by Dave Bertram and Philip Moss

Busy week this week with Toronto’s Merival, Bon Iver, Villagers, Jenny Hval, Esther, Clews, Chastity Belt, Penelope Isles and Swimming Tapes all up new offerings. Wrap your ears around the videos below.

Toronto-based singer-songwriter, Merival (Anna Horvath) has announced Lesson, her debut album out in early August. She’s fronted the eight-track LP with the brilliantly up-beat, reverb stripped and acoustic led No Brakes.

Justin Vernon is back with another two new tracks as he announces Bon Iver’s fourth album on Jajaguwar, i,i. According to the press release, this ends a four-season cycle, with this feeling ‘very much like the most adult record, the most complete’. Faith is the standout of the two – watch the new videos above.

Ann’s Song is the dreamy new single taken from Chastity Belt’s upcoming self-titled fourth album. Released through Hardly Art on 20th September, the LP has been co-produced by Jay Som, and comes hot on the heels of Julia Shapiro’s stunning debut solo album, Perfect Vision.

The fourth single from Penelope Isles is Cut Your Hair – which precedes their debut album, Until The Tide Comes In, which is out today on Bella Union. If this floats your boat – which it most certainly does for us – catch them on your tour in the UK throughout November/December.

Villagers have released new single Summer’s Song, which Conor O’Brien has described as the closest he’ll ever get to writing a pure pop song. From the man that wrote A Trick of the Light, we can’t abide by that, but still worth your time.

What? More great music from down under? Clews new single, Hollywood, sees the Sydney based sister duo channel their love for 90s anthemic indie pop. There’s no word on whether this precedes an album yet, but we sure hope after this that there’s one on the horizon!

Norwegian musical experimenter Jenny Hval has announced The Practice of Love – the follow-up to her 2016 praise-ridden Blood Bitch. More accessible than her previous work, first single Ashes to Ashes finds her reflecting on the human body, creativity and sexuality to a rather shape shifting backdrop.

Swimming Tapes have unveiled the official video for Keep Her Closer, from their just-released debut album Morningside. The video builds on the blissed-cut summer vibes of the track and introduces us to an alternative world where Swimming Tapes are girls and a feel-good plot unfolds.

And finally, Swedish teenager Esther – heralded by many as one to watch – has released her new single Kvällsgäst. Vocals and vibraphone here, have a look at the video.