by Philip Moss and Joseph Purcell
John Grant – Love is Magic
Three years on from his last solo release, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, the troubadour returns with Love is Magic, the first track from his forthcoming album of the same name. On first listen, Grant continues his transition from stripped down vocal focussed ballads on Queen of Denmark to the progressively more danceable disco imparted Pale Green Ghosts and Grey Tickles, Black Pressures.
Speaking about the evolving nature of his craft, Grant explained, “Each record I make is more of an amalgamation of who I am. The more I do this, the more I trust myself, and the closer I get to making what I imagine in my head.”
Grant has once more enlisted the help of Midlake bassist, Paul Alexander, to assist with backing vocals, harmonies and production duties, and Ben Edwards of electro trio, Wrangler. Describing the lyrical content of the album, Grant stated, “the lyrics, of course, continue to be very important to me. They’re just snapshots of everyday life where myriad moods and every sort of horrible and hilarious occurrence one can imagine mix with the pedestrian resulting in the absurdity and beauty of life.”
Love is Magic will be released on October 12th through Bella Union in the UK, and Partisan in the US.
Childish Gambino – Summertime Magic & Feels Like Summer
The Mercurial Donald Glover’s quest for world domination continues a foot, with the release of a new two track EP, Summer Pack, under his musical moniker Childish Gambino. It continues Glover’s whirlwind 2018, after his turn in the Han Solo movie and successful release of his critically acclaimed show, Atlanta.
Following on from the fantastic all conquering This is America, new tracks Summertime Magic & Feels Like Summer find Gambino in fine form, fusing genres into his unique, signature style.
Along with This is America, both tracks are expected to be on Gambino’s forthcoming album. Gambino recently announced a huge headlining gig at the 02 in London this November, and headlines the upcoming Loveboxx Festival this weekend (13th/14th July) in Gunnersby Park.
Interpol – The Rover
It’s been a few weeks now since Interpol announced their comeback single, The Rover, but this week the video finally dropped- and what a beauty it is!
Singer, Paul Banks, stated- “I like to describe the video for “The Rover” as a prequel. It’s the origin story of the character described in the song, the birth of a cult leader. When we meet him he is partly unhinged. He’s a man on the verge, an artist subjected to great pressures, and beset with existential frustrations. A distracted hipster who enjoys psychedelics, let’s say.
The events that take place in Mexico City, be it a bump on the head, a visit to a shaman, or the influence of his rescuers (the street gang known as “Los Locos”) trigger the birth – the eruption – of this new figure, “the rover.” His rescuers become his first followers.
In the end of the video he exacts his “revenge” on Interpol with a mischievous act of disruption during the press conference. He grabs me by the head – to save me? Forgive me? Or simply as a gesture of his new independence – the butterfly becoming.”
Since its launch online, The Rover has already had over two million streams and gone straight onto BBC 6 Music’s A-List. Oh, and there’s not long to wait now for the album, Marauder, which drops on 24th August, before hitting the UK on tour in November.
The National – Quiet Light & So Far, So Fast
Ohio natives, The National, continue to wow festival crowds during Summer 2018. Having performed triumphant sets at both Primavera and All Points East, this weekend they triumphantly stole the show at the Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner’s brain child, Eaux Claires weekend in Wisconsin, which was then backed up with a sell-out show in Zagreb.
Over the course of the shows, they debuted two new songs confusingly listed under different names: Deluge and Long Pond in Wisconsin, with the same tracks opening the set in Zagreb under the names Quiet Light and So Far, So Fast.
But, nouns aside, most importantly the live clips suggest a continuation in the consistently fantastic output the band have released over the past decade.
Honey Hahs – Stop Him
Produced by Pulp’s Steve Mackey, Honey Hahs are three sisters from South London – none of whom are over the age of 16.
This, their debut single released through Rough Trade Records, is an anti-Trump call to arms that was written ‘about having to spend time with people you find annoying’.
And don’t just take our word for it… Jarvis Cocker is a fan too- “Don’t get too hung up on how old the people who made this record are: these songs speak to a spirit that is inside all of us – it’s just that it sometimes gets buried by age. It’s nice to be reminded of this time-honoured truth: the Youth will save us!”
Honey Hahs’ debut album, Dear Someone, Happy Something, is out on Rough Trade Records on 7th September.
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