Music enthusiasts have a fresh collection of albums to explore this week, spanning genres from experimental R&B to industrial techno and indie rock. This latest wave of releases features established artists and rising stars, each bringing unique sonic landscapes to listeners.
Key Takeaways
- Snocaps, a new project from twin sisters Katie and Alison Crutchfield, releases a self-titled debut.
- Florence and the Machine's new album, Everybody Scream, draws inspiration from medieval studies and mysticism.
- KeiyaA's Hooke’s Law explores self-love through a mix of R&B, electronic, and jazz.
- Daniel Avery’s Tremor blends industrial techno with celestial pop, featuring notable collaborations.
- Posthumous album Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King from Big L includes collaborations with Jay-Z and Nas.
Snocaps Debuts with Self-Titled Album
Twin sisters Katie and Alison Crutchfield, known for their work in bands like Waxahatchee and Swearin’, have reunited for a new project called Snocaps. Their self-titled debut album is a 13-track record. It features collaborations with MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook, who has previously worked with Waxahatchee.
The Crutchfield sisters had not made music together since their band P.S. Eliot disbanded in the early 2010s. This new album marks their return to joint musical creation, exciting fans who followed their earlier careers.
Album Details: Snocaps
- Artist: Snocaps
- Album: Snocaps
- Label: Anti-
- Tracks: 13
- Collaborators: MJ Lenderman, Brad Cook
Florence and the Machine Explores Mysticism
Florence Welch, the driving force behind Florence and the Machine, has released her latest album, Everybody Scream. This new work follows her previous album, Dance Fever. Welch channeled personal experiences, including a hospitalization for an ectopic miscarriage during her last tour, into the new material.
The album draws heavily on themes of medieval and renaissance studies, as well as the history of witchcraft and mysticism. This influence gives her signature chamber pop an even deeper, more dramatic tone. Collaborators on the album include Mark Bowen of Idles, Danny L Harle, Aaron Dessner from The National, and Mitski, who co-wrote the title track.
"Welch dove into medieval and renaissance studies and the history of witchcraft and mysticism, shrouding her characteristically vivid chamber pop with even deeper pathos and psychodrama."
KeiyaA's Expansive Second Album
Chicago-born, New York-based singer and producer KeiyaA has unveiled her second studio album, Hooke’s Law. The album is named after the scientific principle of elasticity, and it reflects this concept through its musical structure. KeiyaA spent five years writing, recording, and producing the material, playing every instrument on the album herself.
The album is a complex blend of R&B, electronic, jazz, and experimental music. It features one guest appearance from rapper Rahrah Gabor. KeiyaA describes the album as a journey of self-love that avoids typical affirmations, instead presenting a cyclical, spiraling narrative.
Understanding Hooke's Law
In physics, Hooke's Law states that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the load applied to it. KeiyaA uses this concept metaphorically to explore themes of tension, release, and personal growth in her music.
Daniel Avery Fuses Industrial and Celestial Sounds
Electronic artist Daniel Avery delivers his new album, Tremor, marking his debut on the Domino label. The album is described as a fusion of industrial techno and celestial pop, building on his 2022 release, Ultra Truth. Avery collaborated with a diverse group of artists on this record, including Yeule, Yunè Pinku, Alison Mosshart of The Kills, Walter Schreifels from Quicksand, and Cecile Believe.
Nine Inch Nails mixing engineer Alan Moulder also contributed to the album. Avery expressed excitement about the collaborative process, calling it a "living and breathing collective."
Collaborations and Diverse Genres
Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo: An Unlikely Duo
The collaborative album In the Earth Again brings together the distinct sounds of Chat Pile's noise-rock and Hayden Pedigo's guitar symphonies. This project emerged from the Oklahoma City DIY music scene. The album interprets rural America through a mix of folk and metal, conveying a sense of apocalypse that ultimately concludes on a hopeful note with the track "A Tear for Lucas."
Claire Rousay Completes a Trilogy
Experimentalist and composer Claire Rousay releases A Little Death, the final installment in a trilogy that includes A Heavenly Touch (2020) and A Softer Focus (2021). Rousay's signature use of textural field recordings creates an ASMR-like experience, blending dense strings, piano, and occasional voice. She worked with ambient artist M. Sage and violinists Mari Maurice and Alex Cunningham on this project.
Big L's Posthumous Release
Mass Appeal celebrates New York hip-hop legends with Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King, a posthumous studio album from the late Harlem rapper Big L. This is his first such release since 2011’s The Danger Zone. The album features a roster of prominent artists, including Jay-Z, Method Man, Joey Bada$$, Joe Budden, and the late Mac Miller. Nas, who appears on the lead single "U Aint Gotta Chance," has praised Big L's enduring legacy.
"Big L was always ahead of his time. There’s some quotes out there from me about Big L, like how terrifyingly good that he was that made me have to step up my game."
— Nas, reflecting on Big L's impact
Anna von Hausswolff's Organ-Centered Post-Punk
Swedish musician and composer Anna von Hausswolff makes her debut on Stockholm’s Year0001 label with Iconoclasts. This 12-song album centers on the pipe organ, offering experimental post-punk sounds. Produced with Filip Leyman, the album includes contributions from saxophonist Otis Sandsjö, Iggy Pop, Ethel Cain, Abul Mogard, and von Hausswolff’s sister, Maria.
The Belair Lip Bombs' Latest for Third Man
Australian power-pop and indie-rock band The Belair Lip Bombs return with Again, their first original album for Jack White’s Third Man Records. The band, composed of Maisie Everett, Mike Bradvica, Jimmy Droughton, and Daniel “Dev” Devlin, produced the album with Nao Anzai and Joe White. It was previewed with singles like "Hey You" and "Don’t Let Them Tell You (It’s Fair)."
Shlohmo and Ship Sket Deliver Experimental Electronic Sounds
Experimental producer Shlohmo releases Repulsor, his first studio album in six years. Known for his work in the Los Angeles beat scene, Shlohmo combines industrial, metal, and emo elements with playful, distorted beats, featuring Salem and Corbin. Meanwhile, British producer Josh Griffiths, as Ship Sket, debuts with InitiatriX on Planet Mu. His electronic music incorporates elements of dubstep, grime, drill, rap, and pop, showcased by tracks like "Frost Cake" and "Vendetta’s Theme."