New Music: June
Darwin Deez - Darwin Deez (Lucky Number)
Distinctly indie-pop in its sunny optimism, this 30-minute self titled album from Brooklyn hipster Darwin Deez is likely to propel him to the forefront of the public consciousness, where he has long belonged. Concentrating more on guitar and vocals than on previous releases, the drum machine is the only remaining nod to electronica, and as a result Deez proves to be a uniquely gifted, talented anomaly more than capable of churning out some of the most perfect pop you've heard in years.
The Herbaliser - Herbal Tonic (Ninja Tune)
Fifteen years in the making, finally we're treated to a best-of from South-West London's finest hip-hop/jazz/funk outfit, The Herbaliser. As raw as it is intelligent, Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry have conspired over eight albums to treat us to a groundbreaking blend of beats, breaks and vocals; referencing everything from classic jazz to 60s movie soundtracks by way of turntablism, enviable production skills and constant evolution. Essential listening for any beat lover.
The Alps - Le Voyage (Type)
Like an inspired, melodic mutation of the Beatles and 1970s Pink Floyd, The Alps' fourth album is as intriguing and baffling as you would (or wouldn't) expect... At times wonderfully sparse, at times ominously dense, this is an album that rewards ever more with each repeated listen.
Tunng - Remixes (Full Time Hobby)
Fresh from presenting us with their latest album proper, 'And Then We Saw Land', Tunng treat us to a compilation of interpretations of their back catalogue from ten of the most forward-thinking knob-twiddling artists out there. From Daedelus and Max Tundra to Viva Voce and The Earlies, this is going to appeal to the casual listener as much as it does to Tunng die-hards. A worthy addition to their already excellent catalogue.
Ikonika - Contact, Love, Want, Have (Hyperdub)
The long-awaited debut album from Sara Abdel-Hamid has finally dropped, two years after her debut 12" 'Please' shook the foundations of the dubstep world. While still undoutably classifiable as leftfield dubstep, Ikonika focuses primarily on melody and synth lines and less on the sub-bass and glitch favoured by her peers. The resulting work is a blissfully odd mixture of broken soul and beautiful, twisted weirdness.
The 2 Bears - Follow the Bears (Southern Fried)
As one of the Bears is none other than Hot Chip's musical mastermind Joe Goddard (the other being musical man-about-London-town Raf Rundall) you'd think you might know what to expect from this EP- and you wouldn't be far wrong. A charming blend of twinkling soul music and chicago house, as if played through a London soundsystem , this release is going to become pretty ubiquitous over the coming months and you can hear it on Open Ear first.
Irakere - Cuba Libre (Far Out)
Far Out do it again, with a re-issue of one of the most sought-after Cuban albums of all time. Featuring the cream of the the genre's musicians (including Chucho Valdés, Arturo Sandoval, Oscar Valdés and Carlos del Puerto), Cuba Libre is a defining moment for Latin music, and helped shape the likes of the Buena Vista Social Club as much as it did the jazz/funk-rock of the 1970s. Originally issued in 1980 as a Japan-only vinyl release Joe Davis at Far Out has excelled himself once again by bringing this masterpiece to the us, and we're delighted to be able to playlist it.
Lonewolf - The Devil and I (Bella Union)
Sounding more like a Sufjan Stevens ensemble than a singer-songwriter, 'The Devil and I'- Paul Marshall's sophomore album- exudes confident accomplishment. Despite the depth of the arrangements and wealth of instrumentation the overall work revolves around Marshall's voice and guitar entirely, making for an overwhelmingly personal selection of songs. A consistent and skillfully-crafted body of music that touches upon excellence.
Various - Forward Ever, Backward Never (Switchstance)
Showcasing a selection of tracks from the likes of Protassov, Ancient Astronauts and Deela (all Open Ear favourites!) this digital-only release does an excellent job or reassuring us what a great beats and breaks label Switchstance has become over the last nine years. We can only look forward to what directions Switchstance will take us in the future.
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