ILM 2023 Listening Club

new Nabihah Iqbal album on the way, the follow-up to her 2017 debut album, and the lead track is very much in the same vein as the best song on that ('zone 1 to 6000') - a driving cure-like number overlaid with Nabihah's spoken word vocal, somewhat sad and wistful in feeling but still hopeful nonetheless. the delay between the two records sounds like it was a rather frought time for her personally, so it's good to see her bouncing back again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFRIaix41cU
Nabihah Iqbal - 'This World Couldn’t See Us'

https://nabihahiqbal.bandcamp.com/album/dreamer

New Amsterdam Records generally focuses on experimental nu-classical stuff but their artists occasionally dabble in music that crosses over into pop. Percussionist/producer Ben Sloan, who worked with Moses Sumney on his BLACKALACHIA project, has a debut album coming out shortly with the pleasant confection "1e&a" featuring shambhala-esque singer Madeline Kenney. It's a sweet date and a Sesame Street jam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFJxt7OnRvc

new Nabihah Iqbal album on the way, the follow-up to her 2017 debut album, and the lead track is very much in the same vein as the best song on that ('zone 1 to 6000') - a driving cure-like number overlaid with Nabihah's spoken word vocal, somewhat sad and wistful in feeling but still hopeful nonetheless. the delay between the two records sounds like it was a rather frought time for her personally, so it's good to see her bouncing back again

no idea if you have seen this nickb, but this is from the press release re the delay :

‘DREAMER’ see’s Nabihah reflect on her experiences during the early months of 2020, when her studio was burgled. All her work was lost, including her long-awaited album. Already suffering from a broken hand and a severe case of burnout, she felt helpless. While the forensic police looked for fingerprints in her studio, she received a call. It was her grandmother; her grandfather had suffered a brain haemorrhage. Nabihah got on a plane to Karachi, Pakistan the next day. “Going to Pakistan turned into a blessing in disguise,” she says. “It affected my perspective on music. At the time, being forcefully removed from the whole scenario of the burglary felt frustrating, but it was the best thing that could have happened.” Nabihah spent those months remembering why she made music in the first place. She went back to basics and bought an acoustic guitar and a harmonium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtUhDoSwOFM

Alec Falconer & Harry Wills - Working On Myself (ft. 2step Bec)

Came for the record stayed for the free pair of socks

Nabihah Iqbal might appeal to the Real Lies contingent

haha that's a wonderful track saer, brings a smile

Still coming around to this but the new Joseph Yano album hits the same-ish sweet spot as the Shabason/Krgovich album from last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD_mc5-E-L8

Jonah Yano!

really enjoyed that album, felt like it was a bit harder-edged and weirder than the s&k album. but lovely nonetheless,

my fav track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qq_lh61hCk

That Aaliyah cover by Gendrel is a resounding no, never imagined I would ever get annoyed by that melody but somehow it was accomplished in that track, then to be accompanied by bordering on pretentious lyrics, it managed to omit all the life of the original.

― aguzman1990

Yeah, I really connected with "BlueBlue" from last year, but now I'm wondering if I'm actually a Sam Gendel fan, or if i just never before realized that he's such a corndog.

Sam Gendel is good, he’s super prolific so not everything will stick imho. I don’t hate the Aaliyah cover as so many in here lol, but I urge you to check the whole album. There’s some great covers in there.

P4k review of it mentions some of the highlights:

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sam-gendel-cookup/amp/

A week out from its release, sorry to inform no other track from the new Karol G album reaches the height of that calypso, afrobeat influenced goodness of Provenza. Still a decent album, albeit a bit all over the place. My pick of the moment would have to be Mercurio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flhJf94TzPc

Nothing particularly mindblowing but The Beloved’s “sweet harmony” is one of those 90’s tracks that gives me guilty pleasure and this song lifted its chorus and title from it. Any excuse to hear an update on it:

Sirens of Lesbos - sweet harmony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLIl7Dvzwuc

I'm sorry for spamming this thread with Danish indie, but I absolutely love this one. Probably the best incorporation of uk drill into indie pop I've ever heard. I love the sound of ricocheting hihats at the end. I've got that age where when I was a teen rock was supposed to try and incorporate whatever was going on in hiphop/dance music at the time, and even though it's twenty years since Kid A made everyone else give up on that idea, I still love it when someone makes a truly great fusion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trlPRV4Um8k

this is some lush asmr songwriting I'm v into

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN0GuO8uLkY

Lucinda Chua - Echo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSfHelxwj1Q

crisp tees and the dream of a cup run from Boink

really loved lucinda chua’s ep from a few years ago, will check this one out

Rian Treanor & Ocen James

This.
Niche, sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsaXwqZ6vts
Pampidoo - Synthesizer Voice (Legowelt Remix)

