New Music Reviews (8/26)

Each week, Music Director Chris Sanley and Associate Music Director Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP's rotation. These reviews help our DJs decide on what they want to play. See what we added this week below (and on our Charts page), including new releases from Fontaines D.C., Benny Trokan, Chime School, and more. 

Fontaines D.C. - Romance (XL Recordings)
Setting the tone with a menacing toy piano, distorted guitars and a melancholic vocal performance from Grian Chatten, Romance is indeed a place. It’s a place for listeners to get lost in the epic, hook-filled soundscapes complete with strings, intricate percussion, exceptional guitar work, dreamy harmonies and Chatten’s heartfelt poetry with his signature vocal style. It’s a place for Fontaines D.C. to elevate their brand of post-punk that feels larger than life on this fourth studio album. It’s a place to enjoy for now, knowing that the London-via-Dublin outfit will lead us to new terrain on their next journey. I can’t wait to soak up every moment of the Romance era. –CS

Benny Trokan - Do You Still Think of Me (Wick Records)  
The debut solo album from Spoon member Benny Trokan is a timeless exploration of psych-tinged rock and soul through a modern pop lens, with a keen nod to the ‘60s. A veteran musician and past player with Lee Fields’ Expressions, Charles Bradley’s Extraordinaires and Robbers on High Street (to name a few), Trokan steps into the spotlight for this inspired collection of nostalgia soaked-bops. –CS

Chime School - The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel (Slumberland)
The sophomore album from Andy Pastalaniec’s Chime School is a vibrant showcase of jangle-pop, rich with ‘90s nostalgia. With strong songwriting that blends sugary guitar hooks and moody lyricism, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel is a remarkable second outing from this Bay Area standout. –CS

Fake Fruit - Mucho Mistrust (Carpark)
The sophomore album from Oakland outfit Fake Fruit is an exhilarating listen from start to finish. Their fiery fusion of punk, indie-rock and post-punk features honest and humorous lyricism, lead singer Ham D’Amato’s undeniable presence and flourishes of playful percussion and saxophone. Despite its title, Mucho Mistrust underscores Fake Fruit as a band to have every confidence in. –CS

GIFT - Illuminator (Captured Tracks)
The sophomore album from New York’s GIFT is an electrifying journey through psychedelic dreamgaze and indie-rock. With its mesmerizing synths, powerful guitars and ethereal vocals, Illuminator skillfully balances hard-hitting rockers with soft, introspective moments. Drawing from a diverse mix of genres, the five-piece delivers a captivating and dynamic sound. –CS

illuminati hotties - POWER (Snack Shack Tracks/Hopeless Records)
Tenderpunk darling Sarah Tudzin – aka illuminati hotties – triumphantly returns with her fourth studio album. POWER is a charming set of melodic indie-rock, featuring emotive lyrics, standout guitar licks and memorable hooks, showcasing an artist that excels as a performer, producer and poet. –CS

Luna Li - When a Thought Grows Wings (In Real Life/AWAL)
The sophomore album from LA-based Korean-Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Luna Li is a hazy collection of swoon worthy dream pop with alternative R&B undertones. Incorporating harp, flute, woodwinds and strings, When a Thought Grows Wings soars into baroque pop territory with Li’s smooth and sweet vocals guiding the way.  –CS

Thee Heart Tones - Forever & Ever (Big Crown)
The debut album from this young Hawthorne, California five-piece band fronted by 19-year-old singer-songwriter Jazmine Alvarado – and backed by a close-knit group of friends all younger than 22 – is a fantastic set of nostalgic soul music that proudly carries the Chicano Soul torch with a superb throwback sound that consistently delivers. Recorded and produced by renowned musician, producer, and Big Crown Records co-founder Leon Michels alongside fellow Big Crown Records co-founder Danny Akalepse, Forever & Ever is an impressive showcase from a band wise beyond their years. -AR

Body Meat - Starchris (Partisan)
The debut album from Philadelphia producer Chris Taylor is an inventive and frenetic fusion of experimental pop, r&b and electronic soundscapes for a refreshingly unique sonic palette. With rich textures, vocal manipulations and layered synths, Starchris is a spellbinding listen brimming with creativity and vision. –CS

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Woodland (Acony)
On their first album together in nearly thirteen years the Nashville duo highlights their unparalleled songwriting and storytelling. This ten song collection features somber tones with captivating acoustic guitar, banjo, and delicate fiddle and harmonica flourishes, all underscored by beautiful, emotive vocals. Woodland is a phenomenal slice of Americana that could only come from the great minds and hearts of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. –CS

Gilligan Moss - Speaking Across Time (Foreign Family Collective)
The Brooklyn-via-Chicago duo of childhood friends, Ben and Evan, unveil their kaleidoscopic sophomore album, Speaking Across Time. This collection of electronic dance jams spans genres like house, 90s rave and club, all infused with their distinct pop sensibility, delivering intoxicatingly catchy beats and boundless positive energy. –CS

