6 albums you need to hear this week
With music by Ellie Goulding, Blondshell, HMLTD and Daughter.
In the age of streaming, it’s never been easier to listen to new music — but with over 60,000 new songs added to Spotify every day, it’s also never been harder to know what to put on. Every week, the team at Rolling Stone UK will run down some of the best new releases that have been added to streaming services.
This week, we’ve highlighted records by Billie Marten, Blondshell, Ellie Goulding, Yaeji, HMLTD and Daughter.
Billie Marten – Drop Cherries
On her third record, English folk flagbearer Billie Marten delivers a record dripping in romanticism – both in the physical and natural sense of the word. ‘Bend To Him’ is a powerful yet simply delivered ode to the power of being in love, while her description of legs that “stick out like sycamore trees” show a love for the world around us too. Marten’s skill lies in delivering the most powerful of emotions in a way that never ceases to cuts through and be accessible to a wide swathe of listeners. This is no mean feat, and this is a record that singles Marten out as a sublime talent.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
HMLTD – The Worm
A typically outlandish second album from HMLTD sees the art-rockers evoking medieval England to draw comparisons with our own twisted times. Recorded over two years and featuring a staggering 47 musicians in all — including a gospel choir and a 16-piece string orchestra — its relentless odyssey into the dark and weird is one for long-term fans.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven
“It’s the least personal album, but I think it’s the best album because I got to just explore other things about myself,” recently quipped Ellie Goulding of her latest record.
A honest admission, but one that stands up. While the songs won’t be examined with a fine tooth-comb for hidden meanings, here is a record that sees Goulding delivering expertly crafted electro-pop primed to make its mark on the dance-floor. What it lacks in personal connection, it certainly makes up for in the amount of bangers on offer.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Daughter – Stereo Mind Game
On their first album in seven years, Daughter’s mellifluous soundscapes and the near-whisper vocals of singer Elena Tonra remain as present and correct as they’ve always been. Here, they’re used to great effect to examine Tonra’s own experience of a long-distance relationship coming to an end. One particular highlight comes in the powerful ‘Swim Back’, featuring the London based orchestra The 12 Ensemble who add palpable depth to the record.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Blondshell – Blondshell
The first album from Sabrina Teitelbaum will surely rank among the year’s finest. Here, the LA based singer employs classic alt-rock sounds, but pairs them with righteous rage, indignation and a wickedly funny turn of phrase. ‘Veronica Mars’ is a powerful ode to Kristen Bell’s cult TV show and in turn our own media consumption, while ‘Tarmac’ seeps with honesty. “I think I’m losing myself,” she admits. These lyrics, paired with a sound that harks back to alt-rock’s late 80s/90s golden era, have allowed Teitelbaum to craft an instant classic.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Yaeji – With A Hammer
On her anticipated debut, Korean-American star Yaeji delivers a record that proves why her sonic palette can’t be pigeonholed. Moments of frenetic glitch-pop are paired against catchy melodies and left-field electronica. While it might prove overwhelming and impenetrable for some, those who persist will discover a record that offers unpredictability and sonic variety at every turn.
Listen on: Spotify| Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music