Ha! Was thinking of posting that one. Fantastic remix.

where do you come across this stuff? love it

gonna start posting rap songs on this thread because nobody reads the rap thread. this one is infernally catchy and lots of fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8G6HkkhUxs

Nigerians keep coming up with creative ways to use the amapiano log drum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMHxgrvdPMQ
Nonso Amadi ft. Zinoleesky • Lock Up

That Nonso tune is grand. Drums amplified in certain parts while not disturbing the general rythim

I posted this to hypergarbage, but this Holly Waxwing EP is sick. It's super dense, rhythmic, and pointillist, but drumless so it's a very relaxing listen for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ORsWAtgJ4

love that - will check out the EP.

The Nonso Amadi tune is really good too.

new Jenny Lewis is excellent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tA0ewSoW14

Jenny Lewis - Psychos

Nice track, I like its brevity / how it leaves you wanting more

Absolutely loving this Eddie Chacon album that kitchen person posted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3-l8rtOLDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z2FD5SYgew

Yeah the Eddie Chacon sounds great. I feel super old for enjoying it so much

gorgeous South African track;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e72O1QSi5Fs
Tete ft. Thakzin, Cubique DJ & Leko M • Frostan

Le Pain - Rachel Veut Danser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_0RWzugWvA

French retro synth pop. Fits my mood today.

Dorothy Moskowitz & the United States of Alchemy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caqDtSUxxZk

moskowitz was in the classic psychedelic group the united states of america. 50+ years later, she's collaborating with an italian composer. the 24-minute title track has her intoning occasional marianne faithfull-style vocals over a gorgeous orchestral drone

Alex Anwandter - Qué piensas hacer sin mi amor?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggVjvmM3hw

queer disco pop from Latin America. Javiera Mena is the obvious (lazy) comparison point but I hear more Neil Tennant than Kylie in this, as well as shades of Morgan Geist and Kelley Polar. I love this video too: sexy, provocative and kitsch - why can't the Sam Smiths of the world be doing this?

holy cow i love that

love Alex Anwandter - a giant in Chilean pop along with Mena (it's a fair comparison imo considering they've worked together in the past and are generally seen as part of the same scene. and iirc they both made our top 77 in the same year back in 2012 or something :))

I'm excited for his new album - was a bit meh on Maricoteca, but this and Precipicio are both great. And all three have great videos!

Don't know where else to put this, but I think it's great –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVCNgOi4kFg

Labrinth - Never Felt so Alone (feat. Billie Eilish)

absolutely killer psychedelic disco soul single from NY trio Say She She:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wQrg2IYrRU

That's the stuff.

no recent pop single has given me joy as has "Burnt Pictures" by Audiobooks.

MIAMI IS NOTHING LIKE LONDON
MIAMI IS NOTHING LIKE LONDON
I'M TRRRYING TO ORDER A BLOODY MARY AND YOU'RE WEARING A TINY THONG

Cool live clip of that song I posted (which is absolutely gonna be at or near the top of my EOY list):

Never felt less alone @Labrinth @billieeilish

Tune in tomorrow for more surprises on the @youtube live stream at https://t.co/gW7w2jV5nG pic.twitter.com/awsrsAma3i

— Coachella (@coachella) April 16, 2023

that Alex Anwandter rules. thanks for sharing. re: the kelley polar reference, i vaguely recall KP contributed strings to a couple songs of his 10+ years ago after he'd gone quiet with his own material. they'd def make a good pair!

only just catching up on the smokey r'n'b of the new yazmin lacey album. i like the lo-fi production on this song and the way it slowly builds momentum into a little blissed-out synthy moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62KO_n6deZE
Yazmin Lacey – Late Night People

smoky not smokey but hey, maybe smokey too

that's a jam

Yeah, this is the stuff. I could DMOR but is this an Inflo gig? Big Sault/Cleo Sol vibes.

Dave Okumu produced the Lacey album

I like that Say She She song and just listened to their 2022 album Prism. maybe a touch too retro for me but it sounded like serious ilm-bait

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkgjhz82F_Q

they did a kexp session a couple months back which was an absolute joy. beautiful harmonies, killer band

I'll have to watch that. I could see them being super fun to see live!