Featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Turnstile, BadBadNotGood, English Teacher, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Yasiin Bey, Fred Again.., Archy Moor, Glasser, Virgins, Courtney Barnett.
Today is New Music Friday, which means there’s loads of new songs in the world.
Here are 10 songs released this week I loved from my listening this week, along with fresh ones in the New Music section.
See the end of the post for the Spotify playlist featuring much more than 10 tracks released this week, updated weekly.
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1.
Turnstile, BadBadNotGood
Alien Love Call
A surprise three-track EP release featuring Canadian instrumentalists reimagining Turnstile’s visceral American punk as heard on 2021’s Glow On.
All three work well, but my favourite arrives 2 minutes 20 in on the video above.
2.
English Teacher
The World’s Biggest Paving Slab
One of the best bands I saw at this year’s Great Escape were the Leeds four-piece English Teacher, and they announced a UK tour in October, and released this vibey indie-rock song to boot this week.
3.
Virgins
s l o w l y, l o n g
The Belfast shoegaze band Virgins come correct with this “gaze-pop” single released today, that certainly has some hook to it.
Production is by Jonny Woods (Wynona Bleach) and Virgins are Brendy McCann (bass), Michael Smyth (guitar), Dave Sloan (guitar) James Foy (drums) Rebecca Dow (vocals).
4.
Courtney Barnett
Different Now (Chastity Belt cover)
Australian indie songwriter Courtney Barnett has released a cover Washington band Chastity Belt song for a 7″ single series. The release also features a cover by Kurt Vile, of a Chastity Belt song. Both are from the band’s third album 2017’s I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone.
5.
Olivia Rodrigo
Bad Ideas Right?
There just needs to be more massive pop music that gives off these alt-rock pop vibes. ‘Bad Idea Right?’ is from Rodrigo’s forthcoming album Guts, and proceeds the first single ‘Vampire’.
The video is by Petra Collins.
“bad idea right?” started with us making a joke song about me hooking up with an ex-boyfriend, but then we realised we were actually onto something. We were throwing the weirdest things at the wall — in one of choruses there’s a part that sounds like an instrument in the background, but it’s me gradually screaming louder and louder.
6.
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Yasiin Bey
Space
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble come full circle as they collaborate with Mos Def aka Yasiin Bey on a cosmic jazz sing. Yasiin Bey saw the band busking in New York City way back before they became an international touring concern and Gorillaz collaborators.
7.
Martian Subculture
Martian Improv Ruleset
A new track from Limerick artist Evan O’Malley aka Martian Subculture, who we featured last year with his debut album, of bedroom-produced lo-fi psych-rock chillwave music.
‘martian improv ruleset’ is a track made with tape experimenting.
“In ‘martian improv ruleset’, Evan employs a technique known as vari-speed. Tin whistles, a traditional Irish instrument from Evan’s childhood, were recorded at a high speed on the tape, so when played back, they are pitched down, sounding more like flutes. This technique is used throughout the track to create a new type of sonic landscape.”
8.
Fred Again.., Obongjayar
Adore u
The new Guardian interview with Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet describes Fred Again’s music as “mushy euphoria’ and I can’t think of a better description for his music. Even though I like a lot of Fred’s music, some of it doesn’t work for me. At his best, Fred can make big uncynical declarations of joy through sampled voices, without sinking into saccharine territory. ‘Adore u’ manages to do that by pairing Obongjayar;s loved-up melody with some club atmospherics and fizzy sampling weaving around it towards the tune’s second half.
9.
Archy Moor
Sick
Another fine track from Dublin rapper Archy Moor whose production has long made him stand out.
‘Sick’ is 95 seconds long and made with frequent collaborator Earl Saga. It feels like a track which might kick off a wider release, but Moor is releasing some of the best rap music in Ireland right now.
Archy Moor plays a headline show at The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin on September 28th.
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.