Streams for four of my most-anticipated albums of the second half of 2013 popped up this week. All of them come highly recommended. Dig in.
King Krule
6 Feet Beneath The Moon
Out August 24 on True Panther / XL
I’ve been fawning over the gravel-voiced, 19 year-old Londoner (né Archy Marshall) for the last few years, and after a few preliminary listens, I feel comfortable saying that this (his long-awaited debut LP) is the album we’ve been waiting for. A true one-off and old soul, Marshall’s unforgettable, singular voice is matched by his thought-provoking songwriting and jazzy, sparse guitarwork. So far, it’s one of the biggest challengers to Disclosure’s near-perfect Settle, for my album of the year.
Stream it here.
Check out the video for first single, “Easy Easy.”
Julianna Barwick
Nepenthe
Out August 20 on Dead Oceans
Nepenthe is a medicine used to cure sorrow, and the Brooklyn-based experimentalist’s gorgeous, celestial sophomore solo LP is dripping with soothing, affecting soundscapes. After a death in the family, Barwick traveled to Iceland to craft Nepenthe with Jonsi/Sigur Rós collaborator, Alex Somers. They decided to add orchestral elements and a choir to her vocal-loop heavy arraignments, resulting in a more complete, sumptuous sound. This isn’t one for the laptop speakers; this is one for the good headphones, a comfortable chair, and something to drink. Get swept away.
Stream it from NPR, here.
Check out the video for the breathtaking, “Forever.”
Earl Sweatshirt
Doris
Out August 20 on Odd Future Records
Though Tyler, The Creator is the undisputed star of the Odd Future crew, Thebe “Earl Sweatshirt” Kgositsile is the best pure MC on the roster. The loquacious 19 year-old’s debut mixtape, Earl (2010) is already a cult classic, which meant for immense pressure on the young Angelino. Early returns indicate that Kgositsile has risen to the occasion, and Doris is a versatile, imaginative 15-song set that shows his incredible, inarguable talent. It’s too early to tell if it’s going to match the brilliance of Earl, but it easily could.
Stream it here.
Check out the video for early single, “Hive.”
Julia Holter
Loud City Song
Out August 20 on Domino
While, admittedly, I haven’t spent as much time with Loud City Song as the aforementioned three streams, the songs I’ve heard from the Los Angeles-native’s third LP have been brilliant. Her dusty 2012 LP, Ekstasis, was an absolute revelation, and though this album feels a little more clear-eyed, it still feels like her. The classically trained multi-instrumentalist will delight fans of brainy chamber pop and experimental sounds, alike. I can’t wait to dig deeper into this album.
Steam it from NPR, here.
Check out the video for “In The Green Wild.”
Volcano Choir
