by Philip Moss and Joseph Purcell

Jeff Tweedy – Some Birds

Wilco frontman, Jeff Tweedy, has shared the first single – Some Birds – from his upcoming new solo album, WARM.

Speaking recently to Rolling Stone, Tweedy explained that whilst Wilco will return next summer for festival dates, he has been inspired and writing new music on an almost daily basis he decided this was the perfect time for a solo album. And Some Birds, which has been recorded at Wilco’s The Loft Studios in Chicago along with the rest of the LP, has all the hallmarks expected of one of America’s best contemporary songwriters.

WARM will be released on 30th November via dBpm Records.

Methyl Ethel – Scream Whole

Perch psych-popsters, Methyl Ethel, return with new single, Scream Whole – their first since the release of their sophomore album, Everything Is Forgotten, on 4AD.

Methyl Ethel play London on 14th March, before heading out on a full U.S. tour throughout the same month. As yet, there is no word of an upcoming LP release.

Frontperson – Long Night

The New Pornographers’ singer and keyboardist, Kathryn Calder, and Woodpigeon’s Mark Andrew Hamilton have combined under the name Frontperson, and released their debut album, Frontrunner, last week.

Lead single, Long Night, showcases the Canadian duo’s ear for finely crafted, psychedelic, folk pop, which has resulted in critical acclaim from Billboard and Stereogum.

Frontrunner is out now on Oscar St. Records.

Escape-ism – I’m A Lover (At Close Range)

Ian Svenonious aka Escape-ism’s new LP, The Lost Record, came out through Merge on 7th September, but this week he released the video for the third single, I’m A Lover (At Close Range).

The former frontman of Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, and Chain And The Gang has been releasing music since 1990 when he put out his first record on Fugazi frontman’s label, Dischord, and has seen records put out through the likes of K Records and Drag City across his nearly 30 year career.

Escape-ism tours Europe throughout November.

Haarm – Better Friend EP

Liverpool based, Haarm, are riding a wave of critical acclaim at the moment having found themselves on heavy rotation on X Radio and Huw Steven’s Radio 1 show with their single, Valentine. Plus they were commissioned to record a cover of Everything Everything’s I Believe It Now to feature on the Premier League credits on BT Sport.

To follow all this, last week they released Better Friend – a three track EP which BBC 6 Music described as  “like a cross between Michael Kiwanuka, Jungle and Moby”.

Better Friend is available now. Haarm play Liverpool and London supporting Ladytron in November.

It’s Never Just You – Forever We Are

Decatur, GA based singer/songwriter, Mauricio Carey, has teamed up with his wife, Rachel, and composer, David Gregory, on his latest project, It’s Never Just You.

The former Go-Kartel drummer has recorded the new album, Forever We Are, at his home studio, Sky Blue Sound, and it includes a very interesting mashup of Morrissey’s Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Difference and Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ (Small Town Girl).

Forever We Are is available through Bandcamp now.

Basement Revolver – Baby

In preparation for their UK tour with Amber Arcades next month, Basement Revolver have shared Baby – the latest single from their new album, Heavy Eyes.

Album, Heavy Eyes, is out now on Fear Of Missing out Records.

Ana Da Silva & Phew – Dark but Bright

Former Raincoats’ founding member, Ana Da Silva, has teamed up with Japanese electronic musician, Phew, to produce debut album, Island.

This seven minute epic (which is also the opening piece on the LP) is a dark, textural meandering, and was composed collaboratively by the pair over email- featuring chopped up spoken word in each other’s mother tongue of English and Japanese.

Island is out now via Shouting Out Loud! Records.

Adia Victoria – Dope Queen Blues

Nashville native, Adia Victoria, returns this week with her signature sound evident on single, Dope Queen Blues. Following on from 2016 debut, Beyond the Bloodhounds, Victoria has enlisted the mercurial talents of The National’s Aaron Dessner to hone her unique blend of soul and gothic blues.

Discussing the single, Victoria noted, ‘I wrote it when I was down in Atlanta with friends talking about my early 20’s when I lived there. It was a hazy, wild, debaucherous time. I was putting, myself back in the shoes of that 20-year-old that had just absolute freedom. We were making money and blowing it. It was a carefree time when we revelled in all our vices. When I first wrote it, it was just me and my guitar but when I went in with Aaron, I said, I don’t think this is bad enough or hard hitting enough so Aaron sat down on the piano and did that. I remember after that initial session, Aaron dropped me off at the train and I was sitting on the train and it was then that I knew we were on to something really special’.

On a winding song of lurching bass, and exquisite piano, Aaron Dessner has created a canvas on which Victoria is able to show of her magnificent vocal range, and certainly whets the appetite for the full album release, expected in early 2019.

Dope Queen Blues is out now through Atlantic Records.

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