In No Particular Order: Five Albums You Need To Hear (Jan 22, 2021)
Come for the music, stay for the…well, music.
Welcome to another week of In No Particular Order, where I share some of my favourite new releases of the week. This week includes five fantastic full-lengths from around the world, including Canadian artist Rhye, Irish duo Bicep, Norwegian producer Lokoy, and Belgian alt rock group Teen Creeps.
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Lokoy – Badminton
Indie pop
7.5/10
Norwegian indie artist and producer Lokoy has officially released his debut album badminton this weekend. Over the last twelve months or so, the bedroom producer has been teasing the release with a handful of stellar singles, including “a mistake”, and “both eyes”, both of which found a cozy spot in my From the Inbox round-ups.
Lokoy’s musical origins lie in the punk rock world as the bassist of Oslo-based group Sløtface, but on badminton, he seamlessly transitions into the world of electronic and bedroom-pop with his melodic, laissez-faire hooks and groovy dance beats. Everything about the album feels like it came from a place of genuine interest in experimenting and crafting something enjoyable and fun with friends. There’s nothing pretentious or overly complex, just some solid dance-pop tunes.
And not only is Lokoy an exciting, fresh new name from Norway, but a handful of his features fall under a similar category, as he brings along some very talented friends like Safario, Emilie Østebø, Nils Bech, and a few others, solidifying himself as one of Oslo’s most in-demand producers and a talented collaborator.
badminton and everyone involved is the future of the genre so you might as well get familiar now.
Notable tracks: “both eyes” // ” a mistake” // “glitter”
Teen Creeps – Forever
Alternative/Indie rock
7/10
Thanks to Belgian alt rock trio Teen Creeps, it doesn’t feel like 2021. As their sophomore album Forever plays, the years blur away and it’s sometime fresh into the ’00s. All the hectic chaos of the ’20s disappears and is instead replaced with nostalgia.
On Forever, the group revive the melancholic guitar fuzz, droning vocals, and grunge-revival tones of their predecessors, filling the space in a similar style to bands like Dinosaur Jr, Built To Spill, and even the early days of Motion City Soundtrack. Who says you can’t make a record over a decade late?
Notable tracks: “Seeing Shapes” // “Brothers” // “Crash / Land”
Kiwi Jr. – Cooler Returns
Indie rock
7/10
Toronto indie rock group Kiwi Jr. are back with their new album Cooler Returns – aptly titled with their laid-back, cool-kid vibe on the record. Rounded out by the group’s five-panel-hat-guitar-rock-pop sound, Cooler Returns also encompasses a snarkier, cynical side, giving the title more meaning as Kiwi Jr. make their return in a less than ideal “climate”. But despite those hidden details and sarcastic quips, the record is a snappy burst of colourful indie rock that is plenty enjoyable at surface level, with some clever lines written in for those looking for something “deeper”.
Notable tracks: “Undecided Voters” // “Cooler Returns” // “Waiting In Line”
Bicep – Isles
Electronic/Progressive Dance
7.5/10
Over the last decade, Irish electronic duo Bicep have solidified themselves as a leader in dance music. Without sticking to a cut-copy recipe of EDM and trance, Bicep construct their music to be much more transcending and experiential. Their music isn’t really inspired by philosophical or spiritual moments, but rather from the music itself. Sounds and patterns gradually begin to turn the gears of their creative minds, eventually evolving into fully formed songs.
While their power certainly comes to life during their critically-acclaimed live shows, the music still finds its strength as an enjoyable experience from the home with the right pair of headphones.
Notable tracks: “Apricots” // “Saku” // “Sundial”
