Featuring Sam Akpro, Rosie Alena, Brown Horse and Goldheart.
This week’s essential new releases include exciting album teasers from Sam Akpro and Brown Horse, a welcome return from Rosie Alena, and an exciting debut from Goldheart.
Sam Akpro – ‘Tunnel Vision’
Sam Akpro has just dropped his latest taster of debut album ‘Evenfall’, which comes out 28th March. ‘Tunnel Vision’ has that angsty industrial quality that churns through much of Akpro’s output, the title forming a mechanical hook that keeps the focus between his scattered expressions of what Akpro describes as “the feeling of being exhausted from the outside world.” (Lloyd Bolton)
Rosie Alena – ‘Babies’
Swiftly following the wondrous recent single ‘Everyman’, London artist Rosie Alena has shared their newest track, ‘Babies’, on South London imprint Plum Cuts. A mournful love ballad lamenting the future of a relationship that never came, Rosie Alena’s marvellous, cinematic vocals ascend over a jangly yet elegant accompaniment, creating a juxtaposition of loss and hope. The single itself is taken from the upcoming ‘Everyman’ EP, set for release on March 19th, and if the first few singles are anything to go by, it is going to be another stunning collection from one of the most underrated voices in British music right now. (Brad Sked)
Brown Horse – ‘Dog Rose’
‘Dog Rose’ was a standout of Brown Horse’s live shows when we caught them last summer, so we were excited to hear the definitive studio version, which released earlier this week. Penned by the band’s pedal steel player Emma Tovell, it revolves around a great hook that carries the emotion of the words and the eyes that stalk the choruses. Guitars clang with Silver Jews sparkle as the song begins, but as it rolls on it begins to sprawl into a clanging distorted climax as lyrics roam restlessly between snapshots. The single is the latest from Brown Horse’s second album, ‘All The Right Weaknesses’, which releases on 4th April ahead of a 10-date UK tour. (Lloyd Bolton)
Goldheart – ‘Barracuda’
Goldheart is the new project led by Dominic Rose of the sadly departed Fake Turins and this week it made it’s launch proper with the release of new single ‘Barracuda’. Clicking into gear with the rhythm of a helicopter blade, it seems to pick up from the groove-laden krautrock-influenced sound of Fake Turins and run with it. Its chant-like chorus recalls the more primal impulses of Opus Kink, while synths juxtapose this with a lush electronic opulence. The song shifts unpredictably over its three minutes, ultimately reaching an epic expansive territory more reminiscent of Todd Terje. This is one of the most exciting artist debuts we have heard this year and we can’t wait to see what Goldheart come out with next. (Lloyd Bolton)