Halsey – “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power”
The singer, songwriter Holzie, known for her powerful pop songs, has grown up with alternative music, which we can hear on this year’s album “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.” The album is produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the core of Nine Inch Nails, fulfilling the singer’s glorious dream. It can be said that in the album Holzija embodies Mary Magdalene, singing stories about the injustices and atrocities that women have suffered for centuries. At the same time, the album also radiates a lot of love – at the time of writing, Holsey was waiting. The musical influence of Reznor and Rosa is unquestionably audible, even without prior knowledge of their involvement, from the means of industrial stylistic expression to the small nuances of Nine Inch Nails. “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” is an alternative pop album that fascinates with musical drama from beginning to end. By the way, the album is also screened in an hour-long film that takes the viewer through the stories that a woman’s body experiences.
Hiatus Kaiyote – “Mood Valiant”
“Hiatus Kaiyote” is a neosoul quartet from Australia, and the album “Mood Valiant” is their return after six years of silence. This album is also personal – it was created at a time when the group’s vocalist, author of the lyrics Nai Palma, overcame an oncological disease, although the theme is serious, the album is sunny, romantic and full of energy. Textual – psychedelic. “Hiatus Kaiyote” has gained world fame as one of the most technically virtuoso and at the same time emotionally, melodically rich bands, and these qualities are also present in the album “Mood Valiant”. The producer of the album is the outstanding Brazilian jazz composer, arranger Arthur Verocai, whose touch to Hiatus Kaiyote’s music has given breadth and maturity.
MIKE – “Disco!”
MIKE is a young experimental hip-hop artist currently working in New York. Albums “Disco!” reflects the musician’s emotional experience associated with the loss of a mother, while being peaceful and joyful. MIKE’s music catches on with its flow, which is created by placing different sounds and fragments of music in layers, thus creating a cinematic feeling. The present emotions are revealed not only through the text, but also with the help of voice effects, fit into the overall flow, similar to the performance of poetry.
Gabriele Vilkickyte – “The Gentleness of the Wolf”
Yes, Gabriela Vilkickīte’s album “Vilko švelnumas” is in Lithuanian – in a language I don’t understand, but it’s nothing! In this case, Gabriel’s voice and the flow of music speak louder than the language, and the album has been heard several times without being noticed. Recalling that truth will cross the boundaries of language. Gabriela performs indi music with jazz phrases. The wider audience in Lithuania became acquainted with the musicians in 2017, and currently Gabriela has taken a solid place on the Lithuanian music scene.
Dijon – “Absolutely”
“Absolutely” is Dijon’s debut album, which fascinates with the way the musician manages his voice. It sounds spiritual, then murmuring, then heartbreaking. Here as a gospel, here as a pop song. Dijon is well versed in the expression of popular American music and is accompanied by a masterful group. But the story is not about styles and genres, but a sense of melody and the ability to write songs that will survive to eternity in three minutes. I also recommend watching “25 minutes” Absolutely on Youtube”, in which the music of the album can be experienced in a peculiar concert recording, taken from unusual angles. And the language of Dijon’s gestures and facial expressions complements his music.
“Vijay Iyer trio” – “Aasy ”
Vijay Iyer is an Indian-born American jazz composer, pianist and professor at Harvard University. This time he created a trio with contractor Lindu Hanu Oh and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. Each of them is a respected creator of jazz, improvised music, a teacher and each represents their own ethnic groups. Once musicians have mastered a trio like this, music becomes a rhetorical tool for dealing with awkward conversations, such as issues affecting the United States. No matter how serious this application sounds, the musical album fascinates with its layers – melodies, rhythm structures, musicians’ enthusiasm, emotionality and erudition.
Little Simz – “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”
“Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” is the fourth album of London rapper Little Simz. Little Simz’s choice of words is precise and sharp, telling about what is going on around you and allowing you to look into your world as well. The musical flow of the album is diverse, the compositions have both an orchestral instrumentation and a youth choir, and then they become minimalist again. All these rich elements reveal the artist’s personality and the broad dynamics of emotions, which she masterfully guides, causing the audience to experience.
“The War On Drugs” – “I Don’t Live Here Anymore”
“The War On Drugs” is an Indian rock band, although the style of music is insignificant in the context of this band. Taking the best of rock and roll heritage, cultivating this knowledge with the care of artisans, “The War On Drugs” transcends the boundaries of style and genre. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” is a narrator’s album – unobtrusive, but also touching, long-lasting. I recommend listening to The War On Drugs On The Thiny Desk on Youtube – at a time when attendance is limited, this 22-minute video gives a sense of presence and reveals the band’s mastery.
Esperanza Spalding – “Songwrights Apothecary Lab”
In his albums released in recent years, Esperanza Spalding explores the characteristics of music and the time it was created. Songwrights Apothecary Lab has also collaborated with musicians, researchers and practitioners to view music as a healing power. Taking into account the approach of science, world music and spiritual practice to music, 12 compositions were created in Spalding’s laboratory to reduce emotional stress.
St. Vincent – “Daddy’s Home”
St. Vincent is a chameleon, one of the most talented musicians and songwriters of our time, who always finds a way to impress listeners. This time with the album “Daddy’s Home”, the musician travels back to the New York music scene in the seventies, especially in honor of R&B and soul music, as well as delighted with the visual image of the time. Textually, this is probably St. Vincent’s most personal record that reveals her feelings and reflections on her parents and family life in general. Among other things, the album was inspired by the fact that the musician’s father had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for financial machinations. The musician’s erudition and intuition in predicting trends has always been sharp. The references to the album “Daddy’s Home” are masterful and will be a good impetus to learn more about this decade’s music.
What else?
Iesaku noklausīties arī šos albumus: “Sleaford Mods” – “Spare Ribs”, Remi Wolf – “JUNIO”, Genesis Owusu – “Smiling with No Teeth”, Gretchen Parlato – “Flor”, Jon Hopkins – “Music for Psychedelic Therapy”, “Wardruna” – “Kvitravn”, Greentea Peng – “MAN MADE”, Terry Presume – “What Box?”, Pino Palladino – “Notes With Attachments”, Erki Pärnoja – “Anima Mea” , Pablo Held – “Embracing You” .
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