Last weekend, I attended a small handful of shows as part of Pitchfork’s mad bougie “Midwinter” festival at the Art Institute of Chicago. The most prudent detail I have to share is that Yves Tumor played a few new songs, one of which was perhaps called “Kerosene” (or at least “Kerosene” something). This one in particular was, at least to my ears in that moment, an absolutely incredible song. I can’t find anything about it online but I’ll keep checking back every so often to see if anyone posts a bootleg live video. Have hope that this will be released soon y’all!
Mal Blum: “Things Still Left to Say”
Mal Blum (with their band, The Blums) was one of my very favorite acts at SXSW 2018, where they played wonderful sets comprised of both released and unreleased material. Most of the new songs they played last March still haven’t been released, but it looks like that may soon change. This week, Mal Blum released their first new single since 2015, the nervous and exuberant “Things Still Left to Say.” It’s not a tearjerker like the SXSW set standout “See Me” (which we’ll hopefully also get a studio version of on the next album) but instead a pop punk exploration of the butterflies that impede self-expression. This single, out on Don Giovanni, doesn’t appear to be tied to an upcoming full-length release, but here’s hopin’.
Jessie Ware: “Adore You”
The elephant in the room on Jessie Ware’s new single is perhaps how well it would have fit on Robyn’s Honey. It’s a loving, mid-tempo electro sizzler — how could we not make the comparison? This one begs for a late night spin at your next house party, once the rowdiest guests have sauntered off and the only ones left are the dedicated dancers with emotions to express. Jessie Ware is positively in love, and we’re all better for knowing it. As in the case of Mal Blum in the paragraph above, “Adore You” also precedes any kind of album news (the theme of this column is #ReleaseTheAlbumAnnouncementDammit).
Weyes Blood: “Everyday”
“Everyday” is otherworldly like the finest Weyes Blood singles before it, and its video is incredible. Hey, we finally have our album announcement for the follow up to 2016’s Front Row Seat to Earth! If you don’t already know Weyes Blood, this is a great time to catch up because a new album Titanic Rising is out April 5 on Sub Pop. From the two lush folk-inspired singles we’ve heard thus far, it’ll be another terrific album you can buy two copies of: one for your own collection, and one to give to your parents to help them feel hip. And this video, directed by Natalie Mering (Weyes Blood herself) is a gorgeous Mandy-grade ’70s slasher homage. You really can’t go wrong with this, even if the characters in the video do.
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