Music Essentials

  • kleio – the avenue ep

    the avenue

    kleio’s bright, charismatic and catchy debut ep ‘the avenue’ is a beaut, and it turns out i’ve been a fan for months

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  • Googly Eyes – Starlet EP

    starlet ep

    I first heard and wrote about googly eyes not long ago, but her proper EP is here and it’s terrific

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  • Sofia and the Antoinettes

    Buried (in this room) / Matthew

    Sofia and the Antoinettes get the Lou Smith treatment — their live show and their debut singles have been on repeat for a couple days, and their second song is out now

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  • Dutch Mustard – Loser / Beauty EP

    Beauty

    Despite my initial condiment confusion, I’m a fan of Dutch Mustard’s alt-rock sound. Her latest single and 2023 EP Beauty are both winners

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  • Flower Face – Maniac EP

    Maniac

    I’ve known about Flower Face, but I only started listening last week. She makes indie pop with a sinister lyrical edge and wild videos. Can’t wait for the album

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  • Aluminum – Fully Beat

    Fully Beat

    Aluminum’s first full-length record is stylistically diverse and surprising. A couple of instant classics make it into a modern Mass Romantic.

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  • Bleach Lab – Studio Session / Lost in a Rush of Emptiness

    studio session

    I’ve had Bleach Lab’s Studio Sessions EP on my playlists for months. This week I dug into the rest of their catalog, and it’s excellent

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  • Blue Capricorn – Make Me Believe / Fantôme, Je Ne Ressentirai Rien / ¡Ayúdame!

    Make Me Believe

    Blue Capricorn’s two singles are brooding, intense ambient trip-hop that deepen with each listen

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  • Rusticles – Plastic / Elysian Fields / Silence Rendered

    Plastic / Elysian Fields / Silence Rendered

    Rusticles has released three singles in the runup to next month’s debut EP. They’re cinematic, moody triphop classics

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  • NEW YORK – Rapstar

    rapstar

    Rapstar* is a singular and incredible record from NEW YORK. I didn’t know what to make of it at all, but now I can’t get enough

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  • No Beauty – No Beauty Will Remain

    no beauty will remain

    No Beauty’s first album came with so little buildup I missed it until now. It’s gorgeous low-key indie

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  • Better Joy – Carnival / Situations / Talking Around

    Carnival / Situations / Talking Around

    Better Joy has five singles out but their sound is distinctive – jangly indie pop with soft and catchy melodies. It’s irresistible

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