Doing this feature month after month can sometimes be a tedious task, but it also has a therapeutic effect on me. Deceleration is a rare gift nowadays, and going back through the past month and re-listening to all the good music is the deep breath I often need. I hope you can find something similar in here. Let’s go.
Brenda Nicole Moorer – Marrow
August 7 // Ropeadope
My love for that album and for Branda Nicole Moorer as an artist came rather quickly. It was more or less the first note she sung on Marrow. I was sold right from the start, enjoying this beautiful, warm and souly album with every wonderful moment. Wanna feel good? This.
Marlowe is a collaboration between L’Orange and Solemn Brigham, who are back with their second album, and after I adored their first one, I was very excited for the second one. Mellow beats, thoughtful bars and infectious flows dominate Marlowe 2, and it turned out to be such a good album. Just some good songs.
Poisonous Birds – We Can Never Not Be All Of Us
August 14 // Unsigned
The world still sleeps on Poisonous Birds, and it’s still a travesty. We Can Never Not Be All Of Us is the band’s newest offering, and it displays a creative outburst of electronic-driven art rock, framed by mature songwriting, confident sound design and, most importantly, that little, impalpable something extra.
The Phantom Carriage – 7-Year Epilogue
August 14 // Deathwish Inc/Throatruiner Records
7-Year Epilogue is a monstrous beacon of bleakness – dark, gritty, and rough. With each listening session, French black metal/hardcore act The Phantom Carriage pulled me deeper into their turmoil of razor-sharp riffs and surprisingly beautiful melodic moments. A must-listen for every fan of a modern day black metal.
Circus Trees – Delusions
August 14 // Five By Two Records
Liking this album was pretty easy. The songwriting is very charming, the 90s vibes are catchy without trying too hard, and the whole vibe and performances are so confident and likeable. A great album, but what made this even more interesting is the fact the band consists of three sisters with an average age of… 16. I mean, wow.
Young Jesus – Welcome to Conceptual Beach
August 14 // Saddle Creek Records
I absolutely love the transition from “yeah, this is a decent album” to “wait a minute, this is really special, incredibly so!” It’s the realization that individual parts of a record aren’t that noteworthy, but they are balanced so greatly together, helping each other to shine and make their surroundings better. Welcome to Conceptual Beach is such a record, and delving into this quirky and fantastic neo-psychedelia offering is a real treat.
Son Lux – Tomorrows I
August 14 // City Slang
It always feels kinda weird to say something about an incomplete piece, but if Tomorrows I is even slightly close to what the full trilogy of new Son Lux albums will be, then we are in for a ride. There is no band which sounds like them, and they prove their captivating individuality once again.
Busty and the Bass – Eddie
August 14 // Arts & Crafts
Eddie feels out of time, and at the same moment it’s the very pulse which keeps us in groove. Sometimes nearly too cheesy, this album is about having a good time, dancing and grooving around. Even writing those words, listening to the album, I can’t resist the urge to groove around on my chair and just enjoy the vibe, the warm sound, and every single catchy second.
Spaceships – Pillars
August 14 // Unsigned
More post rock needs vocals! You don’t believe me? Listen to Spaceships great new album Pillars and you will get it. While being a bit rough around the edges, Pillars shines with great vocals (you figured), strong songwriting, and a very comforting vibe. I’m really curious to keep my eyes out for this band in the future.
Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
August 14 // Decca
Vol. 1 carried the typical Jacob Collier problem of being just too much, leaving no room for the simple beauty. Vol. 2 managed to give more room to exactly that, being his best release to date. With Vol. 3, Jacob Collier seems to be a much more mature and balanced artist, stylistically confident but without losing his joy and curiosity.
Dikembe – Muck
August 14 // Skeletal Lightning
Do me a favor and just listen to one song from this album. Just one song. You will get what this album is all about in just a moment, how clever and nostalgic it is, how fresh it still can be, and how honest it always is. After that one favor, you should definitely listen to the rest of the album. Just as general advice.
