Image by: Barrett Emke

Welcome to the new music review where we connect you with some of the best new music from around the world. Read on, click through to our Spotify playlist and enjoy it all on 2SER!

Aldous Harding – Designer (FEATURE ALBUM)
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Claude Fontaine – Claude Fontaine
Elva – Winter Sun
Kevin Morby – Oh My God
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Fishing for Fishies
Pure Bathing Culture – Night Pass
Wand – Laughing Matter
Zebra Hunt – Trade Desire

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard stayed deservedly quiet on new material last year after releasing five albums in 2017, but this week they return with ‘Fishing for Fishies’. The band embarked on creating a blues album for their 14th, though admittedly ended up with a collection of sonically twisted tracks with a boundless, barn-stomping energy that never slows. Lyrically, there’s a jest and mischievousness we’ve come to love from these guys, with an underlying environmentally conscious bent.

We also hear from the debut, self titled release of Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Claude Fontaine. Largely borrowing from 60s Jamaican rocksteady, dub and bossa nova, Fontaine adds in noirish, dream pop updates and is backed by a stellar band made up of Tony Chin, and collaborators of Ziggy Marley and Sergio Mendes. Much of this album is owed to London record shop Honest Jon which introduced Fontaine to much of the reggae and rocksteady sounds referenced here.

And let’s praise Kevin Morby on his 5th record ‘Oh My God’. It’s less directly about God, but rather comes from a spiritual perspective, examining belief. Embodied with hymnal, soulful jams and uplifting lyrics, these are subtly detailed and moving songs with plenty of glimmer, curiosity, and fun. There’s a dense and carefully arranged palette of plush gospel-esque harmonies, raggedy keys, swaying saxophones and hushed flutes.

And new singles from Emma Russack, Laurence Pike, Flying Lotus and Monnone Alone. Plus a joyous, and modern rework from Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project.