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Gwangju News

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.

Lady Wray – “Joy & Pain”
This is the most recent single prior to the publishing of Lady Wray’s long-awaited (some would say far overdue) LP Piece of Me, which dropped on January 28 via Big Crown Records of Brooklyn. A veteran vocalist who experienced great success with her debut album in 1998, Lady Wray took a bit of a hiatus following that initial madness so early in her career. Since the release of 2016’s Queen Alone LP, her debut on Big Crown, there have been a slew of high quality singles from the Virginia native, but nothing larger. Well, the wait is over with this one.

Jazzanova (feat. Sean Haefeli) – “Creative Musicians”
Last year DJ Amir released Strata Records’ The Sounds of Detroit, Volume 1 to great acclaim, and the only way this could possibly be followed up properly is by signing up the veteran Berlin-based outfit Jazzanova to splash it with new and vibrant colors. The dance music veterans have announced their own reimagining of that mix, with The Sounds of Detroit Reimagined by Jazzanova slated for release on April 22, this being the new single to accompany the record, released in mid-January.

Parekh and Singh – “Je Suis La Pomme Rouge”
Some of the dream pop coming out of India’s scene the last few years has been amongst the best in the world, and the Calcutta-based duo of Parekh and Singh have been at the forefront of that movement. Released in mid-January with their signature ethereal blend of lush instrumentation and soft-to-the-touch vocal harmonies, this standalone (meaning “I am a red apple” in French) is the first tune released from an album to come out later this year, although further details are nonexistent beyond just that.

Oliver Tree – “Cowboys Don’t Cry”
With his 2020 debut album Ugly Is Beautiful, and the smashing success of “Hurt,” the Southern California-based star has announced a new album with this single called Cowboy Tears, to be released on February 18. Will he be able to live up to the success of his world-breaking debut? Time will tell, surely. However, if the quality of this lead single is anything to judge the future by, it’s looking very bright.

Chai – “Whole”
One of the most absolutely fun and at the same time powerful groups in the world right now is this Nagoya-based female group. Last year, they released their third studio album Wink, their first on the US-based Sub Pop imprint. The buzzy success of that LP and the recognition it garnered internationally has the band announcing a new remix EP Wink Together, which is produced by budding indie star Scoobert Doobert out of San Diego.

Serpentwithfeet – Bless the Telephone
Experimental musician Josiah Wise has been creating some incredible heart-rending songs, most notably with last year’s Deacon LP, which many had at the very top of the list for album of the year. This tune is a cover of a Labi Siffre original released in the run-up to the holiday season in 2021, a reminder to everyone to keep in touch with loved ones no matter what time of year.

Khruangbin (feat. Leon Bridges) – “B-side” (Texas Moon version)
Back in 2020, the psyche trio that say they’re from Houston but are actually from somewhere much further afield teamed up with fellow Texan Leon Bridges to release the Texas Sun EP, the title track of which was an instant classic with even renowned tastemaker Barack Obama putting it at the tippy-top of his favorite summer singles. Now we have the Texas Moon EP ready to go on February 18, with this new version of “B-side” as the lead single.

Kendra Morris – “Penny Pincher”
Veteran vocalist Kendra Morris recently signed with funk and soul tastemakers Colemine Records and their subsidiary Karma Chief. A steady stream of absolutely fantastic singles followed the past year plus, and now we have Nine Lives set to drop on February 18. Don’t miss out on Kendra’s appearance on GFN to get both an early taste of some unreleased joints off the album and maybe get a vinyl copy of the record!

The Cactus Blossoms (feat. Jenny Lewis) – “Everybody”
Despite the moniker, this band is the brother duo of Jack Torrey and Page Berkum, who hail from Minneapolis in the US. The group announced the release of the One Day LP in early December with the release of “Hey Baby,” but this follow-up teaser featuring the luscious vocals of Jenny Lewis cannot be denied. The new album drops on February 11, which is shaping up as the first big album release date of the calendar year.

The Smile – “You Will Never Work in Television Again”
This is the new project of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood along with Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner. For those that miss the older days of Radiohead and the more straight forward rock that accompanied the younger version of the band, this one is for you, definitely a surprise coming from Yorke and Greenwood, who’s most recent work was much more on the film scoring and ambient/experimental area of the musical matrix.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
V/A – “Them & Us 3: Korea’s Punks at Binary Studios”
World Domination, Inc. has been putting out solid indie punk, ska, hardcore, and just generally great rock for over ten years now from their home base up at Seoul’s Binary Studios. The label’s co-founders Jeff Moses and Jeong-ah “Trash” Yang-Moses just released “Them & Us 3: Korea’s Punks at Binary Studios” last month with a launch party at Seoul’s Club FF on January 22. This compilation features 11 bands both from the label and outside playing two tracks: One cover and one original. Originally slated for the label’s 10th anniversary last year, it’s a great compilation to check out online here and get your new year started with a bang, and the covers are a surprising mix, showcasing the breadth of influences going on with label and each band’s particular sound.

January Releases

  • Eric Nam – There and Back Again (January 7)
  • The Weeknd – Dawn FM (January 7)
  • Bonobo – Fragments (January 13)
  • FKA Twigs – Caprisongs (January 14)
  • Yard Act – The Overload (January 21)
  • Band of Horses – Things Are Great (January 21)
  • Billy Talent – Crisis of Faith (January 21)
  • King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard – Butterfly 3001 (January 21)
  • Anais Mitchell – Anais Mitchell (January 28)
  • St. Paul and The Broken Bones – The Alien Coast (January 28)
  • Lady Wray – Piece of Me (January 28)

February Releases

  • Animal Collective – Time Skiffs (February 4)
  • Black Country, New Road – Ants from Up There (February 4)
  • Mitski – Laurel Hell (February 4)
  • Cate Le Bon – Pompeii (February 4)
  • The Districts – Great American Painting (February 4)
  • Alt-J – The Dream (February 11)
  • Big Thief –Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (February 11)
  • Spoon – Lucifer on the Sofa (February 11)
  • Foxes – The Kick (February 11)
  • Kendra Morris – Nine Lives (February 18)
  • Oliver Tree – Cowboy Tears (February 18)
  • Khruangbin and Leon Bridges – Texas Moon (February 18)
  • Broods – Space Island (February 18)
  • Beach House – Once Twice Melody (February 18)
  • Avril Levigne – Love Sux (February 25)
  • Gang of Youths – Angel in Realtime (February 25)
  • Tears for Fears – The Tipping Point (February 25)
  • Soft Cell – Happiness Not Included (February 25)

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 8–10 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.

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