STACK #147 Jan 2017

REVIEWS MUSIC

Childish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!"

Austra Future Politics

SOHN Rennen Those who have waited patiently since SOHN’s debut album release (2014’s Tremors) are in for a fulfilling, icy treat during these scorching months. Over his musical break, the Vienna-based producer took on the life of a ‘yes-man’ and with his music no longer encapsulating jarring beats, we’re screaming ‘yes’ as well. It showcases a fine disposition of SOHN’s haunting voice and his masterful electronica ambience that is only elated with his grown confidence. That brings Rennen to be the perfect soundtrack for summer. It fills the atmosphere with a coolness of deliciously sweet tones that provides chills strong enough that you’ll no longer be requiring that fan. (4AD/Remote Control) Savannah Douglas

Cherry Glazerr Apocalypstick

With each album, Donald Glover and Childish Gambino edge ever closer to becoming the ultimate superbeing – soon enough, he’ll ditch the pseudonym altogether. Boogieman sounds like it wouldn’t be out of place as the intro on Glover’s new show Atlanta , and the evolution and soulful progression of truth only continues on Baby Boy . If you’re on the hunt for the furthest departure from 3005 , you’ll wanna check out the groovy, almost urban backbeats of Me and Your Mama – the lead single, and probably the rhythmic outlier on the album. If you’ve come to " Awaken, My Love!" expecting Because The Internet era Gambino, you will be left wanting, but not disappointed – this fresh, funky direction is a welcome one. (Universal) Alesha Kolbe

Kate Miller-Heidke The Best Of Kate Miller- Heidke: Act One Kate Miller-Heidke is a strange mix of things. She’s the opera singer who possesses a perverse, potty-mouthed sense of humour, capable of swinging from a beautiful ballad, such as The Last Day On Earth , to one of the sharpest slaps in the face you’ll ever hear, Are You F-cking Kidding Me? Her first Best Of is a generous 37-track affair, gathering songs from her early EPs ( Telegram and Comikaze ) and four albums, plus a stack of live tracks, as well as a new tune, You’ve Underestimated Me, Dude . Underestimate her at your peril; she’s one of the most interesting pop artists we’ve produced in the past decade. Can’t wait for Act Two. (Sony) Jeff Jenkins It says something when Oxford Dictionary decides "post-truth" is the word of the year. Post-truth: an adjective defined as "relating to circumstances in which facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief". The lines defining our lives and marking our moral boundaries may be blurring, but Austra is here with a musical manifesto for positive action. The innovative Canadian group have just released Future Politics – a bold call for radical hope, or as band leader Katie Stelmanis says, "a commitment to replace the approaching dystopia." It's a compelling message carried by Katie's commanding voice across this collection of dance anthems and paradigm-shifting synth pop jams. (Domino) SimonWinkler

LA rock trio Cherry Glazerr write sharp social commentary and potent garage rock anthems. Rising as punk prodigies from high school, the group caught the attention of cult rock imprint Burger Records before recently signing to Secretly Canadian. Apocalypstick is their first album for the label and finds the trio at the height of their powers. Melodic, fuzzy garage sounds are heard through a kaleidoscopic filter of psych, punk, goth and pop. Clementine Creevy condenses the fantasies and realities of southern Californian life in her poetic lyrics. (Inertia) SimonWinkler

The McClymonts Endless

Tift Merritt Stitch Of The World

Various Leave On A Light - The Songs Of Karl Broadie Karl Broadie was a well loved and highly talented singer songwriter, producer, mentor and all round nice guy. An expat Scot, he made Australia home, and it became where he established his alt- country sound. Taken way too early by an incurable illness, it was his musical peers who came together to hold benefit concerts and leave a legacy of his craft in this beautiful tribute album. Respect and love is overflowing from this special collection of Broadie’s songs, performed by friends Kasey & Bill Chambers, Catherine Britt, Shane Nicholson, Diana Corcoran and many more. May Broadie’s light keep shining... (Universal) Denise Hylands

Singing sisters Brooke, Sam and Mollie McClymont have delivered their strongest collection of songs ever with their fifth album. Sure, they’re not reinventing any wheels – they’re a sassy mix of Shania, Taylor Swift and the Dixie Chicks – but they nail the contemporary commercial country sound with superb sibling harmonies. The title track, dedicated to their husbands, has international hit potential, while the ubiquitous Ronan Keating pops up on When We Say It’s Forever , which could easily become one of 2017’s big wedding songs. Endless shows that The McClymonts have few peers in

Described by Emmylou Harris as “a diamond in a coal mine”, Tift Merritt is one of those artists for whom you can use the word 'brilliant'. At times sounding not unlike Harris, she can also write a dang good song. At the time of writing this album Merrit was recently divorced, and she took herself to remote locations – a friend’s farm in Texas, her cabin in California and her home in NYC – to write, to follow her heart and her craft, and to use those environments to reflect on her heartache and the road forward. With a band of her favourite musicians and good friend Sam Beam along for the ride, Merritt shines bright. (Yep Roc/Redeye) Denise Hylands

Australian country pop. (Universal) Jeff Jenkins

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