and musical prowess of such Richmond Fontaine classics as
Post to Wire (2004) and
We Used to Think the Freeway Sounded Like the River (2009). It’s just that the band is different this time around. Retaining RF drummer Sean Oldham and adding singer Amy Boone of the Damnations, Tucker Jackson (pedal steel), The Decemberists’ Jenny Conlee (keyboards) and Freddy Trujillo on bass (Vlautin handles guitar duties),
The Delines add a big dollop of retro soul to Richmond Fontaine’s country-twanged barroom brawls and bruised balladry. Although the new sound is immediately recognisable to fans of Fontaine, this music has a powerful, blue-tinged wee small hours (
Colfax is most definitely a record best enjoyed late at night) country-got-soul vibe; think of Stax setting up shop in a disreputable area of Nashville, in a spot between a pawnshop and a rundown boozer with a strict no daylight rule.
Oh yea, should definitely mention the new Antlers
Familiars, seems like it's been out much longer since I've been listening to and loving a leak for the last couple months, but I actually just got the real release. Great, great record, just gets better with each listen, so much to explore and absorb. And those horns, wow, just perfect for these songs, and Peter's voice, which has never been better, really nice. As usual, I think it would be even better with more dynamic range, and space, and all the things we like about older recordings before "loud" became the most important sound descriptor, but still great music from a favorite.
And Sharon Van Etten
Are We There, what a strong musical force she is, just love it. Very powerful solo performance on Jools Holland a few weeks ago. Wish it sounded better, but I say that about almost everything nowadays. The latest from Jolie Holland is amazing, think I probably mentioned it up above or in another thread,
Wine Dark Sea, love it. And Wild Beasts, need some more time with this new one since I just got it, but very solid, loved the last one and they were also on that Jools Holland episode with Sharon Van Etten
