Featuring R.A.P. Ferreira, Jamie xx, NewDad, Serpentwithfeet, Sheer Mag, Faye Webster, Lil Yachty, Future Islands, OMNI, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, Four Tet.
It’s the first New Music Friday of the year, which means a manageable amount of music to be getting on with, along with a slimmed down list of new releases.
The 10 songs this week represent my favourites of the year to date, with a strong showing from Irish artists.
See the end of the post for the Spotify playlist featuring more than 10 tracks released this week, which ispdated weekly.
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1.
R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura
bending corners (sittin sidewayz revisited)
Nashville MC R.A.P. Ferreira has collaborated with Japanese producer Fumitake Tamura, with a full-length release the First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap, due out January 26, 2024.
The album came about when founder of Low End Theory Daddy Kev invited Ferreira to a trip to Japan, where Kev was putting on his beat night Scenario.
Ferreira and Tamura aka Bun worked together remotely five years ago but this was there first IRL creative meet.
I wanted to make a work with Bun that highlights the trust of the rapper/producer relationship. Tamura’s compositions pushed me like nothing yet has; his conception of what my sound could be left me needing to actualize it. I followed blindly and excitedly. We worked with diligence through the year.
This album, more than any other I’ve made, encapsulates my vision of rap music. It is free. It is international. It is beloved. It is sharp and silly. It presents one way and participates another. It flexes and is flexible. There is study and there is the mystical. Slices and crumbs. It’s something my whole family listened to and enjoyed first. Thank you for working with me, Bun.”
2.
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band
Love$ick
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band are the German band responsible for the ‘PIMP’ cover as heard in the film Anatomy Of A Fall. Their new single is a lovely cover of Mura Masa and A$AP Rocky 2017 track ‘Love$ick’.
3.
Sheer Mag
Moonstruck
‘Moonstruck’ is the sound of garage rock meets Jackson 5-style vocals, from the always reliable Philadelphia throwback power-garage-pop rockers Sheer Mag.
The song is from their upcoming album Playing Favorites out on Third Man Records on March 1st, 2024.
4.
Jamie xx
It’s So Good
After last year’s quiet release year that amounted to Jamie xx live headline shows at festivals like All Together Now, and 2022 singles ‘Kill Dem‘ and ‘Let’s Do It Again’, Jamie xx has shared his new song ‘It’s So Good’, a taut dancefloor cut that soundtracks the new Coco Crush advert by Chanel.
5.
OMNI
Plastic Pyramid feat. Izzy Glaudini
Atlanta band Omni are set to release their fourth album (and second for Sub Pop) on February 16th.
‘Plastic Pyramid’ is a slinky alt-rock wiry song that reminds me of Ireland’s own Silverbacks, or Dry Cleaning., and it features Izzy Glaudini of another favourite band, Automatic.
OMNI are on tour in Ireland and UK.
Apr. 10 – Brighton, UK – The Green Door Store
Apr. 11 – Bristol, UK – Strange Brew
Apr. 12 – Falmouth, UK – Cornish Bank
Apr. 14 – Dublin, IE – Workman’s Cellar
Apr. 15 – Glasgow, UK – Hug & Pint
Apr. 16 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Apr.. 17 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
Apr. 18 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
Apr. 19 – Margate, UK – Where Else?
Apr. 20 – London, UK – Moth Club
6.
NewDad
White Ribbons
The debut album from Galway indie-rock band NewDad is about to drop on January 26th. ‘White Ribbons’ is the fifth song released from the record, a relatively simplistic song elevated by its gossamer shimmering Chris Ryan production.
7.
Serpentwithfeet
Safe World
Alternative R&B artist serpentwithfeet follows up his November single ‘Damn Gloves’ (ft. Ty Dolla $ign and Yanga Yaya) with the gentler second track from the forthcoming album Grip, out February 16th on Secretly Canadian.
8.
Faye Webster, Lil Yachty
Lego Ring
Faye Webster’s new album Underdressed at the Symphony, will be released on March 1st via Secretly Canadian it was announced this week, along with a new song ‘Lego Ring’ featuring Lil Yachty on co-vocals. The pair were actually in school together in Atlanta. Who knew?
9.
Future Islands
Say Goodbye
Future Islands are teasing songs from their new album People Who Aren’t There Anymore (January 26th 2024 on 4AD) and ‘Say Goodbye’ is the Baltimore band’s classic synth-pop sound 101, no bad thing.
10.
Four Tet
Loved
A low key cut from Kieran Hebden heralding news of a new album in 2024.
Nialler9 Weekly Playlist
Nialler9 New Music Playlist
For more extensive Irish and new music coverage, hit up the Irish section for individual track features
For this and more Irish songs, follow the Nialler9 New Irish Spotify playlist.