Haldi & ans Flamingo - Õige aeg (Funk Embassy)
The debut EP from this Estonian 10-piece band led by vocalist, composer, and co-producer Haldi Välimäe is a sweet set of soulful, nostalgic, vocal-laced disco grooves that finds the outfit reimagining songs originally written by pioneering Estonian artists of the 70s and 80s. Haldi’s honeyed vocals fuse beautifully with the band’s lush, groovy, timeless compositions on Õige aeg (Estonian for “the right time”) and introduce another group bringing a fresh regionally specific spin to throwback soul music. -AR

Kishi Bashi - Kantos (Joyful Noise)
The fifth studio album from Seattle-born Athens-based singer-songwriter and producer Kishi Bashi is a delightful fusion of orchestral rock, indie pop, ‘70s funk and city pop. With complex arrangements that incorporate violin, guitars, saxophone, cello, keys and dynamically layered vocals, Kantos offers a joyful soundscape exploring existential themes, described as “a party album about the possible end of humanity as we know it.” –CS

Matty - POPS (Lex)
The latest solo album from Matty – aka Canadian musician Matthew Tavares, a founding/former member of BADBADNOTGOOD – is a catchy set of buoyant pop songs steeped in New Wave, guitar-pop, doo-wop, and cheery indie-pop styles that “celebrates the most beautiful force in life – love.” Bolstered by sugary over-the-moon lyrics and nostalgia-soaked backdrops, ‘POPS’ is Matty’s diaristic ode to finding the love of his life as they prepare for their journey into parenthood. -AR

Sofi Tukker - BREAD (Sofi Tukker/Virgin)
The third album from innovative pop duo Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern is an eclectic and invigorating blend of pop, Brazilian funk, dance, drum and bass and bossa nova. BREAD, which is an acronym for “Be Really Energetic And Dance”, invites listeners to do just that, offering the perfect soundtrack to get folks moving and grooving. –CS

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING (Saddle Creek)
The fifth studio album from Philadelphia based art-rock outfit SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE sees them shedding much of their hard, angular exterior to reveal a softer, more melodic side. Featuring swells of strings and synths, muddied guitars, interesting drum patterns and auto-tuned vocals, the album maintains the band’s signature intricacies and artistry, now presented through more traditional song structures as they continue building their ever-evolving sound. –CS

Sycco - Zorb (Future Classic)
The debut album from Brisbane’s Sasha McLeod, known as Sycco, establishes her as a psychedelic pop dynamo. Infusing elements of funk, hyper-pop, drum and bass and psych rock into her vibrant soundscape, Zorb contains lively, woozy synths and intoxicating hooks that will keep listeners coming back to these earworms. –CS

The Harlem Gospel Travelers - Rhapsody (Colemine)
The third studio album from The Harlem Gospel Travelers finds the trio reinterpreting gospel-funk material from the Numero Group catalog, with friend and co-producer Eli "Paperboy" Reed. Featuring stunning vocal harmonies and breathtaking falsetto, the album highlights the diverse landscape of gospel music while centering messages of love, joy, acceptance and faith. –CS

The Softies - The Bed I Made (Father/Daughter)
On their first new studio album in 24 years, Portland duo The Softies offer up a sweet, nostalgic set of charming indie-pop. Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia offer pristine vocal harmonies and vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics, creating a soundscape that feels like a warm hug from an old friend. –CS

Closebye - Hammer Of My Own (self-released)
The second album from this NYC band that’s fronted by Jonah Paul Smith and includes Margaux Bouchegnies (aka Margaux) on bass is a nice set of winsome indie pop, peppy indie rock, and breezy indie folk that’s held together by a consistently warm, melodic, and smooth touch. -AR

​​Nicole Miglis - Myopia (Sargent House)
The debut solo album from LA-via-Florida musician and Hundred Waters frontwoman Nicole Miglis (aka Batry Pwr) is a nice set of dreamy orchestral art-pop that sways between delicate classical-influenced pop to more engaging kinetic synth-pop fare, peaking with the soaring back-to-back standout early singles “Autograph” and “Lure.” -AR

Phantom Handshakes - Sirens at Golden Hour (Daydream/Start-Track)
The third album from this NYC duo composed of Matt Sklar and Federica Tassano is a strong set of fuzzy shoegaze and lo-fi dream-pop that pairs Tassano’s warm, gauzy, ethereal vocals within the band’s enveloping backdrops. -AR

Randy Mason - Practical Rap For Everyday People (self-released)
The latest album from Bronx-based rapper and percussionist Randy Mason is a solid set of underground hip-hop distinguished by its classic boom-bap sound and his relatable lyrics that touch upon his everyday experiences as a musician, educator, and father. Featuring steady throwback beats handled entirely by NYC-via-Denver rapper/producer Deca, Practical Rap For Everyday People consistently and refreshingly harkens back to the halcyon days of early 2000s indie hip-hop. -AR

Various Artists - Kampire Presents: A Dancefloor in Ndola (Strut)
Curated by Kenya-born, Zambia-raised, Ugandan DJ Kampire, A Dancefloor in Ndola is a wonderfully eclectic era-spanning compilation that celebrates different East African and South African genres ranging from Congolese rumba and soukous to 1980s township bubblegum and the rich guitar-led sounds of Zambian kalindula. With its spotlight on “styles of music which are often considered unsophisticated from rural areas,” Kampire sheds light on the lesser-known styles of music that she grew up around and draws inspiration from for her renowned DJ sets. -AR