This week Skye & Ross, Angel Olsen and Patti Smith dropped new music.
While other weeks were packed with songs that have been on high radio rotation, this week's list of releases might not necessarily be of the mainstream variety.
While Morcheeba have been silent on the new release front, Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey have released their first self-titled album as Skye & Ross. Angel Olsen returns with her new musical effort, My Woman. Then there's the Melbourne rocker rocker Teeth & Tongue who's dropping her boldest album yet, Give Up On Your Health. James Vincent McMorrow channels our sensual sides with We Move. And finally, Soundwalk Collective, Patti Smith and her daughter, Jesse Paris Smith, pay tribute to The Velvet Underground's Nico on Killer Road.
'Skye & Ross' - Skye & Ross
The last time we heard from Morcheeba was their 2013 album, Head Up High. While fans have been waiting for new material since then, they'll be happy to know that two-thirds of the British electronic band have decided to put out a new record.
Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey — who haven't really stopped touring over the years — are trying something a little different with their new project Skye & Ross. Instead of layering on the electronic sounds, this duo have gone back to their songwriting and live band roots to put together 10 songs that sound more like a gritty soul rock album than anything they've made in the past.
From their single, "Light of Gold," to the grooving "Feet First," we see a different side of these two talents, and we're really liking it. And to make their self-titled debut extra special, the two turned the project into a family affair by bringing on Skye's son Jaega and husband Steve as well as Ross' wife Amanda to fill in on instruments and vocals. Even though some Morcheeba purists may take a while to get used to this sound, they can't deny that it's a solid body of work.
'My Woman' - Angel Olsen
Following the release of her critically acclaimed 2014 album, Burn Your Fire for No Witness, Angel Olsen is back with My Woman. Working with producer Justin Raisen, Angel explores the ups, downs and what she calls the "complicated mess of being a woman" on this album.
Although songs like "Sister" and "Woman" would hint at a poetic pop folk record celebrating women, she keeps the themes more open ended. Take for instance, the guitar-driven upbeat song, "Shut Up and Kiss Me." Taking control of the situation, she tells her current affection to take that chance on their relationship. "Give It Up" is another faster-paced tune that laments about a relationship that didn't work out. Meanwhile "Those Were the Days" whispers her way through an electric guitar melody and reminisces about the good times.
My Woman brings Angel's signature slower tracks with some toe-tapping songs that make for a nice addition to your music library.
'We Move' - James Vincent McMorrow
James Vincent McMorrow has been known for being a heartfelt crooner; however, his third album, We Move, proves that he can do more than just sing you a slow song.
Kicking it off with the mid-tempo pop tune, "Rising Water," he wears his heart on his sleeve with "Last Story" and the gospel-infused "Evil." But the neo-soul Irishman can't shy away from his smoldering ballads will easily make you weak in the knees with "I Lie Awake Every Night," "Get Low" and "Killer Whales." And yes, his voice effortlessly reaches heights on this record. So it would make sense for him to end on that falsetto with "Lost Angels."
'Give Up on Your Life' - Teeth & Tongue
While many of us wallow with unlimited alcoholic beverages and pints of ice cream after a break up, Jess Cornelius, aka Teeth & Tongue, uses it as inspiration for her latest album, Give Up on Your Health.
The New Zealand-born and Melbourne-based artist retreated to Iceland for a three-month New Artist Residency and penned songs like "Small Towns," which express the stages of one's heartache. While it's lyrically a sad album, you hear Jess' will to move forward on tracks like the dancey "Turn, Turn, Turn" and the title track, ""Give Up on Your Health." She flips off adversaries on "Dianne" while lets all the feels out on "Your Ghost is the Hardest to Kill." Whether you just had your heart broken or are still getting over that ex from six months ago, put Teeth & Tongue's Give Up on Your Health on repeat this weekend.
'Killer Road' - Soundwalk Collective & Jesse Paris Smith featuring Patti Smith
If you're looking for something unique to listen to today, Killer Road is the album for your. Putting together the talents of Stephan Crasneanscki, Simone Merli, and Kamran Sadeghi, otherwise known as Soundwalk Collective, as well as Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of Patti Smith, the collection of nine songs were crafted to not only tell a story but make you feel like you're in the middle of it.
Killer Road pays homage to the late Christa Päffgen, better known as Nico of The Velvet Underground, and takes us back to her tragic death in Ibiza in 1988. Starting with the title track, the songs are filled with layered ambient soundscapes with Jesse Paris' vocals floating on top. And like Nico, she performs in more of a monologue tone opposed to just singing the lyrics — adding an eerie and almost freakish vibe to the whole album. As you listen to the record, you'll also hear Patti on some of the tracks. Probably not for the faint of heart, but it is quite the sonic adventure.