New Music Recommendations – 25th October 2019

by Dave Bertram

Bumper edition this week. Orkney’s very own Erland Cooper, Squirrel Flower, Keeley Forsyth, Matt Berninger and Phoebe Bridgers, New York’s Porches, Benjamin Spike Saunders, KIDSØ, Perfume Genius and ex Dutch Uncles songwriter Robin Richards all make our recommendations list.

The much-acclaimed Erland Cooper has shared an excerpt from Seachange – the ambient companion to the wonderful Sule Skerry, which is out now. You can listen to Tide III above, which has been produced with Leo Abrahams, and is accompanied by recycled visual cut ups from collaborator Alex Kozobolis, shot in Orkney.

Squirrel Flower has released the first single from her upcoming debut full length, I Was Born Swimming – out 31st January on Full Time Hobby. She’s supported the likes of Big Thief, Soccer Mommy, Jay Som and Moses Sumney, and it’s no surprise why – we’re super excited about this Gabe Wax (Adrianne Lenker, Cass McCombs) produced release!

The National’s Matt Berninger and Phoebe Bridgers are both masters of the art of the duet and Walking on a String – a track written by Berninger for film Between Two Ferns: The Movie – delivers as expected.

Oldham raised songwriter, Keeley Forsyth, will release her debut album through the Leaf Label on 17th January. Debris, the title track from the album, is accompanied by a video directed by Maxine Peake. Keely will also be appearing at the Daylight Music session curated by Matthew Borne on 30th November at Union Chapel.

Meanwhile, New York synth-popper Porches, aka Aaron Maine, has returned with new single, rangerover – his first piece of new music since 2018’s The House.

Calling on the memories of the soft, melancholic edge of Sparklehorse, Bristol artist Benjamin Spike Saunders is set to release new EP Tonsil Wifewhich is full of fragile, densely-layered lo-fi which will tug on those heartstrings. Single For the Benefit of Someone certainly fits the bill.

Live-electro duo KIDSØ have released their latest single Sparkle, which includes a remix by The Mountain Howl. The original is one of the cuts from their highly anticipated upcoming album Childhood, which is slated for release in March 2020.

Earlier this month, Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas), choreographer Kate Wallich and Dance Company The YC debuted their project, The Sun Still Burns Here in Seattle. From that, he’s shared Pop Song – ‘the sound of dancefloor euphoria’.

And your final selection for this week is Robin Richards, principle composer in the band Dutch Uncles. He debut solo EP, Castel, is out on 6th December on PRAH Recordings and includes six pieces which draw on everything from ‘Gregorian chanting to Steve Reich-esque minimalism and rhythm-led musique concrète’ You can stream the lead single, Toompea, above.

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