STACK #181 Nov 2019

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Anna Of The North Dream Girl

Geowulf My Resignation

Dream Girl picks up where Anna of the North’s blockbuster debut Lover left off, with the album’s title track stating from the outset that the project’s mastermind Anna Lotterud is still “making the same mistakes." There is however a clear evolution between the two records, with Lotterud proudly asserting her independence on Leaning on Myself and embracing singledom on Lonely Life . Lust-fuelled moments pervade the latter half of the record, with Lotterud’s skill of expressing the thoughts and emotions that drive romantic relationships her strongest. If a statement is what Lotterud was aiming for, she’s certainly hit the mark, offering 13 tracks of pop perfection that will see her star continue to rise. (PIAS) Holly Pereira

Geowulf unveil the next chapter of their musical journey on My Resignation , a striking portrait of adulthood set to the duo’s signature indie pop. Although now based in London and Berlin, their native surf-side home of Noosa can still be heard, with the dreamy instrumentation on Round and Round and I Want You Tonight conjuring hazy beach days. Amidst all the heart-on-sleeve moments across the record is a startling honesty, the pair facing the harshness of reality and at times, accepting defeat. While heartbreak and loneliness may prevail, the confidence and self-assuredness that comes with it make this an album that shines throughout the darkness.

Sudan Archives Athena A few years ago Sudan Archives posted a

performance video online. No one had heard or seen anything like this before: a reworking of Kendrick Lamar's King Kunta using vocals, loop pedal, and violin. Her live version captures the joy of the original but also completely transforms it, radiating with a

restrained power. The world met Queen Kunta. A series of EPs soon followed, combining R&B, experimental electronic and traditional violin playing styles of Northeast Africa. Sudan Archives now describes these earlier releases as 'haikus' which paved the way for Athena , her full-length debut. It's a generous display of Sudan Archive's talents: a unique combination of poetry, virtuosic violin and rhythm. In these songs we hear Sudan Archives' reverence for history, fascination with the present, and

(PIAS/Inertia) Holly Pereira

instinct for creating new paths. (StonesThrow) SimonWinkler

Cigarettes After Sex Cry

ALTA Reasons

Ambient pop trio Cigarettes After Sex continue to enchant with Cry , the Texan band’s second album. The record's relaxed pace is set with the stunning opener Don’t Let Me Go , a gently swooning track centred around lead singer Greg Gonzalez’s glacial vocal. Cigarettes After Sex are all about subtlety, with gentle drum brushes, relaxed strumming and synths that are happy to sit in the background rather than take focus. While the band don’t stray from this formula on the record, the mood of Cry is certainly maintained throughout; the effect is hypnotising, creating an atmosphere that lingers long after the album is finished. (Partisan Records) Holly Pereira

ALTA is formed by Melbourne- based duo Hannah Lesser and Julius Dowson, and Reasons is their debut album. Musically, the two artists skilfully synthesise elements of UK garage, R&B, dance and pop to create a hybrid that's timely and timeless. Lyrics reflect a hard-won wisdom, grounded in universal emotional truths that make the album accessible and insightful. There's a rare subtlety to the production and lyrics as ALTA explore topics of learning, failing, growth and development, and you'll find tempo shifts across the classic- house infused Push , to the raw, breakbeat workout of Twisted . (Soothsayer) SimonWinkler

Underworld DRIFT Series 1: Sampler Edition Launched last November, the DRIFT project promised "one year inside the minds of Underworld" with new music/videos to be released every Thursday for 52 weeks. Can someone please ensure these lads donate their brains to medical science? From Appleshine 's majestic, synthesised brass to

the ambient Brilliant Yes That Would Be , which channels mournful whale calls, Underworld innovate wildly. This Must Be Drums evokes Der Dritte Raum, Border Country stirs up bush-doof dust, S T A R is the most banging playground rhyme you'll ever hear and Karl Hyde's wordsmithery is a constant delight: "Fierce beauty of the dancehall/ One-time raiser of hell..." The Sampler Edition guides listeners straight down the guts of this prolific act's experiment, but you'll definitely want the box set for Xmas. (Caroline) Bryget Chrisfield

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NOVEMBER 2019

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