Into New Music Round-up November 2024
It has been an absolute bumper month for new music and we ain’t finished yet. 2024 has produced some top tunes but the penultimate month of the year has surely been the best. Don’t believe us? Well, feast your eyes on our latest batch of highlights, go seek out the music and thank us later. The phrase, “in Into Creative we trust” is hard earned, it’s your motto, for us and for that we are thankful.
Artist: LCD Soundsystem
Single: X-Ray Eyes
Label: Excelsior Equity Management
Now, just three months ago Into Creative were at the Glasgow Barrowland to see LCD Soundsystem play the gig of the year. There is simply no question about it and if anyone says different, let’s have a discussion then we can all agree that IC are indeed correct (glad we got that sorted). The doyens of NYC are back with their first new music (film soundtrack aside) since 2017 and it is a thing of rare beauty.
Think Mr Soft (of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel) has morphed into a techno wizard playing keyboards made of marshmallow in a dystopian world where disguises are pointless and a ghostly spectre can see in you and through you for all you are worth(less). That’s what this song sounds like to me, the images it manifests, the dreams/nightmares it evokes and I don’t think there is another band on the planet that can do that. Essential listening.
For more on LCD Soundsystem, head to their website here.
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Artists: Marie-Thérèse
Single: P21 (Rev It Up)
Label: PXXI Records
We’ve been fulsome in our praise of Marie-Thérèse for some time, her 2022 debut Luna was one of the best of the year and it’s great to hear the Dublin singer is back with the follow up to recent track Strange Relationship with new single P21 (Rev It Up). The sound is crisp with production courtesy of Stew Jackson (Massive Attack), providing Marie-Therese with the platform to deliver yet again a stunning track.
Elements of white noise and radio frequencies come across the airwaves before a (revved up) drum beat which has a brief nod to the Bananarama/ Fun Boy Three take on It Ain’t What You Do It’s The Way That You Do It gives way to Marie-Thérèse’s uber-cool vocal. There is no denying the singer-songwriter means business here and you can hear the confidence ooze through the speakers, echoing Siouxsie and Del Ray in a way many crave to match but few succeed to get anywhere close.
P21 (Rev It Up) has a number of touch points associated with April 21st including the Texas Revolution and a certain James Osterberg’s birthday or Iggy Pop as he is commonly known. Indeed, Iggy is a long term fan and has already played the track before anyone else on his BBC 6 Music show. The track mixes elements of pop, rockabilly and straight up rock and roll, all swept along by a mesmerising vocal that will have you hitting repeat again and again. Another winner from Marie-Thérèse, here’s hoping that debut album will be out in 2025!
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Artists: Saloon
LP: John Peel Sessions 21.08.01 & 16.04.03
Label: Precious Recordings of London
There is something achingly beautiful and potentially sad about the viola and album opener Spacer errs to the former, jaunty drums lay the groundwork before Alison Cotton’s gorgeous work on the viola, intertwined with a stunning vocal from Amanda Gomez lead the track down a meandering path before Matt Ashton comes in late with some heavy duty guitar licks that cut and and bite.
Eight tracks, all from John Peel sessions make up this more than impressive album from the Reading band who burned bright for five years, forming in 1998 before disbanding in 2003. The band formed after a visit to the cinema to see Austin Powers and the only criteria for would be band members was to look good in a roll-neck jumper!
There is much on offer here, Bicycle Thieves has an almost wispish, folky vibe and where the viola is playing that sad, sorry lament in spades whereas side one closes with the lo-fi brilliance of Girls Are The New Boys, perhaps my favourite track (it was also number one in John Peel’s Festive Fifty in 2002) but the real beauty here is the divergence of sound and the adaptability the band offer up. That track in particular has the spirt of Belle & Sebastian and the guitar angst of Sonic Youth – not many bands can pull that off.
The sleeve notes are a highlight (they always are on Precious Recordings of London releases) with tales of rejection from Peel, a gig in Glasgow where the audience numbered two members of The Pastels and a dog and of course, the ultimate joy in finally recording at BBC Maida Value studios. The second side sees the band explore electronica on the wonderfully original Kaspian and the six minute closing epic, I Could Have Loved A Tyrant.
John Welsh
@welshjb
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