Hello and welcome to 2ser’s new music review. This is where we connect you with some of the amazing new music from all around the world. Read on, click through to our Spotify playlist, and enjoy it all on 2SER!

SERvin’ Up! – w/c March 19, 2018

Yo La Tengo – There’s A Riot Going On
Various Artists – Gumba Fire: Bubblegum Soul & Synth Boogie in 1980s South Africa
Bonny Doon – Longwave
Caroline Rose – Loner
Flowertruck – Mostly Sunny
Dick Stusso – In Heaven
Eula Cooper – Let Our Love Grow Higher
Cut Chemist – Die Cut
The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl

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A frequent collaborator with DJ Shadow and founding member of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli, LA turntable auteur Cut Chemist (aka Lucas MacFadden) returns with his first solo album in 12 years. On Die Cut, it’s not only samples and hard hitting rhythms that we hear over it’s 17 tracks, but a clever pairing of these techniques with more traditional songwriting. Cut Chemist made it a focus for more artist collaboration on this record; the result is a big cast of guests that include Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs), Deatoni Parks (Mars Volta), Mr Lif and Edan, and Dntel, plus a wide soundscape borrowing from hip-hop, electro and even 80’s post-punk.

Bonny Doon, is a sorely missed opportunity for the name of an Australian inner city band, though this group out of Detroit definitely makes up for it. It’s lo-fi, fuzzy slacker-pop with an alt-country bent on their second album Longwave – think (Sandy) Alex G or Silver Jews. Behind the 90’s inspired nonchalance, these songs are intimate, and at times candid and spontaneous. With minimal overdubs and production flourishes, we hear the result of patient and meditative songwriting.

And lastly, UK label Soundway Records have put out an infectious new compilation called Gumba Fire. Highlighting “Bubblegum” — a local form of pop music in the black South African community that peaked in the 80s– these rare cuts comes from disco roots with upbeat, minimal synths and drum-machines, but overlaid in trademark soulful vocals and harmonies. The compilation title comes from ‘gumba gumba’, the term given to the booming speakers of the old spacegram radios that broadcast music into South Africa’s townships and villages.

Also, new tunes from Virginia Wing, Lola Kirke, Michael Rault, Courtney Barnett, Stimulator Jones, The Sea and Cake, Raindrop and Big White.

Until next week,
Steph