Marissa Nadler – New Radiations (Bella Union) (13th Floor Album Review)
New Radiations, the tenth studio album by Marissa Nadler, is a slow-burning, hypnotic immersion into shadowed soundscapes and aching introspection.
Album Reviews
Bret McKenzie – Freak Out City (Sub Pop Records) (13th Floor Album Review)
If Bret McKenzie isn’t already an officially designated national treasure then it’s about time somebody made him one.
No Joy – Bugland (Hand Drawn Dracula) (13th Floor Album Review)
Canadian artist Jasamine White-Gluz is the creative force behind No Joy, originally a two-piece hailing from Montreal, now she performs and records solo having shifted to rural Quebec.
Butter Wouldn’t Melt – Where the Roots Grow Deep (Old River Records)
Kiwis may not be enamoured by what’s going on in the U.S. these days but many do have an enduring love affair with American music traditions.
Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human (HWY 87) (13th Floor Album Review)
With We’re Only Human, his tenth album, Hayes Carll trades the wry observations of modern absurdity for something more introspective and tender, though no less sharp.
The Response – Novel Idea (13th Floor Album Review)
The depth of music in this land is extraordinary. A month ago I hadn’t heard of The Response, yet here they are on repeat in my head, playing on he inner jukebox in the most delicious way.
Hannah Virk – Pocket Clocks (13th Floor Album Review)
In her second album, Pocket Clocks, Hannah Virk stretches her sonic palette and lyrical ambition, as she swaps the domestic interiors of her debut, Upstairs / Downstairs, for a world governed by ticking clocks and algorithmic rhythms. It is a lo-fi, thoughtful, and distinctive meditation on time, technology, and identity, full of charm and intelligence.
Alex Warren – You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Atlantic) (13th Floor Album Review)
Heartfelt singer-songwriter Alex Warren has finally dropped his first full-length album, titled You’ll be Alright, Kid. Composed of 21 tracks, many of these songs will no doubt tug at the heartstrings of listeners and provoke reactions that are ripe for reflection.
Napoleon Baby – Everybody’s Watching and Nobody Cares (13th Floor Album Review)
Auckland-based post-punk and indie band Napoleon Baby have finally released their debut album, titled Everybody’s Watching and Nobody Cares. A bold statement for a society that often feels like it’s fraying at the edges, Napoleon Baby might just be what’s needed in the music scene right now.
Don and the Divorcees – Bit Players (13th Floor Album Review)
On Bit Players, Don and the Divorcees invite us into quiet rooms where we might sit alone, delivering a debut album that leans into subtlety, silences, and songcraft.