GFN Radio

Top of the Drop: March 2022

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.

Sanchez. – “Burgundy”
While we usually dedicate this column to singles, rules are made to be broken. Local singer-songwriter Oisin Magee, soon to return to Ireland, is out with his debut album Burgundy, which is both a stylistic surprise and a diverse LP that showcases both the talents of Magee and our music community here in Gwangju. Produced on the main by Gwangju’s Man on the Drums Dan Lloyd at his Jiri-san studio, the album goes from the indie folk sound that those who know the artist will be familiar with on tunes like “Knock Them Down” to the out-and-out hard rock of “Paranoid.” The production work of Kindle Records maestro Andrew Vlasblom also cannot be denied on his single production on the album, with “Sadness (Never Felt So Good)” featuring a male–female duet and a piano and string arrangement that is so sentimental and warm that you would be well advised to bring a tissue or two on first listen. Overall, a very solid debut album and absolutely brilliant showcase of the talented artists and wildlings that call Gwangju home.

Big Thief – “Time Escaping”
The Brooklyn-based indie folk outfit had an extremely busy 2019 with the release of two albums just months apart, and now comes a full double album in Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You. While typically there is a lot of chaff and filler on 2xLPs, this one is not only beautiful and crafted to perfection as a whole, but every single song also stands very well on its lonesome, even if totally unconnected to the overall narrative and other songs.

Spoon – “Feels Alright”
Lucifer on the Sofa, the veteran band’s tenth career album is here, and it is a banger. In what is definitely the Austin band’s most raucous record to date, it seems like the band has finally gone to unabashed rock without the electronic extras of their last couple of records. Huge plaudits all around for this record, with even the notoriously snooty Guardian giving it five stars, which previously I had only thought was a target for artists to aim for but never attain.

Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – “Mariella”
Texas Moon has finally arrived, and while it is arguable whether this follow-up EP to Texas Sun from early 2020 indeed measures up to that classic, this one indeed has moments of mega catharsis and beauty that, like the day and night, might not match up completely, but that is indeed why the two exist separately. On “Mariella” in particular, the instrumental arrangement from the Houston-based galactic funk trio and vocalist Bridges dance in perfectly complementary balance.

Dehd – “Bad Love”
Chicago-based trio Dehd have continually gained profile with each release since their debut, with their last LP, Flower of Devotion, being a pointed example and one of the best albums of 2020. Now, the band have announced the release of Blue Skies this spring with “Bad Love” being the quick-hitting though massive lead single. Lead singer Emily Kempf is really howling out the lyrics on this one, with the band’s signature maximum twang and reverb going underneath on a tune that has a good bit more drive than what is found on Flower.

Arjuna Oakes – “The Teacher”
While this artist is still building a profile, the release of Recovery, Pt. 2 was indeed a lengthy and drawn-out process but a highly anticipated one that makes for another new chapter to a past EP. The Wellington, New Zealand-based Arjuana Oakes and partner Serebii really left a mark last year with their First Nights EP, which was one of the best mini albums of the year and highlighted by some big people in the know. This tune is closer to the EP, and you will find the artist further tightening the balance between his soul and electronic influences.

Caroline Polachek – “Billions”
Back in 2019, the artist put out Pang, which was very much in the indie pop rubric and an extremely solid record. Fast forward to last year and you had a notable change with “Bunny Is a Rider,” which was almost a whisper compared to the boisterous and cheeky tunes on the previous LP. On “Billions” you have a continuation of this new incognito tease sound, and it just seems to get better with each listen. It is certainly one of the best singles of February, although nothing further has been announced as far as a new album or larger release.

Dust in the Sunlight – “Former Lives”
This is another pensive beauty from February, with the London-based co-ed duo performing a beautiful duet harmony. “Former Lives,” which is the group’s lead single to an as-yet-unnamed EP to be released later this year, is about the mania of modern life pulling everyone everywhere all at once, with the real message being to take things at your own pace and not get caught up in the mania. While pensive, the song does have an epic quality and cinematic buildup to it that feels like it should be part of a montage in a great film.

Ryan Egan – “Soft Power”
The artist is originally out of New York but is now based in Paris. This is the title track to his upcoming album, which is out April 8. The track itself features a boom bap drum line paired with woozy guitars, with the lead singer crooning seemingly through a heavy filter. While still an artist building his profile, Egan here shows a lot to be excited about with the future and this upcoming release.

Calson – “Galactic Sushis Time to Shine”
This admittedly is an album we slept on with this column. Calson is the solo project of Fullerton-based Matthew Moreno, and on January 7, he released his solo debut The After After Party. Just from the title of the tune, it is certainly weird enough to be part of such a dynamic if you are indeed familiar with the postscript to the after parties. However, the song features an off-kilter neo funk arrangement that does more than fit the bill for such strangeness.

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)
  • Sanchez. – Burgundy (February 16)
  • Kendra Morris – Nine Lives (February 18)
  • Oliver Tree – Cowboy Tears (February 18)
  • Khruangbin & 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)

March Releases

  • Nilufer Yanya – Painless (March 4)
  • Stereophonics – Oochya! (March 4)
  • The Weather Station – How Is It That I Should Look at the Stars (March 4)
  • Rex Orange County – Who Cares? (March 11)
  • The Districts – Great American Painting (March 11)
  • Widowspeak – The Jacket (March 11)
  • Babeheaven – Sink into Me (March 18)
  • Charli XCX – Crash (March 18)
  • Yumi Zouma – Present Tense (March 18)
  • Aldous Harding – Warm Chris (March 25)
  • Barrie – Barbara (March 25)
  • Placebo – Never Let Me Go (March 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 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.