New Music Reviews (11/18)

Each week, KEXP’s Music Director Don Yates (joined this week by DJ Abbie) shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from DJ Shadow, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Tei Shi, and more.

DJ Shadow – Our Pathetic Age (Mass Appeal)
This Bay Area DJ/producer’s sixth album is an ambitious double album revolving around societal breakdown, media saturation and the collapse of truth. The album is split in two, with the first half comprised of a variety of mostly dark cinematic instrumentals while the second is a suite of mostly hard-hitting hip hop featuring an impressive lineup of guest rappers and singers ranging from De La Soul and members of Wu Tang Clan to Nas, Pusha T and Run The Jewels. — DY

Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I Made A Place (Drag City)
The latest Bonnie “Prince” Billy album from Louisville’s Will Oldham is a powerful blend of gentle country-folk and buoyant folk-rock, combining a warm, varied and often-colorful sound featuring guitars, woodwinds, horns, strings and more with his intimate vocals and strange, often-enigmatic lyrics. The impressive supporting cast includes guitarist Nathan Salsburg and Joan Shelley on backing vocals. — DY

Tei Shi – La Linda (Downtown)
The second album from this now LA-based Colombian/Canadian artist (aka Valerie Teicher Barbosa) is a well-crafted set of silky, R&B-tinged electro-pop combining twinkling synths and gently propulsive rhythms with her smooth, limber vocals and sunny melodies. — DY

Big Bite – Trinity (Pop Wig)
The second album from this Seattle band fronted by Matt Berry (The Berries, Happy Diving) is a potent set of heavy rock ranging from grungy hard-rock and psych-tinged stoner-rock to driving post-punk. — DY

Lapalux – Amnioverse (Brainfeeder)
The fourth album from this British electronic producer (aka Stuart Howard) is an adventurous, shape-shifting blend of ethereal ambient soundscapes and propulsive breakbeats, along with occasional sampled and guest vocals. — DY

ODD OKODDO – AUMA (Pingipung)
ODD OKODDO is a collaborative project between Kenyan vocalist Olith Ratego and German multi-instrumentalist/producer Sven Kacirek. Originally connecting nearly a decade ago when Sven traveled to Kenya to record his critically-acclaimed Kenya Sessions album, the two reconnect for a masterful set of visionary and colorful African music that fuses Kacirek's transportive rhythmic backdrops with Ratego's expressive upfront vocal style known as "dodo." — AR

The Good Ones – Rwanda, You Should Be Loved (Anti-)
This Rwandan trio’s third album is an often-powerful set of Rwandan folk with a warm sound combining gently ringing guitars with plaintive vocals, glowing harmonies and buoyant melodies. A few notable guest musicians also make cameos (Tunde Adebimpe, Nels Cline, Corin Tucker, Kevin Shields, Joe Lally), but they mostly stay out of the way of the trio’s subtle and soulful sound. — DY

(Various Artists) – Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits (Dualtone)
A variety of notable folk-leaning women artists from Phoebe Bridgers and Corinne Bailey Rae to Iris Dement and Courtney Marie Andrews pay tribute to the songs of Tom Waits on this mostly low-key set. — DY

WaqWaq Kingdom – Essaka Hoisa (Phantom Limb)
WaqWaq Kingdom is a collaborative project between Japanese musicians Shige Ishihara (aka DJ Scotch Egg, also a member of Seefeel) and Kiki Hitomi (formerly of King Midas Sound). Their sophomore full-length is a thrilling set of adventurous poly-rhythmic electronic-pop that exists in a boundary-pushing sonic territory somewhere between M.I.A., Jessy Lanza, Gang Gang Dance, and Boredoms. — AR

Tindersticks – No Treasure But Hope (City Slang)
The 12th album from this veteran British band led by Stuart Staples is a solid set of soul-tinged chamber-pop with a beautifully crafted sound featuring twinkling keyboards, lush strings, cinematic horns and more accompanying his hushed baritone. — DY

Emily Jane White – Immanent Fire (Talitres)
This Oakland artist’s sixth album is a potent set of dark, goth-tinged folk-pop combining an atmospheric, often-ominous sound with lyrics embracing the earth and feminism in the face of environmental devastation and inequality. — DY

(Various Artists) – Disco With A Feeling (Athens Of The North)
Athens Of The North continue their mission of reissuing some of the best rare disco/funk cuts with this stellar compilation of infectious, soulful, magical disco gems. While a majority of these jams have previously been released by the label on artist releases, there's a handful of new previously-unreleased tracks on here as well. — AR

Barrett Martin Group – Indwell (Sunyata)
The eighth album from this Seattle-based drummer/composer (and former member of Screaming Trees, Skin Yard, Tuatara, etc.) is an evocative set of rhythm-driven instrumentals incorporating elements of jazz, post-rock and other styles. — DY

Roland Tings – Salt Water (Cascine)
The sophomore full-length album from Melbourne-based electronic producer Rohan Newman (aka Roland Tings) is a solid set of warm, propulsive, sleek house grooves infused with pop, techno, and acid influences. Early single and album standout "Always Rushing" features guest vocals from Mild Minds and carries a strong Caribou vibe. — AR