News
On his new single “Everybody Laughs,” David Byrne finds a joyous, unifying mantra in our shared human foibles. The track, a collaboration with St. Vincent, announces his ambitious new album Who Is the Sky? (out Sep. 5), produced by Kid Harpoon. It’s a lush, orchestral pop tune that balances life’s negatives with an uplifting, danceable groove.
Following a huge tour with Alison Moyet and The Pogues, Iona Zajac shares “Bang,” a joyful single and brilliantly fun video celebrating female pleasure. A departure from her haunting folk sound, Zajac says, “A good bang at the end of a boring day won’t fix your life, but it might help.” It’s a testament to her unflinching honesty and musical evolution.
Brooklyn’s Pegg and the legendary Van Dyke Parks share “No Dice,” the new single from their three-song suite, Presque Tout. A complete reimagining of an earlier track, its rock foundation is replaced with Parks’ stunning, post-baroque string arrangements. The result is a “fleet and festive springtime fantasia”—a gorgeous Gershwinian piece of slapstick accompanied by a baseball-themed visualizer.
On his latest album 〽, Japanese folk experimentalist KASAI masterfully weaves traditional minyo into the fabric of contemporary labor. The album culminates in “Piling-up Garbage Song”, a celebration of manual work. Over a clanging, worklike beat and chants from his real-life workmates, KASAI playfully rhymes “piling up garbage” with “accumulating virtue.” The track reclaims the physical unity and dignity of a job often rewarded with neither status nor high pay.
For the first time, this comprehensive anthology collects Gábor Szabó’s Hungarian recordings from his return visits in 1974, 1978, and 1981. This isn’t just another archival dig; it’s the sound of an artist reconnecting with his roots. The music navigates the space between his American cool and his Hungarian soul, creating something both familiar and profoundly new.
Cate Le Bon’s seventh album, Michelangelo Dying, is born from the ashes of unanticipated heartbreak. Watch the H. Hawkline-directed video for the lead single, “Heaven Is No Feeling,” on which the Welsh artist trades her signature cerebral detachment for raw, visceral emotion, creating a sound that is a tender photograph of a wound before healing and an iridescent exploration of love’s chaotic aftermath.
The Norwegian duo of Jørgen Træen and Stein Urheim return with “Entrance/Exit,” the first offering from their forthcoming album, Galant Galakse. The track is meticulously constructed, and, in under three minutes, they manage to playfully and patiently craft a soundscape that feels both ancient and from a distant future. It’s a compelling first taste and a testament to their shared experimental vision.
Boston and NYC-based Tuxis Giant have announced their new album, You Won’t Remember This, arriving August 15th via Worry Bead Records. To celebrate, they have shared the poignant new single and animated video “Silver Cup.” Penned by frontperson Matt O’Connor, the personal track explores early experiences with gender dysphoria and the “magic, euphoric spell” of transformation, even if only temporary.
Brighton’s Welsh guitar virtuoso Gwenifer Raymond announces Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark, a cosmic leap from her folk-horror roots. The new album and its fiery single, “Jack Parsons Blues,” meld ancient mysticism with astrophysics, translating the unfathomable equations of the cosmos into intricate, otherworldly fingerpicked melodies. Prepare for a journey beyond the terrestrial.
Ron Sexsmith announces his 18th album, Hangover Terrace, sharing lead single “Don’t Lose Sight.” Recorded in London, the new record moves away from recent pastoral contentment to explore a more wounded and introspective space. Sexsmith frames it as grappling with the “emotional residue” of the pandemic years—a collective headache set to his signature, impeccably crafted melodies.
NYC experimental pop duo Water From Your Eyes (Nate Amos, Rachel Brown) announce their ambitious new album, It’s A Beautiful Place. Watch the Brown-directed video “Life Signs,” the disorienting first single blending a nu-metal backbeat with soaring choruses. The band cites a diverse palette, invoking “Blade Runner with a touch of WALL-E…Kubrick and Asimov with a hint of Jay and Silent Bob,” to describe the album’s looming, wide-eyed scope.
James Yorkston has announced his new album, Songs for Nina & Johanna, featuring collaborations with Nina Persson (The Cardigans) and Johanna Söderberg (First Aid Kit). The Scottish songwriter’s sixteenth LP for Domino arrives on August 22nd. Recorded in Stockholm with members of The Second Hand Orchestra, the album is previewed by two new songs and videos, “A Moment Longer” and “Love / Luck,” which are available to stream now.