The Spins

This out-of-order week has thrown me off a bit, but that’s alright. Without any further ado, let’s begin.

Sault, 10

Sault has undergone quite a transformation in the past few years. While they started as a socially conscious soul group, Sault has gradually added a more Christian message to their music. While this would normally deter me, the music itself is still wildly compelling. It’s groovy and just so very soulful. If more Christian music sounded like this, it’d probably be far more popular, and I would listen to more of it.

RIYL: Soul II Soul, earlier Sault, Khruangbin

The Limiñanas, Faded

This band is one that operates in the weird kitchen sink method that numerous French psych bands do. The method: Is it a musical style? Yes? Throw it in. We’ll make it work. To this point, there were songs on here that sounded like Serge Gainsbourg if he had listened to Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To for inspiration, and I mean this as a compliment of the highest regard. As well, the title track sounds like a warped, buzzing Julee Cruise song.

RIYL: La Femme, Exploded View, The Raveonettes, Leather Jackets

Delivery, Force Majeure

Take the guitar attack of Sunbathing Animal-era Parquet Courts and combine it with some smart social critique, and you’ll be in the ballpark of this album. These Australians are really going for it, and I salute them.

RIYL: Parquet Courts, Omni, Public Access T.V., Guitar Rock

Andy Bell, pinball whisperer

This album has a truly excellent groove. It has some motorik, some shoegaze, and some drifting space rock in the mix. It is a very absorbing listen for someone who just wants some music to really lock into and ride along with.

RIYL: Can, Neu!, Late-era Slowdive

Gerald Clayton, Ones and Twos

This is a very interesting album. The twelve tracks are structured so that this there is a Side A and Side B that overlap. Motifs from the first six tracks are picked back up on the last six tracks. Apparently, they can be played together if you have two records to do so. I don’t, so I can only hear the similarities. While the album does have this conceit, the overall listen is smooth. The songs play with modal jazz as well as Latin rhythms, hip-hop, and soul. If you have been jazz curious, this is a good place to start; Clayton will lead you right.

RIYL: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Flying Lotus

Emma-Jean Thackray, Weirdo

The one upside of doing this for Saturday rather than Wednesday is that if something good drops on Friday and I can get to it, I can tell you about it immediately. This album is an example of that. Thackray’s music takes in hip-hop, jazz, house music, and soul and blends it together into something nourishing. She also pulls the indie pop trick of making terribly sad lyrics sound extremely upbeat. An excellent listen from back to front.

RIYL: Kassa Overall, Makaya McCraven, Being Tired

That’s all for me today. The next thing you’ll see from me is another Spins. For the next long post, I’m considering doing something about the disciples of Broadcast and Stereolab. With the release of all the Broadcast demos last year and the new Stereolab album and tour this year—along with some other affairs—it feels like a good time to talk about the extremely long tail these two bands have had in indie music for the past three decades plus. Take care of yourselves and don’t forget to go outside.