crack cloud

#241: Protomartyr, “Ultimate Success Today”

Bolachas Now Playing, a new music Spotify playlist, updated every Wednesday.

We have been waiting for this one for months. After some delays, Protomartyr’s fifth album is finally out now. Our favorite contemporary post-punk band is back and it brings a bunch of guitar-heavy tracks along. Because it’s the summer and that’s how we roll when it’s warm outside. Plus: new tracks by Crack Cloud, Silverbacks, Metz, Zombi, Bully, Tiña, Asher Gamedze, Ambrose Akinmusire, Yin Yin, Future Islands, Genevieve Artadi, Kacy Hill, Wye Oak, Samantha Crain, Widowspeak, She Keeps Bees, Sylvie Simmons, Mary Lattimore, Cat Clyde, Bill Callahan, Gillian Welch, Buck Meek, Astral Swans, David Ramirez, Dogwood Tales, The Texas Gentlemen, El Michels Affair, and Dojo Cuts.

#232: Jess Williamson, “Sorceress”

Other than a vague idea of how her debut album sounded like, we knew almost nothing about Jess Williamson the moment we walked into the dark backroom of a Nijmegen venue to listen to her songs. Or at least try to, as the audience seemed to be more interested in catching up with their buddies before Kevin Morby took the stage. That being said, our most vivid image of that night is staring at the stage as Williamson played the broodingly gorgeous “Heart Song” off her forthcoming album. We had to go up and tell her we could get her to play a few shows back in Portugal. That never happened, but 100% of her future albums ended up being featured here. Of course they were. “Sorcerer” is the latest instalment in a perfect streak of stellar records. It’s out now.

Plus: new tracks by Josiah Johnson, Tommy Alexander, Sumbuck, The Jayhawks, Rose City Band, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Chris Maier, Owen, Silverbacks, Crack Cloud, Hanni El Khatib, Khruangbin, SINEAD O’BRIEN, KATE NV, Jim White and Marisa Anderson music, neubauten.org, I Break Horses, Phoebe Bridgers, Nicole Atkins, Perfume Genius, LA PRIEST, Charli XCX, Happyness, and Lily Hayes.