10/9/20: Mary Lattimore, Future Islands, Cut Worms and more
Welcome to the October 9th edition of First Listen Friday!
Mary Lattimore released her new album Silver Ladders via Ghostly International (truly one of the best labels going in my opinion). Mary is a harpist and composer and she’s delivered something special with this new LP. The album is centered around Mary’s beautiful sounding harp and is rounded out by various effects, synths, and guitar. If you enjoy instrumental or ambient music please give this album a listen. “Silver Ladders” is one of the most gorgeous songs I’ve heard this year. Other favorites were “Chop on the Climbout” and “Thirty Tulips”. There’s also a visual score to accompany the album.
Future Islands released their new LP As Long As You Are today. Future Islands really don’t miss so I assumed I was going to enjoy this album and I do. The band still brings the synthpop grooves they’re known for on tracks like “For Sure” but compared to the last few albums, they slow the pace a bit overall on this new one. I do love the upbeat tunes but I enjoyed hearing this side of the band more as well. Songs like “I Knew You” and “City’s Face” slow things down and put more focus on Sam’s lyrics and storytelling with the instrumentation providing an atmospheric background. One of my favorite tracks here was “The Painter” which seems to almost split the difference between the upbeat and the slower tempo tunes. I recommend this album and if you’re unfamiliar with the band check out their previous stuff, if you’re already a fan you’re going to dig this new one too.
Cut Worms released his new album Nobody Lives Here Anymore today via Jagjaguwar (another favorite label of mine). It’s a double-album featuring 17 songs and clocking in at 1 hour and 17 minutes. There’s a timeless quality to these songs, Max Clarke’s vocals sound like they’re coming straight from some now distant country western-influenced pop past. The instrumentation follows suit with piano, pedal steel, acoustic guitar, and horns featured throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed this album, my favorites were “Unnatural Disaster”, “Looks Like Rain”, and “Veteran’s Day”.
Label Sacred Bones released another Mort Garson single from their forthcoming release 'Music from Patch Cord Productions' (out November 6).
Tennis released a cover of Superstar by The Carpenters. It works exceptionally well with the bands sound. Really enjoyed it.
The Flaming Lips played NPR’s Tiny Desk series with a set that included "Will You Return/When You Come Down", "God And The Policeman", "Be Free, A Way", and "It's Summertime".
The Spotify playlist for this week is right here. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the new tunes!