Marisa Anderson and William Tyler‘s collaborative album, “Lost Futures”, has some of our favourite melodies of the year. The idea of “duelling guitars” has given us some enticing music over the years, but the duo’s music shines brighter when those guitars – both electric and acoustic – sound like they’re just sweetly talking to each other.
Kate NV’s third record, Room for the Moon, is our album of the week. The Moscow-based musician takes us on a trip through 70s and 80s Russian and Japanese pop music and film with 47min of synth- and bass-heavy melodies. Plus: new tracks by John Prine, Norah Jones, Leah Senior, Margo Price, Lori McKenna, Nick Lowe, Bedouine, Lowland Hum, Drab City, The Cactus Blossoms, Sondre Lerche, Los Retros, Jarvis Cocker, Ron Gallo, Leon Bridges, Chancha Via Circuito, Mulatu Astatke, Sonic Boom, Dougie Poole, Built to Spill, Blitzen Trapper, Naked Giants, Idles, Sammy Brue, Pert Near Sandstone, Matt Costa, and Lionlimb.
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.