by Dave Bertram
A right mixed bunch to get your ears around this week with offerings from Gia Margeret, Hand Habits, Steve Gunn, Reese McHenry, Courtney Barnett, Yeasayer, Marble Molly and Hayden Thorpe.
Gia Margaret’s debut album, There’s Always Glimmer, appeared out of nowhere last year, catching people’s attention with the fragile, intimate beauty of Gia’s compositions carrying her poignant lyrics. The record is finally getting a release outside of Europe, which is being accompanied by a new video for the beautiful Birthday.
New Yorker Meg Duffy – ex-guitarist for Kevin Morby’s band – has released a new single wildfire under the Hand Habits moniker. The soft, guitar-led, melancholic ballad takes plenty of cues from the US country scene – and her album, placeholder, is well worth a listen. Check our thoughts in full here.
Leeds based MUSH released their first single through Memphis Industries this week. Litvinenko is a rattling slice of wonky lo-fi pop. Induction Party EP is out as a 12″ single on 31st May.
The fiery Reese McHenry has finally made a comeback after a lengthy lay-off with health problems. The mid 40s, North Carolina garage rocker is back with a bang, and Bye Bye Baby feels like a Phil Spector girl group fronted by Jack White. Worth a go, have a listen.
Singer-songwriter Steve Gunn has released the third and final instalment of his London acoustic videos trilogy, a beautiful version of ‘Chance’ – one of the highlights from his acclaimed new album The Unseen In Between that’s out now on Matador.
Witty Australian Courtney Barnett is back with brand new single Everybody Here Hates You. Recorded late in 2018 during a rare break at the height of her Tell Me How You Really Feel world tour, this single is described as ‘closest Barnett has ever come to capturing the extraordinary weight and swagger of her live performance on a recording’. Bold words indeed.
Yeasayer return with a new album. Erotic Reruns is out in early June on their own Yeasayer Records. The nine-song record features a raft of newly released material, which includes the new single Let Me Listen in on You.
Welsh group Marble Molly have a new single, Somethin’ Good, out today. The track marks the start of a series of self-produced new releases for the group over the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled for those.
And finally, former Wild Beasts man Hayden Thorpe has released the second single from his upcoming debut solo record, Diviner. Love Crimes is certainly no departure from his safe zone and portrays much continuity from his back catalogue, but worth a listen nonetheless.