Today's Sounds Today

We mostly do oldies on here, but every now and then I try to point you in the direction of things that are shiny and new. That's what we'll be doing today. 

Some of these albums I bought, the others are just a few of the great freebies I get sent in my capacity as a tastemaker and surfer of the zeitgeist, Many thanks to all the lovely people out there in Promoland for keeping me in touch with what is going on in the world.

I had planned to use only the medium of video in this post, but one of the artists I want to tip you off to doesn't appear to have any videos out, so audio it will have to be. 

The gent in question is Kyle Morgan and his album is called "Younger At Most Everything". It comes out on Friday but you can pre-order it on Bandcamp now if you are too impatient to wait a whole two days. To paraphrase Donny & Marie Osmond, its a little bit country and a little bit chamber pop, and very good too.

"Deer In The Pines" - Kyle Morgan

On to the videos. We will start with the wonderful Erin Rae, whose new album "Lighten Up" came out a few weeks ago. You can download it for a bargain $7 on Bandcamp although I would encourage you to splash out on a physical copy. Sonically the album is more varied than her earlier records - there is even a track on which it sounds like she's being backed by Chicory Tip - but her voice is as pure and clean as ever.

I have been lucky enough to see Erin play in the Slaughtered Lamb pub in London, a venue where I have also seen Serafina Steer play with just her harp for accompaniment. She has now set the harp aside for a bit and formed a band, Bas Jan, who I'm off to see next month. Their new album "Baby U Know" is out now and is a cracker. It reminds me a bit of the Raincoats of yore. Needless to say you can find that on Bandcamp as well.

While you are on Bandcamp you should also check out "Multiverse" by Reptaliens, out now, and "Precious Things" by Allegra Krieger, out on 4 March but available for pre-order. Both of them are well worth a listen.

Last but not least is "Impermanence", the new album by the Sheffield-based post-rock powerhouse that is Gilmore Trail. It is not a style of music I normally listen to, to be honest, but I saw them play live last weekend and they were very good. Judging by the crowd's response, people who like this sort of thing like them a lot. Also on Bandcamp of course. 

Now take it away, YouTube!