Track Of The Day: Joon – ‘Orqod’

Having survived a life-changing car accident, Maltese musician and producer Joon decided that making music was a necessary part of recovery. Now, over ten years later, she has announced her debut album, which is set for release next week.

Taken from the album, latest single ‘Orqod‘ is her first and only song written in Maltese, and is a heartfelt ode to letting go; telling the tale of star-crossed lovers who come together in their dreams. With a captivating energy, it oozes a shimmering, majestic splendour as lilting uplifting melodies flow alongside the celestial grace of Joon’s twinkling vocals. With the title meaning ‘sleep’, it’s a perfectly soothing lullaby glistening with an immersive, euphoric grandeur. A truly exquisite and instantly spellbinding soundscape.

On her upcoming album, Joon comments: “There are always running themes of love, hope, and positivity in my songs… Even if I’m sad or heartbroken, I remain optimistic. I want to grow old with no regrets.”

Dream Again, the upcoming debut album from Joon, is set for release 9th July via Italians Do It Better.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LISTEN: Low – ‘Days Like These’

Following the release of 2018’s critically acclaimed Double Negative, long-standing duo Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker – aka Low – have now announced their upcoming new album, their thirteenth in twenty seven years as a band. Taken from the album, they have now shared a stirring new single.

Flowing with the duo’s trademark sweeping harmonies and a heartfelt glistening emotion, ‘Days Like These‘ interweaves choral celestial tones with twinkling guitar melodies. Building with an anthemic splendour and impassioned majestic grace, it’s a beautifully bittersweet ode to hope and self-realisation.

Watch the poignant new video for ‘Days Like These’ here:

Hey What, the upcoming new album from Low, is set for release on 10th September via Sub Pop Records. Pre-order here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Nathan Keay

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Track Of The Day: all cats are beautiful – ‘thought i saw u in the shop last nite’

‘thought i saw u in the shop last nite’, the new single from all cats are beautiful, arrived earlier this month on London label 0800-MOSHI-MOSHI. It’s a blissed out track, perfectly suited to the summer months, which drifts along in its own groove – acoustic guitar melded with occasionally glitchy beats, synths and a vocal delivery equally intimate and detached.

The duo (comprised of Elena and Kyle) describe themselves as “two queer best friends making dance music but for sad people”, and the happy/sad dynamic comes across not only in the lyrics – which describe the sense of loss when someone close isn’t there anymore – but in the music and production. The self-produced band use minimal arrangements – the texture of the song is made up of just a few key elements – but still create a rich, warm sound which complements the vocal perfectly.

There’s a touch of early Hot Chip (whose first album was released on the same label) here in the band’s comfort with experimenting with pop, indie and electronica, bending the forms of multiple genres to their will, seemingly at ease. Similarly, the reference within the lyrics to Frank Ocean handily signposts another influence and another musical world that the band draw from. But perhaps attempting to classify this ‘post-pop’ group through comparisons and genres is besides the point. Their upcoming EP, from which this track is the second single, is titled the things we made, and there’s a pleasing simplicity to that which reflects something in the music – it sounds like exactly what you suspect it is: the sound of two talented people who care about each other a lot having a good time making music.

Watch the charming new video for ‘thought i saw u in the shop last nite’ here:

the things we made, the upcoming debut EP from all cats are beautiful, will be released via 0800-Moshi-Moshi very soon…

Gregory Metcalfe
@gregorysparty

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EP: Deap Vally – ‘American Cockroach’

Self-described as “songs for the underdog”, Deap Vally’s latest EP American Cockroach is a musical metamorphosis for the LA rock duo. With songs that shed their garage rock shell, Deap Vally have grown wings that weave through bluesy ballads, satire and sincerity on this four-track phenomenon, which is sonically kissed by the soft lips of collaboration, featuring the likes of bassist Jennie Vee (Eagles of Death Metal) and Ayse Hassan (ESYA/Savages).

Imagine a trashy bar with a single spotlight shining down on a beautiful, bluesy singer in a thigh-split dress. You’re downing a beer and watching her half-sprawled across a grand piano, serenading a crowd with songs saturated with sadness. That’s what listening to the opening track ‘Give Me A Sign’ feels like. With slow staccato beats, vocals that emulate the same sultriness of Lana Del Rey and Mazzy Star, ‘Give Me A Sign’ is a truly tender ballad. As vocalist Lindsey Troy says of the track, “[This] is a deeply personal song. It will always mark a very specific time in my life.”

‘I Like Crime’ is (as one YouTube commenter perfectly puts) a “cunnilingus bop,” with Jennie Vee shredding on the bass, Troy’s rasping vocals and Julie Edwards’ unwavering drumbeat giving the serial killer storyline of the lyrics some serious swagger. The titular ‘American Cockroach’ is a return to Deap Vally’s garage rock roots. It’s a sexy invitation for class war that would make even Karl Marx wet. Finishing strongly with ‘Better Off With Nothing’, Deep Vally’s collaboration with the talented Ayse Hassan is haunting yet radiant; the post-punk track is a perfect end to this brilliant EP.

Photo Credit: Ericka Clevenger

Jay Mitra
@punkofcolour

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