Words: Rachel Hannon
Photo: Nicole Ngai
Are you looking for fresh music to soundtrack your week? Look no further. Last Friday we were treated with so many drops from Ireland and beyond, from the likes of Aphex Twin who reissued an ethereal masterpiece, we got an album of soulful musings from Leon Bridges, and even alternative-pop bangers based on heroism from Orla Gartland. So whether you’re in the mood for hypnotic electronic beats, retro-soul or archival gems, these five albums promise to give you just that. Here are the 5 albums from this week you need to hear.
Looking to be hypnotised for 3 hours and 4 minutes? Look no further. Limerick born and Cornwall raised Richard David James AKA Aphex Twin released a reissue of his groundbreaking 1994 album Selected Ambient Works Volume II. Building on the experimental predecessor, Volume II the tracks on this expansion are abstract yet deeply atmospheric. The tracks evolve over time presenting us with a dream-like quality. They’re more meditative and introspective than the later glitchier soundtracks of Aphex Twin. 30 years on from its original release, the chill soundscapes are as compelling as ever.
Leon Bridges’ fourth studio album sees the artist exploring deeply personal themes rooted in his Texas upbringing, bridging (pardon the pun) a large gap between the sound of this and his 2021 Gold-Diggers. Leon is described as a self-portrait, chronicling his connections to family, place, and nostalgia. He blends his signature retro-soul here with elements of gospel, country, and modern R&B, providing us with a more expansive sonic range than we have heard before. With Ian Fitchuk and Danial Tashian on production, there is such a lush organic feel to the tracks.
Honey, am I glad this is finally out in the world. Just a few weeks after his Boiler Room set gig in Belfast, Dan Snaith AKA Caribou has provided us with another piece of soulful electronic magic. Honey features dreamy, slow-burning beats with gorgeous soft synths and emotional melodies giving us a fusion of psychedelia. Electro-pop and even indie. The Canadian musician used AI to alter his voice into different rappers and singers. Will AI become a new electronic genre? Who knows. But what we do know is that Honey’s flow is organic, the emotion is raw, and it’s a complete mastery of electronic music with an organic human touch.
You shouldn’t need a reason to listen back to Joni Mitchell’s works, but if you did, here it is. This is the fourth installment of Joni Mitchell’s archival series which offers a deep dive into the pivotal ‘Asylum Years, featuring demos, live recordings and previously unreleased material from the mid to late 1970’s. There are clear undertones of jazz and orchestral arrangements which she seemed to be influenced by at the time, as heard in albums like Hejira and Mingus. This archival release gives us an intimate look at Mitchell’s creative process, her raw takes, and a glimpse into her evolution as one of the most influential songwriters.
Orla, you’re OUR hero with an album like that. She has come a long way from making YouTube covers in her bedroom. Everybody Needs A Hero is the second studio album from Orla Gartland, taking us on a deepdive of themes of self-identity, relationships, womanhood, and the search for meaning in a complex world. The album highlights her ever-evolving sound as she merges indie-rock, dream pop and acoustic-folk. The album also delves into the concept of ‘heroism’, exploring what it means to seek, become or redefine heroes in everyday life – especially in relationships. The infectious melodies, the buoyant instrumentation and the honest lyricism shape up for a bold and intentional work.