Listen up! It’s soul, techno and trash-rock time.
1 LANA DEL REY CHEMTRAILS OVER THE COUNTRY CLUB
Slo-mo California anomie from the remarkable Ms Del Rey, as the follow-up to Norman
Fucking Rockwell looms.
Find it: streaming services
2 BRITTANY HOWARD 13TH CENTURY METAL (MICHAEL KIWANUKA REMIX)
MK morphs Robert Glasper’s Morse code keys into tough funk, adding bongos and ecstatic choir to Brittany’s megaphone-delivered call for compassion. Find it: streaming services
3 THE BEATLES GET BACK (SNEAK PEEK)
Musical montage from Peter Jackson’s 2021 film: the gang’s all laughing, George’s gear is polyester-brite, Lennon and Macca dance together. How could a group this happy split? Find it: YouTube
4 AL GREEN BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS
Harking back to his classic Hi sides, the Rev Green’s first tune in a decade covers Freddy Fender’s 1975 country hit, beauteously. Find it: YouTube
5 NEW ORDER BE A REBEL (MACEO PLEX REMIX)
A multi-part deconstruction of the recent NO mood-elevator, this sounds like several DJ sets in one, with a dash of Blue Monday. Find it: Soundcloud/12-inch
BADWAN/COXON 6 PROMISE LAND
The Horrors’ Faris and Spring Heel Jack guitarist John Coxon suspend jagged improv over the trash heap, like Iggy drooling Venus In Furs. Find it: Tough Love 12-inch/Bandcamp
7 NATALIE BERGMAN I WILL PRAISE YOU
Gospel-infused pop soul from one half of Wild Belle: sounds like a transcendent cult of Aimee Mann choir – weird and uplifting. Find it: YouTube
8 HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER SANCTUARY
Another oak-aged, country-soul epiphany from North Carolina’s MC Taylor and gang, now toasting their first Grammy nomination. Find it: streaming services
JIM FRY AND LUKE 9 HAINES TEST DRIVING THE NEW PRIUS
An Earl Brutus/Auteurs musical horror-drama about “1983’s answer to Wyndham Lewis,” out of his mind on bargain booze? Powerfully purgative. Find it: Mixcloud
10 THOM YORKE, BURIAL & FOUR TET HER REVOLUTION
The new crucial three descend into disintegrating beats, oxygenated plainsong and melody. Find it: YouTube