Microwolf – My Cauliflower Ears
August 21 // Lost Tribe Sound
How we should call this music? Somewhere between folk, experimental, and ambient, Microwolf‘s music sits comfortably in the non-definable realm of just mysterious, compelling art – captivating and cozy all along. My Cauliflower Ears is a unique experience, and you should take your vegetable-formed ears to enjoy those songs.
Nubya Garcia – SOURCE
August 21 // Concord Jazz
I already fell in love with Nubya’s 5ive, and the fresh and contemporary take on jazz Nubya Garcia had on her music, and she continues this journey with her new and very powerful album SOURCE. Of course, she is based in London, like every good jazz project currently active, and the album adds to the collection of fantastic jazz records in 2020.
KOJ – Home
August 21 // Long Branch Records
I like the term “art rock”. It resonates with me, and I always connect the term with music which consciously made the “product” aspect absolutely irrelavant. I was waiting for Home for a long time, loving all singles, and damn, was it worth it. You can hear all the time and effort which went into making this album, created by a very dedicated and symbiotic group of friends. Each and every song has a lot of depth and character, and KOJ‘s second album is an absolute must-listen for every music enthusiast in 2020.
NØ MAN – ERASE
August 21 // Quit Life
There is some skramz and noise rock on there, but most importantly, you can hear all the sweat and energy in every moment. Being one of the most relentless and honest hardcore records of the year, NØ MAN are pushing modern day hardcore, respecting the early days while kicking in new doors of screaming and spitting in people’s faces.
chelmico – Maze
August 26 // Warner Music Japan
Albums like chelmico‘s Maze are the reason I spend so much time digging into Japanese music. With a hip hop-inspired take on j-pop, this fascinating duo and their crazy attention to detail created an incredibly charming, warm and fun little album which always puts a smile on your face.
CLT DRP – Without The Eyes
August 28 // Small Pond
Turtle Skull – Monoliths
August 28 // Art As Catharsis/Kozmik Artifactz
To be honest, before Monoliths, Turtle Skull was just another modern psych band for me. Despite the sign of approval being on Art As Catharsis, their self-titled album didn’t grab me. The band stepped their game up, smiling hazily, delivering one of the most charming, warm, and wonderful psych albums of the year. If you wanna feel like having the sun in your face, this album is the music version of that feeling.
Hymn – Breach Us
August 28 // Fysisk Format
Aidan Baker | Simon Goff | Thor Harris – The Bit
August 28 // Gizeh Records
Whoever fell in love with the trio infernale on their masterpiece Noplace was waiting eager;y for a follow-up. In August, we lost souls were finally graced with The Bit, and let me tell you that it was worth the wait. Don’t waste any time and get right into that wonderful journey.
Sevdaliza – Shabrang
August 28 // Twisted Elegance
I was very excited for Sevdaliza‘s newest release, but nothing could have prepared me for how freaking good Shabrang turned out to be. Drawing influences from Middle-Eastern folk, downtempo, trip hop, and art pop, this album is a shining example of a multi-layered piece of art – made by an artist who has a lot to say and manages to put meaning, depth, and elegance into every aspect.
Motorpsycho – The All Is One
August 28 // Stickman Records/Rune Grammofon
Slow and steady, Motorpsycho became the best prog rock around for me over the years. Delivering great album after great album, they hit another one out of the park with The All Is One. Channeling old school prog with modern elements so effortlessly, balancing joyful vibes with compelling composition, this Norwegian band are sitting on the prog throne with ease, not going anywhere.
Jyoti – Mama, You Can Bet!
August 28 // EONE Canada
Jyoti is the new moniker of soul/jazz artist Georgia Anne Muldrow, and at this point you should already start listening to Mama, You Can Bet!, an album full of strength, warmth, and wisdom. A tiny bit more jazzy than her previous work, Muldrow proves once again that she is one of the most important voices in contemporary soul/jazz, hitting the world with an album beautiful enough to die for.
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – Axiom
August 28 // Ropeadope Records
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