Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

Each month, Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may not have heard yet, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar. — Ed.

black midi – “Eat Men Eat”
While back in 2019 this UK-based band’s debut Schlagenheim sounded more like a college rock band that was talented but hadn’t truly hit stride (although the critterati went absolutely gaga over it, it must be noted), the group’s latest album Hellfire (and sophomore LP Cavalcade) is just jaw-dropping. The meld of rock and jazz with other multi-genre influences on this record leaves the listener to wonder how much tighter this band can wind it moving into the future, as the technique of every element is already wound like a metal wire.

Layzi – “Shop Around”
If there’s any track this month where you need to “wait for it,” fair listener, this one is it. In a track that sounds like any other ho-hum, lo-fi-meets-indie track that’s far less than a dime a dozen nowadays, the gargantuan chorus hits so hard you might be wondering why you didn’t fall off your chair. Keep an eye out for this budding, independent artist, because Layzi has the voice and the production ear to go very far.

Lunar Isles – “Balloons”
For our local spotlight this month, we present Cheongju-based Scottish expat David Skimming. In the last two calendar years, the former rock guitarist has put out two albums and an EP under his new moniker, and the results are striking surf-tinged dream pop centered on his axe. “Balloons” is the artist’s latest standalone single, and for those who like to float a bit, this up-and-coming local is a great find.

Say She She – “Trouble”
NYC-based band Say She She is the septet headed up by noted vocalist Piya Malik, and this is the third funky-as-hell single from the group. The band is the latest addition to Ohio-based soul superlabel Colemine Records and their sublabel Karma Chief, with the group being named as a sly nod to Nile Rodgers’ Chic Organization. Judging by what’s come out thus far, Prism is going to be a can’t-miss album that drops September 23.

Lil Silva feat. Charlotte Day-Wilson – “Leave It”
Bedford, UK-based veteran producer TJ Carter has been making some amazing dance singles and maxi EPs over the past 10-plus years, but the maestro of the famed “Silva Sound” now has a debut record with Yesterday Is Heavy. While the LP has been 10 years in the making, the artist notes work only really began in earnest back in 2019. I mean, the man was busy working with the likes of Adele, Mark Ronson, and George Fitzgerald, so it’s not like a decade of twiddling thumbs. The album itself is also an impressive list of collaborators with Little Dragon, Sampha, and Charlotte Day-Wilson making amazing appearances for a very solid debut record.

Pine Barons – “BABY BLUE”
This is a band out of Southern New Jersey and has been around since their 2017 debut LP, The Acchin Book. This tune is the lead single to their covers album paying homage to legendary Japanese jazz psyche band Fishmans. I Love Fish dropped July 8 and shows that this Jersey band has some amazing instrumental and interpretive chops.

J-Hope – “MORE”
For those wearing medals on the chest in the BTS Army, we’re not too sure whether you’re going to absolutely love or hate this track if the K-pop thing is your thing. That being said, this is a huge tune that’s well off the beaten path, with J-Hope ruminating over a colossal hip-hop and punk instrumental on how he’d like to be a successful singer and all of that, but knowing simultaneously that money and fame aren’t everything. The full album Jack in the Box dropped in full July 15, which is the first solo stuff since 2018’s Hope World.

HUNJIYA – “OUTGROWN”
Miami-based Korean Kim Hyun-ji (or Alice Kim for the extra cream in the coffee crowd) is a very unique voice in indie music today, with a collection of tracks and albums that span a variety of genres and subject matter. However, it seems like Hyunjiya and that absolutely stellar set of pipes are at their best with a simple acoustic guitar leading the way instrumentally. This tune is a real highlight on the coming-of-age record called Khamai, out everywhere as of July 13.

Death Grips – “Poser Killer”
For more from the truly wild side of the hip-hop/rock mindmeld, this, while obviously a live cover of their own work from 2012, is still as enrapturing and revolting as ever. While it may not be a true fix for the heads out there as the group’s hiatus has been rather long, “Poser Killer” and “Fyrd Up” are enough for three minutes to derange you for a lifetime in all the right ways.

Lizzo – “About Damn Time”
While this isn’t exactly new, as “About Damn Time” was indeed the lead single to Lizzo’s sophomore LP Special, the album is out as of July 15, and it’s a force of nature. The album itself is about Lizzo trying to find intimacy, friendship, and acceptance but nothing phony. It’s about what’s indeed true, which does hurt. However, don’t be surprised to be nodding a bit too hard and bump your head or fall off your chair to this record. Oof.

Katalyst feat. Jazz Is Dead (aka Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge) – “Reflections”
One of the best labels out there in the jazz world has done it again with JID013 featuring Katalyst, which is LA-based pianist, producer, and composer Brandon Cordoba. With Jazz Is Dead, the label has been going more to the roots of the artform they love, this album goes to a more hip-hop roots side of things instrumentally, and the results are incredible.

July LPs

Burna Boy – Love, Damani (7/1)
Moor Mother – Jazz Codes (7/1)
Viagra Boys – Caveworld (7/8)
Katy J. Pearson – Sound of the Morning (7/8)
Metric – Fomentera (7/8)
Beabadoobee – Beatopia (7/15)
Black Midi – Hellfire (7/15)
Lizzo – Special (7/15)
Jack White – Entering Heaven Alive (7/22)
Sports Team – Gulp! (7/22)
Ty Segall – Hello, Hi (7/22)
Maggie Rogers – Surrender (7/29)
Beyoncé – Renaissance (7/29)
Of Montreal – Freewave Lucifer fck (7/29)

August LPs
Lauv – All 4 Nothing (8/5)
Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria (8/5)
Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes (8/12)
Kiwi Jr. – Chopper (8/12)
Osees – A Foul Form (8/12)
Hot Chip – Freakout/Release (8/19)
Cass McCombs – Heartmind (8/19)
Panic! At the Disco – Viva Las Vengeance (8/19)
The Mountain Goats – Bleed Out (8/19)
Ezra Furman – All of Us Flames (8/26)
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE (8/26)
Stella Donnelly – Flood (8/26)

The Author
Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, and producer of “The Drop with Danno,” broadcasting nightly on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu from 8 to10 p.m. Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and co-host of “Spacious” and “White Label Radio” on WNUR in Chicago. You can find “The Damyang Drop,” his monthly collaborative playlist with The Damyang House, on YouTube and Spotify. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @gfnthedrop

Featured image by Matt Botsford on Unsplash.