the only new sounds you need to be tuned into this February

As usual, last Sunday, the first Sunday of the month I dropped by Rick Witter's #discodown show on @minsterfm to share my three favourite albums being released in February.

Whether you tuned in or not, here's a reminder of some cracking tunes to beg, borrow or stream this month.

One to stream - Yuck - Stranger Things (album out Friday 26 February)

The band Yuck return later this month with a new album called 'Stranger Things'. This is the third major outing for the band who I fondly remember released their self-titled debut album back in 2011. Five years on and they've changed their lead singer and their sound is also less experimental than on their earlier music. That's not to say they haven't completely lost that raw, spiky edge to their sound.

 

Guitarist Max Bloom described a sadly all too familiar scenario for a lot of bands in modern Britain when he says "[The band] basically spent no money on the record and it was a really relaxed way of doing things by recording the album in my parent's house'.

Fans of Yuck may have already heard the singles 'Cannonball' and album opener 'Hold Me Closer'. We'll all have to wait until February 26th to listen to the full album in all its glory and if you're down in that there London village you can celebrate the album release with a live show on the same day when they play the Moth Club. Yes you heard that right, that's Yuck playing the Moth Club. Sounds like the sort of place you want to take your valentine this February. I guess Yuck really are proving their are 'Stranger Things' in life. I hope you enjoy my one to stream this month - Yuck with the single 'Hearts in motion'

 

One to borrow - Sunflower Bean - 'Human Ceremony' Album available now
 

 

 

 

Sunflower Bean are the latest New York band to come armed with a heavy weight of expectation ahead of their debut album. NME have already described them as one of the bands to watch this year and on the evidence of the 11 songs making up the album Human Ceremony, they're destined to deliver on bigger stages in 2016.

Sunflower Bean is made up of Julia Cumming, Nick Kivlen and Jacob Faber. On first listen I was hit by the strong female vocal which took me back to the glorious days of the mid-90s when we were spoilt for choice with singers like Justine Frischmann and Sonya Aurora Madan brightening up our airwaves. While some reviewers have tagged the band in the Brooklyn DIY scene, I actually think the album owes much more to the British sound of the mid-90s.

Most of the tracks will grab your attention and demand to played loud and proud from your stereo system of choice. Particular highlights for me include lead track 'Human Ceremony', the ode to that distant year '2013' and the lyrically brilliant 'I Was Home' where they make profound statements such as 'I was home and then I wasn't'.

 

Human Ceremony is a record that will make you want to hit repeat as soon as the final track ends. It's lively and entertaining and I think everyone should look to add this to their music collection.

 

You can catch the band in Edinburgh, Manchester and London in 2 weeks time but for now I'll leave you with the addictive sound of Sunflower Bean and 'Wall Watcher'.

One to beg - DIIV - 'Is the is are' Album available now
 

 

 

Like a parent trying to choose their favourite child (which I warn people at home to never try to do), I really struggled to pick my favourite album this month. In the end I settled upon DIIV's 'Is the is are' for my one to beg this month. Another band to come out of New York, this is DIIV's second album and the band have been on a difficult journey since 'Oshin', their debut release.

 

Frontman Zachary Cole Smith was charged with drug possession and briefly jailed, he retreated from the spotlight, went into rehab, and began putting his life back together. Smith worked on songs alone in rehab, before getting together to rehearse the ambitious, emotional album with bandmates Andrew Bailey, Devin Ruben Perez, Colin Caulfield, and new drummer Ben Newman.

 

The result is 'Is The Is Are' - a sprawling double LP that reflects the darkness of their past few years. The influences of bands such as The Pixies and in particular Sonic Youth are soaked in many of the 17 songs on offer here. If you're interested in destroying the mood next Sunday night I'd recommend playing the song Valentine to your loved one. Other standout tracks include the lead single 'Dopamine' and 'Blue Boredom' where Smith is joined by Sky Ferrara.

If this album had been released 20 years ago when all I did was listen to music 24/7 I can guarantee I would have struggled to kick it off my stereo. The album is a grower and as I've listened more this past week I have no doubt it will feature highly in my albums of 2016.

You can catch the band live when they play Heaven in London next month.

My one to beg this month is the outstanding sound of DIIV and 'Is the is are'. Here's the album opener 'Out of mind' to whet your appetite. Happy listening!