Flaming Lips
Oczy Mlody
Date: 13th
January
(Credit: Oczy Mlody album cover)
The Flaming
Lips are the masters of the concept album, their ever-changing style and sound
show an ability to adapt to the times whilst maintaining their unique music. Tomorrow we are gifted with a 16th studio album, entitled Oczy Mlody. Their recent albums
Embryonic and The Terror were certainly two of their most experimental
soundscapes to date, they really stretched the limits of music being an art
form showing no mercy with their creativity. From the four singles released
from the new record, they seem to have taken a more melodic and dreamy
approach, quite similar to their masterpiece The Soft Bulletin. “The Castle” and “Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)”
represent this most clearly; they create a sound of melting nostalgia yet it is
not reserved, unpredictability still remains one of their main assets. We can
be confident The Flaming Lips will maintain their continuous bout of exciting
music, not long to go (tomorrow).
Tracks:
‘The Castle” “How??” “Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)” “We A Family”
LCD Soundsystem
Date and Title unconfirmed
Despite the
enigma surrounding LCD Soundsystem’s new album, James Murphy claimed on
Facebook that they would record last year so we can only hope that a release is
looming, most likely dropping later on in 2017. James Murphy’s genius has
crafted three ground breaking albums over the past two decades, clearly based
on a variety of strong influences from artists like David Bowie, Kraftwork,
Daft Punk, Talking Heads and the list goes on. When the band split up, Murphy
quoted “I Just need to get away from it being a big thing”. Murphy’s honesty
was honest and human but we can’t deny as fans It was an emotional thought to
never get another album again (although deep down it only sounded like he was taking
a break). These breaks are needed for artists to avoid saturation and maintain
creativity and we can be sure that LCD Soundsytem will return as fully charged
as ever. So be patient, but let’s hope it will be a 2017 gift.
Loyle Carner
Yesterday’s
Gone
Date: 20th
January 2017
(Credit: Yesterday's Gone album cover)
This man
has been on the rise since his 2014 EP A
Little Late; it boldly stated his clear cut, sensitive style which has
developed without fear in his more recent singles. His debut studio album Yesterday’s Gone is going to be a
statement that he is looking forward, moving on with open arms to new
experiences. He’s already acted, opened his own cooking school for teens with ADHD and proved
himself one of Britain’s main talents in Hip Hop, not “The sentimental face of grime”,
as The Observer farcically stated. The singles “Stars and Shards” and “NO CD”
have shown his ability to create story telling raps, invading ears with wit and
creativity placed on beats which bring an unrelenting amount of energy to the
songs and especially his renowned live shows. “The Isle Of Arran” could
possibly be the last single to be released before his debut and this track
resembles a lot of his older styles yet with a lyrical edge that has clearly
been consistently developed over time. Today he has released one last track before his release, "Damselfly" is yet another personal rap scattered over a serene guitar and a refreshing Tom Misch feature. Yesterday’s
Gone drops on the 20th, but will be played at a listening feast
organised by him on the 14th.
Tracks: "Stars and Shards", "NO CD", "The Isle Of Arran", "Damselfy"
Rejjie Snow
Dear Annie
Date: early
2017?
(Credit: ID)
Rejjie Snow
and Loyle Carner showed their talent on the track from Rejovich – "1992", and now,
2017 is to be their year. Alex told Hunger Magazine that his debut album has
been made but getting mixed and will be released this year. This is an exciting
prospect as Alex's music has
been some of the most dynamic in hip hop in recent times. He creates his own
dazzling world in a similar fashion to underground legend MF DOOM and has shown
distinct progress with each track he releases, from the attack on black
oppression in “Blakkst Skn” to the effects of “D.R.U.G.S.” on a relationship.
An exciting part of his new album is that it is to be produced by Rahki
who’s worked on tracks with Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Talib Kwelli and Eminem.
This album is certainly one to look out for - this Irish rapper is one of the
brightest hip hop talents in recent times.
Gorillaz
Date and title unconfirmed
(Credit: Gorillaz twitter picture)
Gorillaz
have left a vast footprint on the music scene since their beginning with contributions
from some of music’s greats and a raid on any genre they please and on top of
this Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett created their own colourful fictitious
world. Four albums crafted their legacy and then a split, which will have been
devastating for some but we can not be ungrateful for the sonic gifts that they
have been feeding us with over the years. It’s also easy to say this as they
have got back together teasing us with Instagram clips of recordings and two
books - “The Book of Noodle” and “The Book of 2D”. It’s all up in the air at
the moment but they won’t be teasing us for nothing, just to create an enigma
for a new album. It’s in the early stages of 2017 so we have a lot of time left
yet we know that Albarn’s music must be pristine. We don’t know a lot, but
Gorillaz have certainly not faded away.
Foxygen
Hang
20th
January
(Credit: Hang album cover)
Foxygen are
returning with a new album named Hang,
the follow up to their 24 song epic …And
Star Power. Experimental pop duo Jonathan Rado and Sam France have joined
with artists such as The Lemon Twigs and Steve Drozd for this record, and from
their singles released prior, they have an orchestra participating on the
album; a new path for them but their music has been getting bigger in sound
ever since their first record, so it is no surprise. Along with a new album
they have a large tour, playing one unmissable show at London’s Oslo. The single “America” clearly shows they are
venturing into even more experimental territory, it sounds like a bizarre
Broadway musical entwined with an attack at American culture. They’re farewell tour was false, they are
here to stay and any critics that have doubted them, Foxygen haven’t listened.
