Jlin

New Releases: Indie (October 2018)

A round-up of new and recent indie releases.

Featured below: Saint Sister, We Cut Corners, Jlin, Villagers, Beak>, and Mitski.

Listen to the JM – The Journal of Music indie music playlist on Spotify: http://ow.ly/TiQd30k1B4f.

Each week The Journal of Music will be compiling news on new and recent releases in contemporary, classical, jazz, traditional music, indie and more. Please send details of all releases to newreleases [at] journalofmusic.com.

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Saint Sister: Shape of Silence
Independent/ie:music
5 October 2018

This debut album from Saint Sister is striking from the intro track, with its bubbling harp under gentle vocal lines. Still maintaining the atmosphere of their past EPs and singles, the duo use more electronics and more production to expand their sonic palette beyond atmos-folk.

Visit www.saintsisterband.com.

We Cut Corners: Impostors

Delphi
12 October 2018

We Cut Corners have been one of the most striking live and recorded bands on the circuit for some years; Imposters continues their whimsical and charming approach to songwriting, with a striking melodic bent and a focus on the simple textures of guitar, voice and drums.

Visit www.wecutcorners.net.

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Jlin: Autobiography
Planet Mu Records Ltd
28 September 2018

Electronic artist Jlin strides new ground in this soundtrack to choreographer Wayne McGregor’s film, inspired by genetics and DNA. The tracks of Autobiography – which she often performs live – similarly seem to balance her complex and highly digital beats and pads with hints of the organic. The album is a set of discrete tracks to match elements of the dances of the film, but also works as a whole concept album.

Visit planet.mu/artists/jlin.

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Villagers: The Art of Pretending to Swim
Domino Recordings
21 September 2018

The latest Villagers album is built on tight riffs and big production, overlaid with the catchy, wave-like melodic writing of singer and songwriter Conor O’Brien. It is a confident and honest album, with everything worn on its sleeve, though there are some unexpected moments, whether in the choice of harmonies or interjecting electronics.

Visit www.wearevillagers.com.

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Beak>: >>>
Invada Records
21 September 2018

Experimental rock band Beak>’s third album is as anxious and heady as their previous two, seemingly channeling the darker moments of bands like Portishead (former band of drummer Geoff Barrow) but distilling their own distinct sound. The sound on the album as a whole is more balanced and cleaner, providing greater listening variety that cuts them loose from the claustrophobia of earlier recordings.

Visit www.invada.co.uk.

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Mitski: Be the Cowboy
Dead Oceans
21 August 2018

Be the Cowboy is Mitski’s fifth album, and is an exciting mix of anthemic pop, grungy electronica and big indie rock guitars. These short songs (most are less than 3 minutes) playfully subvert the listener’s expections – what appear at first to be big, polished pop songs are intricate in their construction, while she fluctuates between obfuscation and sincerity.