Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 11 August 2023.
The story of Cordovas is one of rock ’n’ roll seekers, hammering away in search of not only their ideal freewheeling sound, but also for some greater truth about the human experience. Lead-singer Joe Firstman, with his journey from pro-surfer, to Atlantic Records dropout, to Carson Daly house band host, to Cordovas’ front man, fearlessly steers the band with his unconventional experience. Cordovas’ latest record, The Rose Of Aces, blends American roots storytelling while incorporating elements of rock, country, and jam-band style musicianship.
Much of Radio Red, the first full length album Laura Groves has released under her own name, was written, produced and recorded by Groves in her studio, watched over by two radio transmitting towers. The passion for home-recording, using the resources available at the time, working through limitations and capturing textures through layering, forms the foundation of Groves’ experimental and off-centre pop music and electrified folk music. The sound world of Radio Red is made up of echoes and snapshots of half-remembered pop songs, piano ballads, chopped up TV theme tunes, ambient synthesised sounds and electronic music; tuning in between channels without fully belonging to any one of them, with the comfort, familiarity and strangeness that can come with hearing voices on the radio.
The trio of Vincent Courtois, Daniel Erdmann and Robin Fincker has been a highly esteemed band on the contemporary European jazz scene for the past thirteen years. Following their previous concept albums with composed songs, the group now shows a new aspect of itself with Nothing Else, an album of purely improvised music. The titles mostly refer to places the trio have visited on tour, leaving behind memories of their sound. The unusual combination of two saxophones and a cello opens up a captivating sound world, and the passionate, joyful and humorous performance, the freshness of the improvisations, irresistibly captures the listener’s imagination.
Happy Hour in Dub is a set of dub versions to pair with Hollie Cook’s critically acclaimed 2022 album Happy Hour. Hollie’s first full dub record since 2012, Happy Hour in Dub was coaxed into being by close listening of the original album’s modern lover’s rock. At the controls rejoining Hollie in exploring the space, producer Ben Mckone takes her soulful creations and stretches them to their sonic limits, with new vocal features by Josh Skints and Kiko Bun.
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine’s 24th recording for Cedille Records, Dependent Arising, reveals surprising confluences between classical and heavy metal music by pairing Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 with Earl Maneein’s “Dependent Arising” — Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the baton of Tito Muñoz. Known for her virtuosity, expressive playing, and extensive repertoire, Pine discovered her love for heavy metal as a teenager, and later performed at rock radio stations where she would intersperse covers of songs by Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Metallica with works by Paganini and Ysaÿe. The album explores connections between modern classical music and heavy metal and showcases Pine’s unique journey with these two seemingly disparate genres.
UK production duo Jungle have released their eagerly anticipated fourth album Volcano. With Volcano, Jungle have once again proven themselves to be one of the most exciting and innovative artists in electronic music. They continue to push the boundaries of their sound, creating an uplifting and free-spirited album, solidifying the duo’s status as one of the most important voices in contemporary music.
The Band CAMINO (comprised of Jeffery Jordan, Spencer Stewart, and Garrison Burgess) have revealed their sophomore album, The Dark, available now via dblblk/Elektra Records. Fueled by the band’s infectious, unguarded, guitar-driven sound that first captivated fans on tryhard (which spawned early fan favorites “Daphne Blue” and “See Through”) and their self-titled debut album, The Dark boldly challenges the complexities of life, love and self-discovery, inviting listeners along for the ride. Following the release of their self-titled debut album in 2021, the band tapped in key collaborators Andrew Goldstein, Jordan Schmidt, Seth Ennis, Geoff Warburton, Jake Torrey, and Alysa Vanderhym to assemble what would become the The Dark, a body of work emphasising their impact in the pop-rock genre and beyond.
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- New music round-up (for w/e 2 August 2024)
- New music round-up (for w/e 28 July 2023)
- New music round-up (for w/e 31 March 2023)
David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb and a contributor on film and television