Listen Up
From a disco-influenced alt-pop tune to an unexpected St Vincent cameo, our favorite new releases
Jay Som: Tenderness
This delightful bit of indie and bedroom pop will appear on LA-based Jay Som’s forthcoming album, Anak Ko (out 23 August). It starts off simply—filtered vocals with drums and guitar—and Som is the star until the track breaks open and rhythmic bass and psych-influenced ambience pours out. The Weird Life-directed video provides a visual portrayal of the track’s sonic essence, too. A special purple tie-dye vinyl pressing of the album is also available for pre-order, courtesy of Vinyl Me Please.
Wilco: Love Is Everywhere (Beware)
From Wilco’s forthcoming album, Ode to Joy (out 4 October), “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” is a sprawling and steady folk song with lots to love. “Right now I’m frightened how love is here / beware / our love is everywhere,” the band’s frontman, Jeff Tweedy, sings atop jubilant guitar riffs. In a statement to announce the track, album and coinciding tour, Tweedy says, “There must be more love than hate. Right?! I’m not always positive we can be so sure. In any case, I’m starting to feel like being confident in that equation isn’t always the best motivation for me to be my best self—it can kind of let me off the hook a little bit when I think I should be striving to contribute more love outside of my comfortable sphere of family and friends.”
Moonchild: Too Much to Ask
Delicately lo-fi but bubbly, “Too Much to Ask” is the first single from the forthcoming LP, Little Ghost, by LA-based trio Moonchild (aka Amber Navran, Andris Mattson, and Max Bryk). Electronic and eclectic, there’s an unmistakable maturity employed here. During the track’s chorus, Navran proposes a question: “Is it too much to ask / for you to love me like that?” It’s hopeful but skepticism remains.
Shura: The Stage
From London-born and Brooklyn-based artist Shura (aka Alexandra Denton) comes “The Stage,” a disco-influenced alt-pop tune about a date—specifically, her first with her current girlfriend. “And we’re done with music / so if you’re assuming / you’re coming back with me / then maybe yes you can,” she sings. It’s glitzy, romantic and reflective of plenty of influences (and events). Shura’s second album (which follows 2016’s Nothing’s Real) titled forevher, is out 16 August on Secretly Canadian and is co-producer by Joel Potts.
Red Hearse: Half Love
Red Hearse, a new group consisting of Jack Antonoff, Sam Dew and TDE producer Sounwave, just released their second single “Half Love.” It’s brooding and looming but ultimately offset by delicate, high-reaching vocals from Dew. Antonoff’s stroke is recognizable but it’s certainly distant from the work he’s done with Bleachers or the tracks he’s penned for various other singers. The Grant Singer-directed video depicts a villainous St Vincent shopping for what appears to be the final Red Hearse action figure set—which is caked in dust—for an undisclosed amount.
Listen Up is published every Sunday and rounds up the new music we found throughout the week. Hear the year so far on our Spotify channel.
