2019 has already been a great year for music: Catfish and the Bottlemen are back, Foals are back, Vampire Weekend are back, The Drums are back, I could go on.
Here’s a rundown of the new music that came out in January.
(Disclaimer: this isn’t everything that came out in January, just a sample of it.)
Longshot – Catfish and the Bottlemen
8th January
Out of the blue, Catfish announced their return the day before they joined Annie Mac on Radio 1 to play this track for the first time. “Longshot” is the first new music we’ve had from Catfish since their second album, 2016’s “The Ride”.
This track is very Catfish, but more mature than tracks from “The Balcony” and “The Ride”. They are one of those bands where every track sounds the same and you couldn’t name a song if you were played it, (this is not a bad thing, another band like this is Oasis, who did pretty well.)
The North Wales band’s third album “The Balance” is due out on 26th April. I’m glad they’ve stuck with one-word song titles, and a “The something …” album title, with black-and-white album artwork.
https://open.spotify.com/track/1Yi8XPnCPoimWwqxwm3uz9?si=Vv0ZBmtkQhiYJubq7glLaA
Knock Me Off My Feet – SOAK
10th January
Derry born singer SOAK, aka Bridie Monds-Watson, is a soul and folk singer, whose music also has an electronic element to it. Her first album “Before We Forget How to Dream” was released in 2015.
“Knock Me Off My Feet” is almost ethereal, with Bridie’s beautiful voice and bouncy backing, and is sure to brighten up anyone’s day.
https://open.spotify.com/track/15GwXVerL8HSCf6zEf7aCG?si=OzwgrHSyRzWVKblpRCNl0g
Tokyo – White Lies
10th January
This post-punk band from London has been one of my favourite bands since their debut album “To Lose My Life” in 2009. Their music has definitely brightened since then, when all of their songs centred around dark themes of mortality, suicide and kidnapping. Their second album “Ritual” was thematically similar, but less black, and as the band moved into their third and fourth albums “BIG TV” and “Friends” were much, much brighter.
“Tokyo” is the 4th single to be taken from their 5th album “Five”, released on 1st Feburary.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3BudLujSz6RxEtURmyqMew?si=MEBpRhSLR0i-cBYdvUubPg
Body Chemistry – The Drums
15th January
The Drums were a band I absolutely loved when I was a 14-year-old kid trying to establish my individuality with my love of indie music. “Let’s Go Surfing”, “I Felt Stupid”, “Me and The Moon” and “Best Friend” are songs that give me a real sense of nostalgia. After their first self-titled album in 2010, I completely lost track of the band, unaware that they were still making music. They released 2 albums in 2011 and 2014, before 3 of the band members left, leaving singer Jonny Pierce, to continue solo.
“Body Chemistry” is like the music of The Drums’ heyday, but with a 2019 modernisation. I’m really looking forward to hearing more music from Jonny Pierce. The band (so to speak)’s fourth album “Brutalism” is released on 5th April.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5FQJ9JMo4o5Bhs7dhlKpdO?si=HaJziQmjSxqUSgtg7MToXw
You Don’t Know – Loyle Carner, Rebel Kleff, Kiko Bun
16th January
Loyle Carner (aka Ben Coyle Larner) has fast become everyone’s favourite British rapper, and his success doesn’t show any signs of stopping. His debut album “Yesterday’s Gone” was released in 2017, and nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.
“You Don’t Know” is easy-listening hip hop/rap, verging on reggae, probably the influence of featured reggae artist Kiko Bun, who had success in 2016 with his track “Sticky Situation”. Loyle-Carner makes non-violent rap that parents would like, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6qCPW6pWrUNIESY7fp34D9?si=SyVQ-pvLTr2b3HqLDBvX4g
Exits – Foals
21st January
TRACK OF THE MONTH
Foals are back!!! About time. This is the Oxford band’s first release since “What Went Down” in 2015, a first taste of what’s to come. Having been teasing fans for a couple of months with the phrase “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost”, it was announced that the band will release not one but two albums in 2019, the first of which will be out in March.
“Exits” is such a good Foals song. The band have refined their sound so well that the song sounds so timeless that it could be from any of Foals’ albums. Within a few listens I felt like I’d known this song for years, as well as I know “Cassius”, “My Number” or “Mountain at My Gates”
Get prepared for the first of the two albums, “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost: Part 1”. It’s going to be good.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7CtuhUpzDJU73RF9stMgWC?si=nc0BK4dOScGaKseqyiY78w
INTERNATIONALLY UNKNOWN – RAT BOY
25th January
Every wannabe-punk white boy’s favourite artist, RAT BOY, is back with his second album, “INTERNATIONALLY UNKNOWN”.
Rat Boy, aka Jordan Cardy, is a 22 year old from Essex, who was discovered on SoundCloud with his self-produced 5-track mix “The Mixtape” in 2015. His first album “Scum”, was released on Parlophone Records in 2017, and charted at number 15 in the UK album chart.
“Internationally Unknown” was awarded 4 stars by The Guardian.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5xRIjNGS3sXzJ4E6TCQmYd?si=i8W56kDrTy-whv2nOOBIkQ
Harmony Hall / 2021 – Vampire Weekend
24th January
It’s been 6 years since Vampire Weekend last released music. 6 YEARS. I was still a child then. This comeback is extremely welcome.
This two-track single comprises of “Harmony Hall”, a calm (much calmer than some of their earlier work such as “A-Punk”) and soothing yet uplifting song, and “2021” a slow lament of the passing of time. It really feels like Vampire Weekend haven’t been away. These two tracks fit perfectly into their discography, and they’re the first glimpse of their fourth album “Father of the Bride” which is to be released in May.
https://open.spotify.com/album/6CmSHV5rTZRBjXMVbaeE1h?si=CTfjNprMQrK9CcNsxJYq_A
Me, Myself and Hollywood / Movies (Single) – Circa Waves
30th January
Another band whose songs all sound the same and it’s no bad thing is Circa Waves. Their music is harmless indie fun that I’ve loved since their first single “Stuck in My Teeth” in 2014.
“Movies” was released as a single back in November, but is included on this “Me, Myself and Hollywood / Movies” single, released at the end of January. “Movies” is stylistically more similar to their first album, “Young Chasers”, as their second album “Different Creatures” was more rock-orientated. “Me, Myself and Hollywood”, while it is slow, is more like tracks like “Fire That Burns” from the second album. I’m glad the band have gone back to their roots a bit more with their new music, and I’m looking forward to hearing more of it.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0Ub1DHTVSrdC3HFKBKSkoD?si=QmO1IneoQj2pDfuTilOB7A
Nothing to Lose EP – Park Hotel
30th January
To finish off with here’s the newest release from a band that I absolutely love, Park Hotel, who you should definitely check out if you aren’t already aware. This Nothing to Lose EP consists of five tracks, “Make It Happen”, “Nothing to Lose”, “Good People, Bad Dreams”, “My Mind”, and “Turn Back Time.”
Park Hotel’s music has an electro/disco/synth/pop sound, which has a really nostalgic 80s/late 00s feel. Catch them @ The Lexington in London on 28th Feb, I know I will be!
https://open.spotify.com/album/2oQp6KsPRhOdmEIkjvH1RQ?si=-Vv2lXh5Rp2b1ZxfDI_o4w
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