by Philip Moss

New music is aplenty this week with exciting releases from Claire Cronin, Michael Cormier, Sufjan Stevens, Florist, Cross Record, Ponytails, Jacob Faurholt, Suzy Callahan and Moon Racer.

It’s three years since Claire Cronin released her wondrous Came Down a Storm record. Now signed to Owen Ashworth’s Orindal Records (Gia Margaret, Advance Base, Julia Byrne, Nicholas Krgovich), Cronin is back with the haunting second single, Wolfman, from her upcoming LP, Big Dread Moon. Recorded by Shahzad Ismaily, the LA based poet/songwriter’s album comes out on 14th June.

Former Friendship drummer and Hours’ singer/songwriter, Michael Cormier, has released the first single, Dinners, from his first solo album since 2017, Days Like Pearls. The single is a beautiful snapshot into childhood memories with hints of Mount Eerie and Neil Young, and precedes the LP, which is the first release through his not for profit Dear Life Records imprint. Days Like Pearls is out on CD, cassette and streaming services on 7th June. Dinners is available through Bandcamp now.

To celebrate Pride Month, Sufjan Stevens has released Love Yourself – based on a demo he started in 1996; and With My Whole Heart – a brand new composition on which Sufjan challenged himself to ‘write an upbeat and sincere love song without conflict, anxiety or self deprecation’. Proceeds from the 7″ single that’s coming out on Asthmatic Kitty are going to homeless and LGBTQ kids in America.

The latest release from Brooklyn based Double Double Whammy – the label that introduced us to Frankie Cosmos and Yowler amongst others – is the new Florist single, Shadow Bloom. Due to be released on 26th July, Emily Alone is a collection of solo songs written and recorded by Emily Sprague following her move from Upstate New York to LA.

Recalling the likes of Grouper and Low, Emily Cross of Sub Pop band, Loma, has prepared her solo album under the name Cross Record. The lead single, PYSOL My Castle, is out now, and precedes the self-titled LP, which will be released through Ba Da Bing Records on 2nd August.

Vancouver B.C’s Ponytails have been releasing music since 2016, when they put out their debut, self titled album. Their new single, Too Long, follows Just Yours – released in May – is inspired by letting an old friendship go, and is backed by a shimmering, surf pop soundscape that evokes The Envy Corps. Too Long is the band’s best work to date and is out now across streaming services, with an LP planned for later in the year.

Aarhus based songwriter, Jacob Faurholt, has released ten albums under both his own name and the Crystal Shipss moniker. Definitely one for fans of Neil Young and Daniel Johnston, The Dark Isn’t Right is a taster of his upcoming LP, Shake of the Fear – due out on 6th September.

Let The Moments Come is the latest single from Suzy Callahan – taken from her new album, Magic, which is available now on Bandcamp.

Ahead of an upcoming US tour, Moon Racer – the bedroom pop project from Autumn E – has released a cover of the mid nineties country hit, You Can Feel Bad, by Patty Loveless. This is another one from the Orindal stable – check it out in all its lo-fi glory above.

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