Read on for a roundup of some excellent new music out this week. Happy Friday.
Starcrawler – ‘She Gets Around’ (Rough Trade)
LA band Starcrawler take a nod to 90s alt-rock in their new track ‘She Gets Around.’ You know front-person Arrow de Wilde for their manic live performance – hear it on this record, strange and frenzied. Watch out for an album to be announced very soon.
Pixx offers a first taste of forthcoming album, Small Mercies (out 7 June), in new single ‘Disgrace.’
“This song is about growing up in an ultra-conservative Catholic school which was restrictive and oppressive,” Rodgers explains. “I think there is a lack of humanity in the way that system works, rather than teaching empathy and kindness it forces people into a dangerous self-loathing cycle. This is an ode to anyone trapped in a place they don’t feel they belong.”
Kedr Livanskiy – ‘Kiska’ (2MR)
Moscow singer and producer, Kedr Livanskiy, announces her new album Your Need to be released 3 May. Check out the video for first single ‘Kiska’ below.
Livanskiy explains, “This song is about a girl who’s a badass. “Pu**y gonna sit on your face” – this is a mythical, crazy expression from the ghettos of Russia’s Marino district. This is a message to everyone who doesn’t believe in you, to all the haters and good-for-nothings. It means, shut your mouth.”
You’ll hear a harmonious array of genres on Your Need – delving into traditions of house, dub, breakbeat, and 90s and contemporary electronica. For now though, take in the unapologetically visceral visual for ‘Kiska.’
Chris Cohen – ‘Sweet William’ (Captured Tracks)
Chris Cohen shares a third track off his forthcoming self-titled album, out 29 March, and his most straightforward record to date. A truly collaborative release, the lyrics were penned, and the video directed, by Luke Csehak of The Lentils. Inspired by 1941 Lon Chaney Jr. film, The Wolfman, watch it below ~ if you dare,
Reptaliens – Shuggie II (Captured Tracks)
Reptaliens return to announce their second album, VALIS, will be released 26 April. To those unfamiliar, the Portland group take notes from sci-fi, empathy and introspection. Indeed, the self-directed video for ‘Shuggie II’ is a clear example of that.
“The video for ‘Shuggie II’ cycles through an alien’s understanding of various Earthly archetypes–each one portrayed by a different band member–culled from a collection of short stories. Together, the individual characters create a Village People-type vibe and it was fun to lean into that concept and see how everyone reacted to their assigned roles. Our dog, Hambone, kept running in front of the green screen and getting in the way of shots, so we decided the only option was to add him into the video. He’s chillin’ with the alien because dogs are aliens too.”
Watch on below for a glimpse of our earthly plane through the eyes of a (rept)alien.
