Back in our old bed
It's a busy week for new arrivals, alongside what we have below, there's new records from The Chills, Drop Nineteens, Electric Six, Mdou Moctar, Jack Frost, The Lathums, and Deep Sea Diver. More info on all of those here.
To listen to Ichiko Aoba is to be drawn into a world as intimate as a warmly lit home, but cosmic in scale. The Japanese singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist has taken a dedicated online fanbase built from TikTok sounds and critically acclaimed and translated that into international tours spanning more than 20 countries.
She was well known in Japan - collaborating with artists like Haruomi Hosono, Cornelius and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto - but previous album ‘Windswept Adan’ earned the adoration of fellow musicians like Japanese Breakfast, Pomme and Weyes Blood.
Aoba’s latest album, ‘Luminescent Creatures’, is the culmination of her 15-year long career and finds her deftly melding the jazz-infused folk with the orchestral world building.
The eco-friendly packaging of ‘Luminescent Creatures’ reflects Aoba’s deep commitment to environmentalism.
Available to independent retailers on Ocean Blue eco-mix coloured vinyl. Buy here
On Sinister Grift, Animal Collective's Panda Bear crafts a statement that feels both retrospective and fresh, blending warmth with his signature experimental touch. David Grubbs returns with a vibrant, compulsive set of instrumental pieces—his first solo record in years, out on Drag City. Hull shoegazers bdrmm are back with Microtonic, layering hypnotic guitars and introspective lyrics into an immersive experience. Okonski’s Entrance Music drifts through meditative jazz and ambient textures. Ride’s Andy Bell delivers his third solo outing, fusing Can-via-Stone Roses grooves with Arthur Russell-style experimentation. Andy was kind enough to make us a playlist a few years back, which is still up online to listen to here. And big-room indie lifers Doves return with their lush, sweeping sixth album.
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