by Philip Moss and Joseph Purcell
Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks – Refute
The coming together of two of alternative music’s most significant bands – Pavement and Sonic Youth – is certainly news greeted with joy and intrigue from us here at Secret Meeting.
Any collaboration between two of the minds that brought us classic albums such as Goo and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain will always build anticipation. So, when Stephen Malkmus announced that forthcoming album, Sparkle Hard, would contain a collaboration with Kim Gordon, it was well received. That collaboration comes in the form of Refute, the third track off Sparkle Hard, following the previously released Middle America and Shiggy. It oozes the signature jangling, rambling Malkmus guitar and understated, yet uniquely brilliant Gordon vocal- a treat for fans both old and new.
Sparkle Hard is out May 5th through Matador.
Jon Hopkins – Everything Connected
English electronic savant, Jon Hopkins, this week releases the second track, Everything Connected, from his upcoming highly anticipated new album, Singularity.
After delivering a taste of his new album with last month’s first track, Emerald Rush, Hopkins provides further insight into his unique abilities through six minutes of electronic delights. The follow up to 2013’s Mercury nominated, Immunity, promises to be essential listening over the summer months.
Singularity will be released through Domino on 4th May 2018
Snail Mail – Heat Wave
Heat Wave is the latest single from 18 year old singer songwriter, Lindsey Jordan aka Snail Mail.
Following a riotous reception at her performance at SXSW, her upcoming debut album, Lush, is looking likely to be one of the most eagerly anticipated debut albums of the year.
Snail Mail will head out on a UK tour in May, and her album, Lush, is out on Matador Records on 8th June
Cullen Omori – Four Years
Former Smith Westerns’ main man, Cullen Omori, is back with the first single to be taken from his upcoming sophomore album.
His debut solo album, New Misery, was a poptastic blast of sunshine indie pop, and Four Years suggests his next record will be no different. In his own words, ‘the song is meant to be an exchange of perceptions: a duet except sung by one person. The first verse deals with the conviction and singular determination needed to end the relationship. The second verse is the reactionary response to what is usually an unexpected upset to a familiar and welcomed status quo.’
As yet, there is no release date for the LP.
Japanese Breakfast – Dreams (The Cranberries’ cover)
Oregon native, Michelle Zauner aka Japanese Breakfast, this week releases a cover of The Cranberries’ Dreams.
Under the Japanese Breakfast moniker, Zauner has previously released two acclaimed albums Psychopomp (2016) and Soft Sounds From Another Planet (2017). Having routinely covered Dreams before the sudden loss of Dolores O’Riordan, Zauner has recorded a new version of the 90’s hit for Spotify’s singles series, and in our eyes has paid fitting tribute to the late Irish icon.
