New Music Weekly #44 | Father John Misty, Deafheaven & Courtney Barnett
New Music Weekly is your one-stop shop for new releases in the world of music each and every week. From the best of the best to some of the rest, Mark Conroy is here to give you the low down on what you might have missed. This week: Father John Misty, Deafheaven, Courtney Barnett & More…
Father John Misty ‘Disappointing Diamonds Are The Rarest of Them All’
Pure Comedy, Father John Misty’s last album and lengthy polemic on the state of anything and everything, was a polarising beast to say the least. For the detractors of that record however, Josh Tillman’s latest singles for his upcoming God’s Favourite Customer should sound like a welcome return to form. For one , ‘Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All’ clocks in at a nicely digestible two and half minutes and secondly, it’s reminiscent of the slowed down, distorted honky-tonk sound of debut Fear Fun. The head over heels honeymoon love we saw on Honeybear has matured and reality has set in. For Tillman, society’s expectations of the perfect relationship is “Like a pervert on a crowded bus / A glare of love that bears down on us”. He’d rather admit what we all know: Love will always disappoint, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth having.
Pinkshinyultrablast ‘Dance AM’
Moving from the chilly, post-soviet landscapes of eastern Europe to the sunny California coast seems to have had an effect on Pinkshinyultrablast because it’s manifested itself in their music. As a shimmering slice of powerful synth pop, this new track is a noticeable departure away from the shoegaze sonics of their previous outings. ‘Dance Am’ is the perfect name really. This a wake up anthem to jolt you out of any somnambular stretch of the day.
Deafheaven ‘Honeycomb’
Deafheaven will probably never be able to completely shed the hipster, hardcore poser label that metalheads throw at them whenever the band dare to even place their tiptoe on a distortion pedal. That being said, it’s not like they should all that bothered about it. ‘Honeycomb’ is another piece of blackly atmospheric prog-metal that has the audacity to display some crossover appeal. At nearly 12 minutes, the doesn’t quite have the staying power to justify its length but you can’t deny the visceral vitality of the conviction.
Lykke Li ‘deep end’
The Swedish pop queen returned with two new singles recently, both of which will feature on her forthcoming release So Sad, So Sexy-a album name that Lana Del Rey will be kicking herself over for not thinking of first. Of the two songs its ‘deep end’ that sounds more like that attempt at the weepy banger and album statement. It’s part trap trend chaser, part late 90s TLC and part Sia, but it’s hard to say if its an particularly noteworthy version of any of those. It’s perfectly nice and blended together it’s like lady-bop porn but maybe there’s just to many producers In the pot to make it stick.
Courtney Barnett ‘City Looks Pretty’
What might be the strongest of Coutney Barnett’s recent slate of singles, ‘City Looks Pretty’ is the perfect distillation of the artist’s cleverly cultivated, Laissez-Faire Rock. It’s not surprising that the track is about staying in to detrimental levels because it’s downright effortless. In the second half, when things slow, the riffs reach a glacial comedown as if to mimic that lazy depression the singer inhabits but somehow Barnet still makes the languid sound oddly life affirming.
NUXENSE ‘Reign’
In the wake of BROCKHAMPTON’s and Migos’ explosive arrivals, the rap group has begun to enjoy something of a comeback — although don’t call it comeback, NWA wouldn’t be happy. Thankfully, Ireland have their own emerging organisation of slick spitting bravado: NUXENSE. The troupe dropped their second ever video during the week and it’s worth a listen.
https://youtu.be/if_paq9KyKE-
Mitski & Xiu Xiu ‘Between The Breathes’
After seeing the insufferable trailer for the Elle Fanning starring and Manic Pixie Alien Girl championing ‘How to Talk to Girls at Parties’, I really had no intention of seeing it. Based on this however ,the soundtrack might just be worth a listen. Mitski lends her voice to a searing Xiu Xiu track that takes a Peter Hooks bassline and really runs with it. Awash in early 80s ambiance and propelled by driving, dreamy cacophony, ‘Between the Breathes’ is like the much needed and refreshing inhale of oxygen.
