Music
New Music Friday: Bush, Circa Waves and more
It’s our favourite time of the week – New Music Friday is the new release fix you need to get your weekend started. This week we’ll be listening to Bush, Circa Waves, Laura Marling and more.
What’s even better about New Music Friday is that you can also listen to a lot of the new music live. We’ve also found a few artists who’ve got new records out and are about to take them on tour. Double win!
Circa Waves – Different Creatures
Liverpool band Circa Waves’ second album sees a massive change and a different direction, chasing a heftier sound than their previous output. New single Wake Up is a big, bold anthem of a track, demonstrating a more grown-up, potentially serious side to the band. “We’re not messing around anymore,” says frontman Kieran Shudall – which is all quite fitting for a sophomore album. Co-produced by Alan Moulder (The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Smashing Pumpkins), the record coincides with a full UK tour, with support coming from Brighton’s The Magic Gang and InHeaven. Tickets are still available here and you can grab the record right here.
Bush – Black and White Rainbows
Frontman Gavin Rossdale has described Black and White Rainbows, the follow-up to 2014’s Man On The Run as a “textured, approachable and commercial record”. Among the highlights are People At War, which was written last year in honour of World Refugee Day, and is a particular poignant number given the current political landscape. Outside of this, lead single Mad Love fuses rock and electronic sensibilities, and will be premiered this month on singing reality show The Voice – on which Rossdale is currently a coach alongside will.iam, Sir Tom Jones and Jennifer Hudson. Bush play London early next week, with any remaining tickets available here. Grab the record here.
Laura Marling – Semper Femina
Laura Marling’s sixth release is a concept album about femininity and females. The title literally translates as “always woman”, but in its original context (in Virgil’s Aeneid) it’s part of a longer quotation that translates as “woman is always fickle and changeable”, so here Marling pokes fun at the idea (of course, created by a man), and deals with women’s perspective on female bonds and relationships. Like all of her writing, it’s intensely personal, but there’s change too: new producer Blake Mills (Conor Oberst, Sky Ferreira) is on board, and the resulting sound is smorgasbord of texture and depth – catch Marling on her UK tour with tickets here and grab the record here.
Cameron Avery – Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams
This debut solo effort from Tame Impala’s bassist is something of a throwback to the records of the singer-songwriter’s youth; “I wanted to make something that sounded like the old records I love — Johnny Hartman, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James — the big band stuff with less metaphorical lyrics,” he said of the inspiration behind the release. Want to hear it live? Avery will be in London, Glasgow and Manchester next month touring the new album, and you can get tickets here. Grab the record here.
The Shins – Heartworms
American rockers The Shins return with their fifth studio album Heartworms, their first release in half a decade. The album blends synth-pop with soft rock, and feels more rooted in their classic feel than their previous release. They’ll be playing a special headline show in London in support of the release, scheduled for the 29 March 2017. Tickets are available here. Grab the record here.
Valerie June – The Order Of Time
Following up 2013’s Pushin’ Against A Stone, soulful Valerie June is already celebrating some seriously good reviews for The Order Of Time. Blending blues with traditional folk, this time around June injects some wider influences from gospel to African sounds. She’ll be taking the new record on the road next month, with tickets for selected dates available here. You can also grab the record here.
Greg Graffin – Millport
Bad Religion vocalist Greg Graffin continues his habit of sporadic solo albums with Millport, his third in 30 years. This time around folk is the name of the game, teaming up with Social Distortion’s Jonny Wickersham, Brent Harding and David Hidalgo Jr. The full-length presents Graffin’s softer side, a step away from his usual angry punk. His full band, Bad Religion, will reach the UK in August, with tickets available here. Grab the record here.
Mallory Knox – Wired
The third studio album by British rockers Mallory Knox, Wired sees them further hone their own skills. It presents the Cambridge based five-piece at their most personal, setting them apart from the rest of their melodic rock counterparts. Yet it retains their radio friendly sound, having already seen their pre-release singles picked up by the likes of BBC Radio 1. Mallory Knox will be touring in support of the release later this month. You can grab tickets here, and get your hands on the record here.
Idles – Brutalism
Bristol post-punks IDLES aren’t holding back on their new album Brutalism. Brimming with often scathing social commentary, lambasting everything from The Great British Bake Off to the Conservative government, it’s a poignant, gritty and deliberately messy listen. The band are celebrating the release with a string of UK live dates, as well as already being confirmed for Reading and Leeds Festival this August.
Can’t Swim – Fail You Again
Fronted by former Trash Talk drummer Chris LoPorto, Can’t Swim drop their debut full-length today, following up their emotionally charged guitars on last year’s debut EP. It’s the clever blend of feeling and urgency on Fail You Again that will keep Can’t Swim afloat. Fans have the opportunity to catch them live as their join Real Friends on tour next month. Grab tickets to selected dates here.
Did we miss something? Let us know on Twitter. And check back every Friday for a list of album releases to get excited about.
