Quickly, before the month ends, here’s what I’ve actually listened to in September (even if it wasn’t released in September - although I think a lot was) as far as albums and EPs go:
- Fatdog: Woof. Pretty anticipated by me since right at the start of the year, but on the listens I’ve had so far the preceding singles, King of the Slugs (did this get released as a single? It got a lot of airplay), All the Same, and Running are the highlights. Love a thirty minute album though.
- DEADLETTER: Hysterical strength. Hotly anticipated by me, but why no Snitching Hour or Madge’s Declaration? It’s a balancing act I suppose - you don’t want your best tracks on the album to be singles that have been out for ages, but it’s a shame not to include at least one of them.
- The Dare: What’s Wrong With New York? Picking up the LCD Soundsystem baton.
- Keato: INTRO. Ok, so DEADLETTER skipped previous singles and the album felt less to me because of it, but Keato doesn’t include No Body nor Don’t Ask and still drops a strong album. CARRY YOU and YOMM are my favourites, but I love it all. It opens beautifully. Possibly my album of the year if I hadn’t of already picked.
- Clipz: Inner Unlimited. New with Chy Cartier hooked me, but I think I actually prefer Say Less with Obi Franky; Did send me on a mission to listen to Chy Cartier though and I really like Like Magic.
- Honeyglaze: Real Deal. It’s all about Pretty Girls which is great. If I was a teenager now I’m pretty sure this would still be stuck in my head thirty years later.
- Raye: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival. She is, arguably, best live with an orchestra.
- Doecchii: Alligator Bites Never Heal. I overhead Boiled Peanuts on the radio - I was cooking and it was on in the background, but I heard enough to know that it was good and worth checking out. Bullfrog, Boiled Peanuts and Denial is a River is a ridiculously strong start. Slapping your skateboard against the coping in appreciation kind of good. It lost me a bit after these (but it is supposedly a mixtape as opposed to an album and mixes rapping and singing), but then, out of nowhere, comes Beverley Hills which just blew my mind and continues to do so. I’ve listened to this song on repeat so many times.
- Jamie XX: In Waves. Nostalgia filled, but to me personally not that exciting. Baddy on the Floor is the obvious highlight.
- Fred Again: Ten Days. For me, similar vibes to JamieXX. Places to Be is great, but the rest hasn’t stuck.
- Magdalena Bay: Imaginal Disk. I like the title more than the album. Probably not really quite my thing - I need to give it another listen. Death & Romance is my favourite on first pass.
- Rab Spitz: Loose Cannon. Scotland’s Kneecap. Kind of? For Aberdeen though, wow. Overture is a great opener. After that I like Split Decision and All In. This is a hell of a lot better than the acknowledgment this is going to get.
- Yxng STUNNA: My Turn. Another Aberdeen one. I think I’m too old really for anyone called Yxng anything. Want It is the one I like the most.
- Becky Sikasa: The Writings and The Pictures And The Songs. Very chilled. The opener, Hard to Love, and then Wait Up are my favourites.
And some of the other albums I’ve been listening to since last time include these fine folk: Berwyn, Bashy, Vibe chemistry, Corto alto, Beth Gibbons, Lava La Rue (I love LOVEBITES), Clairo (Sexy to Someone is superb).