I know, I know. Most of you have stopped reading already. My eclectic musical tastes often mean that no-one is satisfied and everyone goes away metaphorically empty-handed (and usually quite quickly, too).
Mind you, given the state of the world (as documented here and here), who would deny me a bit of delicious escapism? Surely not you, dear reader.
But let’s run through what has happened recently, and what is going to happen presently, because I feel that last year was a bit sparse as far as good releases went. That’s not to say that there weren’t some very good releases – I mean, of course there were – but the quality far outweighed the quantity, and I’d actually like a bit of both, please.
Great news. 2025 has started well (IMHO).
First of all, the stuff that’s already out:
January began with a confusingly really laid back, electronic bang. Magne Furuholmen (you may remember him as the keyboard player from a-ha, and also from Apparatjik) gave us another solo offering: living with ourselves.
Here’s a live version of white horses from the album:
To be fair, I’m actually not sure that this is a good representation of the overall feel of the album. I’d say that time is on your side gives a better idea of the rest of the tracks. I still quite like it, though.
And then: Ludovico Einaudi’s The Summer Portraits is a very welcome return to basics from the Italian neoclassical composer and Pianist. Sure, a few edgy strings to keep your guard up, but alongside some beautiful smooth, relaxing piano. It calms me in the traffic, and that’s a good thing for everyone except my cardiologist.
Sequence would be – and indeed, is – my track of choice.
And from the sublime to the… also sublime(?) – Mogwai’s new album – The Bad Fire – is also out now. I’ve yet to really work my way through it, but already, it’s typically dark, grumpy and rumbling. However, somehow there’s a bit of an electronic element to it which has got me more interested than usual. Give their current single Fanzine Made of Flesh (great name) a go.
And then, can I mention (again) my excitement at the upcoming albums from three of my top 10 bands:
Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking is out next Friday (14th February).
Doves – Constellations For The Lonely is released on the 28th February. You may remember this from them at the end of last year. And their latest single Cold Dreaming has really whetted my appetite. (OMG – 0:58 in… SOOO Doves!!!)
Following those… The Lathums. Matter Does Not Define comes out on 7th March. And the first three from that album (including this) have sounded very promising.
What have I done to deserve this? Because honestly, it does feel a bit like I am being spoiled.
Or maybe, somehow musically “fattened up” for slaughter.
I’m not actually sure how that would work.
And I don’t really fancy finding out.
But what a three week spell this promises to be. Hardly enough time to gorge oneself on one album before the next banger arrives. And even when all is said and done for this lot, we’re not even a quarter of the way into the year.
Treats galore.