Future Islands – Singles (4AD – 2014)
I’ll be perfectly honest with you, I first heard of this band a month ago and they blew me away. This kind of discovery doesn’t happen that often. The band Future Islands, with the amazing stage performance of their frontman, caused a sensation when they played live on David Letterman’s The Late Show with the opening track to this album, which is just superb: ‘Seasons (Waiting for You)’. The entire album is a gem of Synthpop and the tracks are all great, inviting you to listen again. In fact, the LP is on repeat on my turntable. Another great track I can recommend is ‘Light House’. In a word, UNMISSABLE! They will actually be playing at La Route du Rock festival this year, so if you get the chance, don’t miss them!
Algiers – The Underside of Power (Matador – 2017)
After their great first LP, I was keen to listen to the new album by the band from Atlanta. Though it does not have the same immediacy, it retains the original flavour of their music, a combination of Gospel, Blues, Rock and even Post-Punk in some ways. I suggest that you listen to ‘Death March’, with the typical influence by The Cure. The result is very good indeed, although the anger is sometimes replaced by a level of melancholy and even softness (‘A Murmur. A Sign. ‘ and ‘Mme Rieux’ with the amazing piano section), it only gives this album more depth. Highly recommended.
Blanck Mass – World Eater (Sacred Bones – 2017)
Warning! This album shows exacting standards! Blanck Mass is Fuck Buttons’ Benjamin John Power’s solo project. Fuck Buttons are one of the most interesting electro bands as far as I’m concerned (not that I’m biased at all, as you can see!) and who have not released an album since 2013 unfortunately. They are believed to be working on their fourth album (we can’t wait). The best way to describe this solo project is that it is FB’s dark side with a hard electro sound and a very dark atmosphere. And it’s raw, as suggested by the cover photo of this new LP! Having said that, it has a poetic side to it, if you take the time to immerse yourself into the atmosphere. I particularly like the track ‘The Rat’.