Music

New Music Friday: Kasabian, Blondie and more

It’s our favourite time of the week – New Music Friday is the new release fix you need to get your weekend started. This week we’ll be listening to Kasabian, Blondie, Motionless In White and more.

What’s even better about New Music Friday is that you can listen to a lot of the new music live. We’ve also found artists who’ve got new records out and are about to take them on tour. Double win!


RELEASE OF THE WEEK: Kasabian – For Crying Out Loud

The band’s highly-anticipated sixth studio album is filled with big tunes and songwriter Serge Pizzorno’s highly pleasurable work. He wrote the entire record in just six weeks and about the album says: “We did really basic recording – some of it took place in a big studio but the whole thing was all done on instinct, really quickly – and it felt right to make this kind of album”. Catch Kasabian live at TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow, and at Reading & Leeds Festival. Grab your copy of the album here.


Blondie – Pollinator

Pollinator marks the eleventh studio album by iconic American rockers Blondie. Bringing in writing talents such as Sia and Charlie XCX, the record adds a modern shift on the otherwise characteristic Blondie sound. It’s all wonderful led by the now 71 year old Debbie Harry. Blondie are set to appear at Hyde Park as part of British Summer Time, playing ahead of Phil Collins on the 30 June 2017. Grab the record here.


Motionless in White – Graveyard Shift

The fourth studio album by Pennsylvanian metalcore outfit Motionless In White, Graveyard Shift dons fan-competition winning artwork, and some seriously heavy sounds. Following a live tour alongside Korn in the United States, it even features a guest appearance by none other than Jonathan Davis. The band will be appearing on the main stage at Download Festival this year. Grab the record here.

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Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel – I Can Spin A Rainbow

Songwriter Amanda Palmer and Pink Dots founder Edward Ka-Spel have teamed up to offer a sprawling world of fantastical characters, balanced with a unmistakable darkness. Palmer has labelled the release, mixed entirely by Ka-Spel on his own laptop, “a spiritual experience”. “We merged our songwriting heads and poetic worlds to make a new universe,” she adds. Delve into their world as the pair come to London’s Heaven on on the 13 June 2017, with tickets available now.


Black Lips – Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art?

The intriguingly titled Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art marks the eighth studio album by Georgia based garage rockers Black Lips. The record welcomes a production credit by Sean Lennon, even featuring a guest appearance by his mother and style icon, Yoko Ono. Black Lips will be headlining the Festival Republic stage at Reading and Leeds Festival this year. Grab tickets through Ticketmaster.co.uk.


Slowdive – Slowdive

It’s been 22 years since Reading based rock band Slowdive released their last album. Their self-titled fourth album comes after the band reformed in 2014 for a string of live performances. The stunning Sugar For The Pill led the charge in the build up to the record, showing that the band haven’t lost any of their shoegaze beauty in that time. They’ll be appearing at Field Day next month, as well as playing a show at the O2 Academy in Oxford. Grab tickets through Ticketmaster.co.uk, and the record here.


Pond – The Weather

Sharing members with Tame Impala, Pond bring their huge 1970’s psych-rock to seventh studio album The Weather. The record welcomes fellow Tame Impala member Kevin Parker on production duties, opting to step away from the swirling synths of the former band’s 2015 release, Currents. The Weather has been heralded as a new, modern take on prog-rock. Pond are set to tour the UK in June, with tickets available now. Grab the record here.


Gnarwolves – Outsiders

Gnarwolves have been making a serious dent in the underground punk scene for years, having released their debut full-length in 2014 following some critically acclaimed and punchy EPs. Outsiders drives the band’s gritty sound forward, with all the promise to break through towards the mainstream. The band have UK dates confirmed for this month, with select dates available through our friends at TicketWeb.


At The Drive-In – in•ter a•li•a

At The Drive-In have released their first album in 17 years, following up their iconic 2000 release, Relationship Of Command. in•ter a•li•a has been produced by the band’s Omar Rodriguez-López along with Rich Costey, and features their build up singles including Hostage Stamps. The band will be appearing on the main stage at Reading and Leeds Festival this summer, with tickets available now. Grab the record here.


The Afghan Whigs – In Spades

Cincinnati, Ohio rockers The Afghan Whigs have released their second album since reforming, having dropped Do to the Beast in 2014. In Spades continues the band’s move from gritty alternative rock to sprawling experimentation, led by veteran musician Greg Dulli. The band arrive in the UK towards the end of May, with tickets for select dates available through our friends at TicketWeb. Grab the album here.


Forest Swords – Compassion

Matthew Barnes, AKA Forest Swords, is an English music producer and artist, already boasting a wealth of breakthrough, crossover releases. Compassion continues the trend, yet this time tackles the state of the world and the development of what has become known as “fake news”. “Fake news or whatever you call it,” he tells Fact Mag. “I found it interesting that I was exploring these themes and then all of a sudden, in real life, this sh*t came up.” Forest Swords will be appearing at Field Day in June, and you can grab the record here.


Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog

Following up 2015’s This Old Dog, indie darling Mac DeMarco returns with This Old Dog, proving that you can indeed teach old dogs new tricks. His third album strips everything back and lets his songwriting shine brightest, adding some welcome refinement to his sound. DeMarco will be playing sporadic dates throughout 2017, with tickets available through Ticketmaster.co.uk and TicketWeb. Grab the album here.


Perfume Genius – No Shape

Perfume Genius, real name Mike Hadreas, returns with his stunning fourth studio album, No Shape. Throughout his career to date, Hadreas has moved from minimalist singer songwriter to synth heavy experimenter, continuing his journey with his most forcefully delicate record yet. It’s being heralded as a blend of all-out pop and immeasurable darkness, just what Perfume Genius do best.


Did we miss something? Let us know on Twitter. And check back every Friday for a list of album releases to get excited about.