The first of this week’s hot six comes from Kula Shaker, who reaffirm their place as one of Britain’s most fearless and imaginative rock bands with their 8th studio album. Wormslayer surges with evangelical fervour: a whirlpool of ’60s psychedelia, sumptuous soul, retro-funk and cosmic storytelling with a thematic thread that unfolds like a psychedelic rock opera – tales of Faustian bargains, winged dreamers and mythic struggles that mirror the band’s own uncompromising creative spirit.
West End Girl, the long-awaited fifth studio album from Lily Allen, was written and recorded over an intense 10-day period. The album documents elements of her time in New York with piercing clarity and insight, blending raw honesty with infectious pop craftsmanship.
Automated Paradise is Jah Wobble’s first post-punk LP in years, following travel and dub records. The brash guitar-driven tracks reflect his continuing preoccupation with the declining state of the nation. Driven by his experience working each week at a music-based community project in Merton with guitarist Jon Klein, the sound is reminiscent of Mark Stewart. Angry in an empathetic, constructive way, it resolves with the beautiful instrumental ‘Brockwell Lido’.
Wasted on Youth, the debut album from London-based sister-and-brother duo The Molotovs, is a bold mix of new-wave punk, indie and garage rock, showcasing the band’s raw energy and sharp songwriting and exploring important themes of self-empowerment, youthful determination and the drive to enjoy life in a complicated world. With a sound rooted in rock history but fully alive in the present, the record captures the urgency and spirit of today’s youth.
After the success of their debut album, Terrapath, which cemented their status as stewards of the UK prog-rock scene, Plantoid have returned with the enigmatic, arresting and at times downright catchy Flare. Staying true to the band’s math-rock roots, the album is awash with heavy, reverberated guitar licks, tempo changes and mind-altering chord progressions. It does what all second albums do best: retain the core DNA that set its predecessor apart from the fray, yet evolve enough to excite old fans and new listeners alike.
The release of the week is a completely personal choice. Urne are simply one of the best up-and-coming heavy rock bands out there, and I cannot wait for Setting Fire to the Sky. The three lead tracks released so far are fantastic. Snarling hardcore, extreme inflections and a strong sense of heavy metal’s inherent classicism all burn together within Urne’s burial chamber and propel the band forward. With this album, their incandescent form of modern metal promises to become a supernova.
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