New Music Reviews (7/29)

Each week, KEXP’s Music Director Don Yates (joined this week by DJ Alex) shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Dude York, Moodymann, Strange Ranger, and more.

Dude York – Falling (Hardly Art)
This Seattle band’s third full-length (and second as a trio) is a potent set of sharply crafted power pop with buzzing guitars, punchy rhythms, alternating lead vocals from Claire England and Peter Richards, sparkling melodies and emotive lyrics of falling in and out of love. — DY

Moodymann – Sinner (KDJ)
The latest album from legendary Detroit producer/musician Kenny Dixon Jr. (aka Moodymann) is a brilliant set that finds his deep, masterful, free-flowing fusion of house, jazz, soul, and R&B and all its woozy, infectious, immersive glory in peak form. Proudly carrying the torch forward for the Motor City's iconic soul and electronic legacy, Sinner also contains numerous moments that find Moodymann embodying the loose, seductive, funky spirit of Prince, which comes through most vividly on "I Think Of Saturday."  — AR

Strange Ranger – Remembering The Rockets (Tiny Engines)
This Philly-via-Portland-via-Bozeman, MT band’s third album is their strongest set to date, refining their ‘90s-steeped Northwest rock sound into atmospheric dream-pop with jangly guitars, bright keyboards, drum-machine beats, electronic samples and intimate lyrics of isolation and finding hope during troubled times. — DY

(Various) – The Lion King: The Gift (Parkwood/Columbia)
This companion album to the recent Disney film remake was put together by Beyoncé (who also is the voice of Nala in the film), and while she’s prominently featured, so are a host of artists from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa, along with some prominent American rappers and singers. The end result is an often-powerful blend of Nigerian Afrobeats, South African house and other African styles with hip hop and R&B. — DY

Angie McMahon – Salt (Dualtone)
This Melbourne, Australia artist’s debut full-length is a strong set of sharply crafted folk-rock with a dynamic sound ranging from spare, haunting indie-folk to anthemic rock accompanying her husky, vibrato-laden vocals and deeply personal lyrics of lost love, isolation, anxiety and depression. — DY

Trash Kit – Horizon (Upset The Rhythm)
The third full-length album from this UK trio (that includes Rachel Aggs of Sacred Paws) is another first-rate set of infectious and melodic post-punk full of smart song structures, sharp hooks, and hypnotic angular rhythms that's further enhanced by additional chamber instrumentation. — AR

Hibou – Halve (Barsuk)
The third Hibou album from Seattle-based musician Peter Michel is another well-crafted set of atmospheric dream-pop with shimmering guitars, glistening synths, hazy vocals, wistful melodies and lyrics of love and loss. — DY

B Boys – Dudu (Captured Tracks)
This Brooklyn trio’s second album is a fine set of sardonic post-punk reminiscent of Parquet Courts with buzzing guitar riffs, driving rhythms, declamatory vocals and acerbic, anxiety-fueled lyrics. — DY

Mark Ronson – Late Night Feelings (Sony)
The 5th album from famed British DJ/producer Mark Ronson is another pleasing set of crossover R&B-infused pop that fuses his vibrant, widescreen, nostalgia-tinged productions with a talented array of female vocalists – Lykke Li, Angel Olson, King Princess, The Last Artful, Dodgr, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, Diana Gordon, YEBBA – that captures his effortless ability to cater to both mainstream and indie audiences. Billed as a breakup album that carries a more somber tone than his hit-filled 2015 record Uptown Special, Late Night Feelings boasts a downright infectious title track featuring a charismatic turn from Lykke Li. — AR

Oli XL – Rogue Intruder, Soul Enhancer (Bloom)
The debut album from this Stockholm producer is a playful, experimental-leaning set of electronic grooves incorporating elements of UK garage, dub, ambient and more, combining unconventional rhythms with a variety of whimsical samples and occasional vocals. — DY

De Lorians – De Lorians (Beyond Beyond is Beyond)
This Tokyo band’s debut album is an adventurous blend of psych-tinged jazz and prog-rock, featuring a dynamic, shape-shifting sound that shifts from playful horn arrangements to pastoral, flute-led passages to furious hard-rock guitar riffing. — DY

Fleeting Joys – Speeding Away to Someday (self-released)
This Sacramento band’s third album is a solid set of shoegazer psych-rock and dream-pop with fuzzy, distortion-laden guitars, ethereal vocals and dreamy melodies. — DY

DJ Lag + Okzharp – Steam Rooms EP (Hyperdub)
This debut collaborative effort between Durban, South Africa's DJ Lag (an originator of South Africa's Gqom music movement) and London-based Hyperdub mainstay Okzharp (aka Gervase Gordon) is a strong set of progressive global club rhythms that blends  DJ Lag's pioneering Gqom style – a percussive, elastic, house-influenced rhythmic style that began in the clubs of Durban – with Okzharp's sleek, syncopated UK funky beats. Try all. — AR

Carrie Akre – Passage (self-released)
The fourth solo album (and first in 12 years) from the Tacoma-based former vocalist with Seattle bands Hammerbox and Goodness is a solid ballad-heavy set of brooding rock. — DY

Stars On Fire – Blue Skies Above EP (Jigsaw)
Stars On Fire is the project of Seoul, South Korea-via-California artist Cristoph Mark. His debut EP under that name is a well-crafted, lo-fi blend of shoegazer psych-rock and jangly indie-pop. — DY

AstroLogical – Private World (Bastard Jazz)
The latest EP from Vancouver, BC-based musician/producer AstroLogical (aka Nate Drobner, also one-half of Potatohead People) is a solid set of lush, soulful, jazz-tinged hip-hop beats infused with light psych, funk, and R&B flavors that's reminiscent of J Dilla and Koushik. — AR