Jónsi: Exhale

Hypnotic and meditative, Jónsi’s new song “Exhale” burns slowly over five minutes, as his breathy vocals rise over piano and dreamy synths. With glitches and echoes punctuating the melody, the tune (written and produced by Jónsi and A.G. Cook) reaches a crescendo with less than a minute left. Throughout, Jónsi sings the mantra-like lyrics, “It’s just the way it is / it isn’t your fault / …

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Fiona Apple's masterful new album, a timeless funk cover, psychedelic-inflected tunes and more

Fiona Apple: Fetch the Bolt Cutters Fiona Apple returns with Fetch the Bolt Cutters, her first album since 2012’s The Idler Wheel. 13 powerful, percussive tracks coalesce around Apple’s pliant, emotion-baring alto. The title track, “Fetch the Bolt Cutters,” carries much of the album’s lyrical urgency. Apple punctuates the work with a meticulous smattering of personal, DIY sounds—through to its satisfying canine conclusion. It’s a …

Florence + the Machine: Light Of Love

Originally recorded for Florence + the Machine’s 2018 album, High As Hope, “Light Of Love” didn’t end up making the cut despite its transformative structure: gentle beauty amasses orchestral and choral support. From lockdown in south London, vocalist and songwriter Florence Welch released the track to raise awareness for the UK’s Intensive Care Society COVID-19, a charity organization where she’ll donate her proceeds from the …