The Round-Up: The Best Albums from April ’18

Posted on May 4, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, The Round-Up | Comments Off

Grouper “Grid of Points” Yellow Electric Though only 21 minutes, the haunting beauty of Liz Harris’ eleventh studio LP will linger for many years to come. Penned and recorded in just 10 days, “Grid of Points” feels like a moment suspended in time — a distant memory that you just can’t shake off. The arraignments predominantly consist of just piano, voice, and ambient sounds captured during recording, most notably the passing train that closes the record. The way she uses … →

Images & Words: Nines, “I See You Shining”

Posted on April 30, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Nines “I See You Shining” Crop Circle (out now on XL) Though not as flashy as many of his peers, the 27 year-old Londoner is one of the UK’s biggest talents. His new project, “Crop Circle,” is a consistent collection of heartfelt, insightful lyrics and cracking, versatile production that lives somewhere between grime, road rap, and modern American trap. “I See You Shining” is a great get-to-know-you track, as it highlights Nines’ low maintenance style, sharp storytelling, and subtly catchy … →

Images & Words: Oneohtrix Point Never, “Black Snow”

Posted on April 26, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Images & Words | Comments Off

Oneohtrix Point Never “Black Snow” (f/ Anohni) Age of (out 06.01 on Warp) Though the Massachusetts native is probably best know for his otherworldly, chaotic experimental electro, some of his best tracks are his quietist. Whether it’s his recent stunner with Iggy Pop or the beautiful Anohni-lead “Returnal,” OPN (né Daniel Lopatin) knows how to craft the kind of ballad that can suck all the air out of you. Though “Black Snow” — the first single from his forthcoming eighth … →

Images & Words: Anna Leone, “My Soul I”

Posted on April 24, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Anna Leone “My Soul I” Wandered Away (out now on Half Awake) Though this stirring ballad has been out since last year, it bears re-consideration, as it leads off the Swedish folk singer’s excellent, recently-released debut EP. Though the instrumentation is delicate, Leone’s voice has main-stage power that recalls her compatriot Lykke Li. That extra touch of drama elevates the five tracks on “Wandered Away” from simple, direct love songs to something rare and difficult to shake off.

Images & Words: Quando Rondo, “Project Kid”

Posted on April 23, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Quando Rondo “Project Kid” Life B4 Fame (out now, self-released) One of the standouts from the rising Savanah rapper’s excellent new mixtape, “Project Kid” is an open-hearted slab of melodic Southern rap. In his tuneful, yet raspy delivery, Rondo unleashes evocative, insightful lyrics with a weariness that belies his youth. In a scene that is overflowing with young talent, this guy is one to keep an eye on.

Images & Words: Real Lies, “The Checks”

Posted on April 20, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Images & Words | Comments Off

Real Lies “The Checks” Digital Single Longtime TP favorite and the trio behind my favorite song of 2014, London’s Real Lies are back with their first new music in a couple years. Few artists are as good at capturing the mood of being young and on your own in a big city like Real Lies, and “The Checks” is another intoxicating, nostalgic journey through the neon lights and rain-soaked streets of their (or, your) hometown. Recalling prime Pet Shop Boys and … →

Father John Misty, “Just Dumb Enough to Try”

Posted on April 20, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Father John Misty “Just Dumb Enough To Try” God’s Favorite Customer (out 06.01 on Sub Pop) Though his last LP “Pure Comedy” had its moments, it was an overwritten project that was weighed down by grand, mostly superficial proclamations about the frivolity of modern life. His usually sharp pen often landed with a thud as it shot for insightful and landed closer to Abe Simpson. For me, Papa J. Misery is at his best on direct, confessional love songs like this … →

Mazzy Star, “Quiet, The Winter Harbor”

Posted on April 19, 2018 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Mazzy Star “Quiet, The Winter Harbor” Still (out 06.01 on Rhymes of an Hour) Though I was a little young for their heyday, like so many others, I fell in love with the Santa Monica group’s seminal, swooning “Fade Into You.” And though this new track will likely not hit the same dizzying heights, it packs much of the same hazy, mysterious beauty that the 1994 single did. Its simple step-wise piano melody and emotive slide guitars form the perfect … →

Images & Words: Yxng Bane, “Vroom”

Posted on April 12, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Images & Words | Comments Off

Yxng Bane “Vroom” Digital Single When I first wrote about the East Londoner back in July 2016, he didn’t even have CDQ versions of his tracks on SoundCloud. In less than two years, Bane’s career has grown like wildfire with multiple videos doing crazy numbers. The hot streak looks set to continue with this hyper-catchy, wobbly heater. “Vroom” is a microcosm of how Bane’s sound has developed from the retro, Craig David-ish two-step of “Honest” to the essential Afro-swing/Afrobeats sound … →

Images & Words: slowthai, “North Nights”

Posted on April 11, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

slowthai “North Nights” The Bottom / North Nights (out now on TOYITOYI) Though this video’s been out for a while, I wanted to write it up anyway because I’m realizing that I’ve barely written about one of my favorite artists of the year so far. The Northampton rapper (né Tyrone Williams) is a thrilling, relentless grime MC who harkens back to the roots of the sound — where busy, unexpected flows trumped sticky vocal melodies. “North Nights” is a perfect … →

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