THE PLAYLIST
Jelly Rocket/ Jao Meow (Meow) After giving us two singles, How Long and Luem (Forgotten), all-girl indie trio Jelly Rocket return with their latest, Jao Meow (Meow). The song finds vocalist Pun singing about the aftermath of a break-up over sprightly guitar chords and a muscular drum-synth breakdown. “I don’t have anyone to talk to/Even the kitty at home is sleeping, ignoring me,” she coos in her adorable vocals before finally coming to the bracing realisation: “There’s no one left/I guess I have to move on.”
Solitude is Bliss/ Rich Man’s War Poor Man’s Blood Fresh off releasing their excellent five-track Montage EP last year, the Chiang Mai-based alt-rockers follow up with their debut studio record, Her Social Anxiety. The English-language first single, Rich Man’s War Poor Man’s Blood, is a politically-charged number in which frontman Thanaphol Chumkhammool paints a picture of social injustice. “A young boy was raised in slum/Lack of education, electricity/Clean water, the officer has fun,” he sings alongside scowling guitar riffs. “There’s poor man’s blood flooding in the rich man’s war.”
Jeff Buckley/ Everyday People Best known for his morose cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, the late singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley will have a new album added to his name following 1994’s Grace. Titled You and I, the posthumous compilation will feature Buckley’s early covers of well-known songs. Here we have the first taste of the album in the form of this pared down, acoustic version of Sly and the Family Stone’s ’60s classic Everyday People. The simple rendition means that Buckley’s spinechilling voice shines through, reminding us what a tragic loss his death was and still is. Due out in March next year, the compilation will also include his covers of The Smiths’ The Boy With the Thorn in His Side, Led Zeppelin’s Night Flight and Bob Dylan’s Just Like a Woman.
School of Seven Bells/ Open Your Eyes Following the death of the band’s co-founder Benjamin Curtis in 2013, School of Seven Bells’ remaining member Alejandra Deheza is gearing up to release their fourth and final studio album, SVIIB. Lead single Open Your Eyes is an uplifting, mid-tempo paean dedicated to the friendship between Deheza and Curtis. There’s a twinge of wistful sadness to the song, but at the same time it feels oddly comforting, like being submerged in a warm bath. “You’ll fall in love again,” Deheza offers us all a reassurance, but it’s likely meant more as self-consolation.
Grimes (featuring Janelle Monae)/ Venus Fly Art Angels, the fourth album by Clair Boucher as Grimes, may not be as readily accessible as her last studio offering, but Venus Fly is definitely an exception. Featuring queen of futuristic soul-R&B Janelle Monae, the song is a fierce kiss-off to being objectified and scrutinised. “Why you looking at me now?/Why you looking at me again?” she snarls at her curious onlookers before firing out: “What if I pulled my teeth?/Cut my hair underneath my chin/ Wrap my curls all around the world.” Take that, you creeps!