Review: Virginia-raised singer Lucy Dacus' profile has been overshadowed by the gargantuan success of Boygenius bandmate Phoebe Bridgers, but this sounds like the album that's going to change all that overnight. The single 'Ankle' is a case in point: the string-laden number is a hypnotic, emotionally charged epic full of temperature-raising double-entendres. Elsewhere, on the tender ballad 'Limerence', Dacus sounds timeless, like we're in the company of a songwriter who's going to be around doing this music making thing for the rest of her life. An extraordinary talent.
Review: A multifaceted personality, 24-year-old breakout folk star Maya Delilah shares The Long Way Round on Decca Records, fresh off the back of a Spotify "One To Watch" award. "I get so influenced by different genres, people, places, and experiences that it's always felt hard for me to fit my music into a consistent sound or mood," the singer said in a statement. Forerun by the likes 'Squeeze' and 'Necklace', Delilah's vocals are breathy and her backing instrumentals smooth, tinged with the torrid strokes of Ayers-esque sunshine funk. Recorded between LA and London, the record flags up themes from cyclical relationships to predestination, with Delilah feeling that the record expresses a future nostalgia for someone she's never met before.
Review: On this indie-exclusive pressing, English jazz sax man Alabaster DePlume's latest sees him in raw and expressive mood. 'Oh My Actual Days' pairs slow, swelling sax lines with Macie Stewart's strings, a march toward reckoning. 'Thank You My Pain' turns its mantra into rhythm, embracing discomfort rather than escaping it. 'Form a V' pulls from jiu-jitsu, confronting the world head-on. Instrumentals like 'Prayer for My Sovereign Dignity' and 'Kuzushi' embody movementitension, release, transformation. Packaged with an obi-strip and insert, this edition is a fitting addition to DePlume's workiphysical proof of a philosophy: dignity is not given, it's claimed.
Review: Mancunian saxophonist Alabaster DePlume's new long player is an introspective and meditative album exploring dignity, healing and self-discovery. Rooted in poetry and philosophical inquiry, the album brims with his soulful saxophone melodies and their uniquely evocative lyricism. Tracks like 'Oh My Actual Days' and 'Invincibility' convey resilience while 'Thank You My Pain' draws on mindfulness teachings. DePlume's compositions are inspired by personal growth and global injustices which reflect both individual and collective struggles. Add in his intricate instrumentation and these such deeply felt themes and you have a powerful statement.
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