A new weekend always means a lot of new music, and this weekend was a stormer.
We were treated to great new cuts from Everything is Recorded, Thundercat and Mystery Jets, all of which received four-star reviews from our critics at the Standard.
But what else should you be listening to? Here, we’ve picked out five new records that might have escaped your attention, but are well worth going back and taking the time to hear.
From gut-busting rock to fresh electronics, these are the new albums you need to check out.
Empress Of — I’m Your Empress Of
Lorely Rodriguez returned under her Empress Of moniker last week and delivered an album that we described as “her most personal and best yet”. The record is “bursting with emotion and vibrant synths”, drawing on Rodriguez’s undoubted ability to write pop bangers.
Yaeji — What We Drew
Best known for the addictive house romp Raingurl, producer and vocalist Yaeji has released a down-tempo mixtape packed full of dreamy, introspective tracks. There are plenty of experiments along the way too, marking Yaeji out as one to keep a keen eye on in 2020.
Yves Tumor — Heaven To A Tortured Mind
The ever-unpredictable Yves Tumor has veered off in yet another new direction, this time putting their own unique gloss on rock music. It’s a thrilling new look, taking the tropes of the genre, tearing them apart and building something altogether fresh.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs — Viscerals
Ever the enemy of any music journalist working to a word count, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs are back with more hard-rocking noise. The Geordie band are a force to be reckoned with in the live setting, and capture lots of that free-wheeling power in this latest album.
Tops — I Feel Alive
In case you hadn’t heard, soft rock is cool again. It’s good news for Canadian four-piece Tops, who are masters of taking the genre and giving it a modern burst of energy. That said, this album has an indisputably retro sheen to it, and it’s certainly comforting in this age of self-isolation.
