New Music Recommendations – 26th October 2018

by Philip Moss, Joseph Purcell and Phil Scarisbrick

The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Merrie Land

Coming almost twelve years since they released their debut, self titled album, supergroup – The Good, The Bad and The Queen – have announced their comeback with new record, Merrie Land.

A self-release on their own, new label – Studio 13, the group comprising of Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, The Clash’s Paul Simonon, The Verve’s Simon Tong and Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, have also unveiled a new single. Also called Merrie Land, the song reflects on Britain’s impending exit from the EU and is a “beautiful and hopeful paean to the Britain of today, an inclusive Britain, currently in an Anglo-Saxostentialist crisis at the end of a relationship, wondering what might be salvaged.” Legendary producer Tony Visconti’s helmsmanship only adds to the excitement.

Merrie Land the album arrives on 16th November before live dates across the UK in December.

Steve Gunn – New Moon

Pennsylvanian singer/songwriter, Steve Gunn, returns this week with the follow up to his acclaimed 2016 album Eyes On The Line. New album, The Unseen In Between, Gunn’s second on indie label Matado,r promises to serve up more delicately crafted guitar driven tracks that have been the staple of Gunn’s recent outputs.

New track and first single, New Moon, ticks in at just over five minutes and features Gunn’s trademark guitar, and a Father John Misty style vocal.

The Unseen In Between will be out on January 18th through Matador. Steve Gunn will be touring the US, Europe & the UK in early 2019.

Tim Presley’s White Fence – Lorelei

After the brilliance of this year’s DRINKS album and his outing with Ty Segall, Tim Presley is back – this time under the White Fence moniker.

New album, I Have To Feed Larry’s Hawk is out on 25th January through Drag City, and if scatty lead single – Lorelei – is anything to go by it could be a belter!

Dog Daisies – A River Runs Through It

With his new band, Dog Daisies, Lancaster based songwriter, Stephen Hudson, has thrown together a wonderful EP of wide eyed, bedroom pop that.

Describing themselves as being influenced by motorways, midnight walks, 90’s films and the Lancashire coastline, the lead track conjures up images of The Housemartins, and Belle and Sebastian if they kicked in the distortion pedal a little more often.

A River Runs Through It is out now on Bingo Records – with four limited postcard sets/packets of daisy seeds available through the band’s Bandcamp page.

Beach House – Alien

To commemorate their current tour, Beach House have made Alien available – a track that was recorded during the sessions for their latest album, 7.

The physical 7″ single which is pressed on slime green vinyl is available now through the Bella Union store.

Jessica Pratt – This Time Around

Jessica Pratt will release her third album, Quiet Signs, in February, but to whet our appetite she’s dropped the lead single, This Time Around.

The album was written in LA, and marks her first time recording in a studio – with the process taking place with co-producer, Al Carlson, in Brooklyn.

Her new album, Quiet Signs, is on 8th February through Mexican Summer/City Slang. She plays London on 7th November at St Matthias Church.

Want to keep up to date with all our latest pieces? Follow us on social media…