JENNY HVAL : blood bitch : Sacred Bones (30.09.16)

Seven: A concept album about a time-traveling female vampire might seem to be a rather absurd and overall gimmicky idea, but in the hands of avant-pop poster girl Hval, this actually isn’t turning just into something mysterious and overall beautiful, but into something highly personal as well. “Blod Bitch“ is the perfect album to welcome the cold season that lies ahead of us, a unique musical tale that will make you fall under its spell in no time. 8.5/10

 

ULTIMATE PAINTING : dusk : Trouble In Mind (30.09.16)

Seven: Can you accuse a band of being too discreet? Of course you can, why not. The London-based duo is back with album #3, and it’s once again filled with subtle hits, gentle psych, dazed melodies and an overall dreaminess that the majority will misinterpret as being super-dull when in actuality it’s rather brilliant. 7/10

 

TRUE WIDOW : avvolgere : Relapse Records (23.09.16)

Seven: It’s no secret that the Dallas-based trio has found their very own musical formula a while ago already, which they are now slightly varying since three albums. What would be a rather dull affair in the very majority of cases though, still sounds fresh and rather formidable on “Avvolgere“, since their mix of stoner rock, shoegaze, blues and a healthy dose of melancholia is basically unrivaled. 7.5/10

PHIL KIERAN : blinded by the sun : Hot Creations (07.10.16)

Seven: In-between working on material for his Le Carousel alias, deejaying around the globe and hanging out with David Holmes, Northern Ireland native Phil Kieran continues to explore these realms of dance music, that always feel a bit more organic sounding and free-floating than what the rest of the competition has to offer. The album closes with the epic “Find Love“, and if you really had any doubts before (about Kieran’s skill set or the actual message of particular track) this song will perfectly get rid of them once and for all. Strange thing that he’s still not on everybody’s radar. 7.5/10 

THE LEMON TWIGS : do hollywood : 4AD (14.10.16)

Seven: There’s a lot of glam and spacerock to find here. A lot of Beatles and Beach Boys and Bowie as well. And before you’re able to yell “Foxygen“ at the reference-rich songs that pump through your speakers, you realized that Jonathan Rado of before mentioned band actually produced them. Brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario are in their late teens and - their impressive hairdos aside - what they’re doing as The Lemon Twigs actually is pretty astonishing and very accomplished. And I’m pretty sure they just love to polarize the crowd. Me, I’m still irresolute about the whole thing. 5.5/10

 

LATE NIGHT TALES : david holmes : LNT (21.10.16)

Seven: Holmes’ entry to the veteran compilation series is another brilliant example of the power of freethought, as it sets free another great sequence of obscurities, moody exclusives and pop noir nuggets, all perfectly weaved together via a flawless mix. File under “the definition of timeless“. 8.25/10  

BENOIT PIOULARD : listening matter : Kranky (14.10.16)

Seven: It’s his sixth album for Kranky already, ten years after he made his still impressive debut with “Précis“. And even though Thomas Meluch aka Benoit Pioulard returns to more pop-friendly and vocal-based structures - after the ambient and drone experiments he released during the last three years - his new material nevertheless is far removed from being a happy sounding one. “Listening Matter“ was recorded during a period of heavy turmoil and grief, and the finished songs certainly won’t keep that a secret. 7.25/10