The first of this week’s firecrackers comes from The Mountain Goats, led by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, who have built a prolific and influential career since the early 1990s, earning a loyal following with their storytelling and literary lyricism. Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan expands the band’s sound with lush orchestration and welcoming arrangements that stretch beyond their previous boundaries.
On 15 April 2023, Gary Numan marked a monumental milestone in a lengthy career with his 1000th live performance, at The Electric Ballroom in London’s Camden Town. The show, the last of three sold-out gigs at the iconic venue, was a testament to Numan’s enduring influence and the unwavering devotion of his fans. The set list was a carefully curated journey through Numan’s extensive catalogue, a celebration of Gary Numan’s remarkable career and his profound impact on electronic music.
Liquorice, the third album from Australian indie-pop artist Hatchie, is preoccupied with the finite forever. These songs capture the overwhelming, exhilarating and transformative side-effects of infatuation, even if the entirety of the love story only lasts for one magical night. Like the rich flavours of the titular foodstuff – sweet, salty, and bitter all in one bite – Liquorice validates how longing and obsession are intertwined in the self-discovery of young womanhood.
There Is Beauty is a 40-minute suite of hypnotic and transcendent drum improvisations from genre-breaking drummer, producer and composer Sarathy Korwar. The music beats through a repetitive, circular structure that brings to mind Indian folk music, jazz drum ensembles and the minimalism of Terry Riley and Steve Reich. Korwar’s ensemble bubbles and flows through a stream of steady rhythm, forever in motion like the ceaseless energy of a river.
Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party comes as the third batch of work released by Hayley Williams as a solo artist. The Covid-era saw her release two extraordinary albums: 2020’s Petals for Armor and 2021’s Flowers for Vases. Both albums were gorgeous and stark meditations on loss and offered up a contrast to the high-energy and up-tempo muscle she displays in Paramore. Pitchfork said of Flowers: “her voice is undoubtedly the standout feature … husky and gentle, dangerous yet warm,” and explained that the minimal production “makes this a purposeful reset.”
Our release of the week is the latest from Midlake, a band beloved for their cinematic songwriting and atmospheric blend of folk, rock and psychedelia. Their sixth studio album, A Bridge to Far, is a sweeping, soul-stirring meditation on resilience and hope. This is Midlake at their most inspired and intentional, weaving together mythic storytelling and emotional clarity with the signature textures that have made them a touchstone in modern independent music.
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