Arctic Monkeys by Zackery Michael
The Mercury Prize‘s top albums of the year and news of a brand new one from Black Grape were among our biggest headlines last week.
Arctic Monkeys, Fred Again… and Young Fathers are some of the big names nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize.
Ezra Collective, J Hus, Jessie Ware, Jockstrap, Lankum, Loyle Carner, Olivia Dean, RAYE and Shygirl are the other artists to get places on the list as Arctic Monkeys land their fifth nomination.
“Alex Turner’s progression as a lyricist has been remarkable, but he has seemingly taken to heart a new method: less is more. Where Tranquility Base… was perhaps overstuffed with oblique and seemingly unrelated lines, on The Car he streamlines his approach without losing the vivid imagery,” our review reads.
Mitski has set her new album The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We for release on September 15th via Dead Oceans.
After recording sessions at Bomb Shelter in East Nashville and Sunset Sound with orchestra and choir conducted by Drew Erickson, the first single is the album’s opening track Bug Like An Angel.
“The best thing I ever did in my life was to love people.I wish I could leave behind all the love I have, after I die, so that I can shine all this goodness, all this good love that I’ve created onto other people.”
The death of singer/songwriter Sinéad O’Connor has been announced via a statement from her family which reads:
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.
Irish President Michael D Higgins was one of the first to respond to the news, highlighting O’Connor’s unflinching authenticity and, ‘her ‘beautiful, unique voice’.
Black Grape by Paul Husband
Black Grape have set their return for November 3rd with the new album Orange Head.
It’s being previewed with the lead single Milk, and is set to be on show when the band play UK tour dates this coming November, starting at the Shiiine On Weekender event.
They’ll move on from there to Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and London ahead of the closing night at Engine Rooms in Southampton on December 2nd.
Animal Collective have unveiled their new studio album Isn’t It Now?.
At the heart of the record is the 22-minute track Defeat, the limited edition 12-inch single which was premiered last month along with its B-side The Challenge.
“The only time it was even discussed was after shows late in the touring cycle when it took on its own identity,” Geologist said of it.
Romy has unveiled another track from her forthcoming debut solo album Mid Air.
With Fred Again… back on production duties along side Stuart Price, The Sea has premiered with a video directed by Mollie Mills.
“Romy always evokes this feeling of euphoria – and with this track specifically touching on wrestles of romance – through a queer lens, it intuitively evokes something about this kind of intertwinement of bodies, both in intimacy and in club culture,” Mills said.