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Here’s a list of notable new releases for the week of March 22nd, 2024.  Please refrain from immediately jumping into the comments letting me know how much I suck for omitting a fusion dungeon synth polka band from Kyrgyzstan (I can deal with it if you wait at least a day). Genres/labels are best guesses based on cursory Googling and should not be taken seriously. Some Bandcamp embeds are included. Yaaas, queen! Slay! Live, laugh, love. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors. Or don’t, whatever. I’m not your mom. Live your best life. YOLO.

– List of Releases: March 22nd, 2024 –

Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
Genre: Alternative / Folk
Label: 4AD

Alestorm – Voyage of the Dead Marauder (EP)
Genre: Folk Metal / Pirate Metal / yarrrr
Label: Napalm

Barely Civil – I’d Say I’m Not Fine
Genre: Midwest Emo / Indie Rock
Label: Take This To Heart

Blanket – Ceremonia
Genre: Shoegaze / Alternative Rock
Label: Church Road

Cakes Da Killa – Black Sheep
Genre: Hip House / East Coast Hip Hop
Label: Young Art

Elbow – Audio Vertigo
Genre: Indie…


Revisit other SputStaff Top 10 Lists:

Bjork | Bon Iver | Kanye West | Metallica | Mastodon | mewithoutYou

 My Chemical Romance Queens of the Stone Age | The National | Say Anything 

SwansTaylor Swift | Tim Hecker | Thrice

CW grid copy

Foreword:

In celebration of the release of Chelsea Wolfe’s enrapturing new record She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She and the ongoing tour that, if you’re lucky, will bring her stunning show to a room near you, a group of staffers decided to gather around the fire, burn our clothes and howl our favorite Wolfe tunes under the light of a red moon.

As you know, Chelsea Wolfe’s body of work now spans seven albums (or eight depending on what you choose to include or not) and she has managed to consistently blend different styles into one single sound that is unmistakably hers. Whether it is the dark folk and occult Americana of Birth of Violence, the noisy bamboozling of electronic evil of Abyss or the indescribable gothic post everything of Pain is Beauty, Chelsea Wolfe is an artist that has grown from a seed of bedroom lo-fi recordings to branching out: making a collaboration project with hardcore legends Converge, soundtracks for different films and touring the world with unanimous success for her craft. Us here at the staffdom are very much fans of her music and hence we present you with our favorite tunes from the Californian songstress. – Dewinged


Honorable Mentions:

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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 15th, 2024.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.

– List of Releases: March 15, 2024 –

Aborted: Vault of Horrors
Genre:
Death Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Andrea Von Kampen: Sister Moon
Genre:
Indie Folk
Label: Independent

Atrophy: Asylum
Genre:
Death Metal
Label: Massacre Records

The Black Crows: Happiness Bastards
Genre:
Rock
Label: Silver Arrow Records

Dragonforce: Warp Speed Warriors
Genre:
Power Metal
Label: Napalm Records

Four Tet: Three
Genre:
IDM / House
Label: Rough Trade

Justin Timberlake: Everything I Thought I Was
Genre:
Pop
Label: RCA Records

Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well
Genre:
Country / Folk
Label: Interscope

Lenny Kravitz: Blue Electric Light
Genre:
Pop Rock
Label: Roxie Records

Lutharo: Chasing Euphoria
Genre:
Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal
Label: Thrash / Metalcore

Marla Hansen: Salt
Genre:
Trip Hop / Pop
Label: Just Isn’t Music Ldt.

Necrophobic: In the Twilight Grey
Genre:
Melodic Death Metal
Label: Centruy Media Records

Pink Milk: Night on Earth
Genre:
Gothic Shoegaze
Label: Black Hair Records

The Progressive Souls Collective: Sonic Rebirth
Genre:
Progressive
Label: Metalville Records

Sam Lee: Songdreaming
Genre:
Folk
Label: Norman Records UK

Scott Stapp: Higher Power
Genre:
Rock
Label: Napalm Records

Till Lindemann: Zunge
Genre:
Industrial Metal
Label: Universal Music Group

Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
Genre:
Progressive Metal
Label: InsdeOut

World Wide Whack: Tierra Whack
Genre:
Rap / Pop / R&B
Label: Interscope Records


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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 8th, 2024.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.

– List of Releases: March 8, 2024 –

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Alterium: Of War and Flames

Genre: Symphonic Metal
Label: AFM

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Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine

Genre: Pop
Label: Republic

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Before the Dawn: Archaic Flame [EP]

Genre: Death Doom / Gothic Metal
Label: Napalm

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Bleachers: Bleachers

Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Dirty Hit

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Ecclesia: Ecclesia Militants

Genre: Heavy Metal / Stoner Doom
Label: Aural Music

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Exhorder: Defectum Omnium

Genre: Thrash Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast

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Goat Major: Ritual

Genre: Stoner Doom
Label: Ripple Music

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Grey Skies Fallen: Molded By Broken Hands

Genre: Profound Lore
Label: Death Metal

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Isenordal: Requiem for Eirene

Genre: Doom
Label: Prophecy Productions

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The Jesus and Mary Chain: Glasgow Eyes

Genre: Noise Pop
Label: Fuzz Club

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Judas Priest: Invincible Shield

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Epic

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Kim Gordon: The


Welcome back to the Sputnik’s most irresistible democratic feature!

digbox

Digbox Ten is T for TECHNO, which is fortunate because the science is finally beginning to show that techno is the only good genre, and we are able to deliver a high-profile TIE-IN with Sputnik’s Build-an-Album Competition. Run by bop chieftain Sinternet, the tournament sees a number of users go head-to-head with one another, jumping through a pernicious set of hoops to produce the perfect playlist for a range of randomly-selected genres. Starting on an apparent high with techno, Round 1 laid down the following criteria for song selection:

No tech house

Neither the artist nor song title may contain the letter “E”

This gauntlet wreaked havoc among the unfortunately techno-phobic ranks of the competitors (many of whom managed to produce excellent submissions all the same), but in order to get the scoop on no-E / no-house techno, Digbox decided to investigate further and is happy to present the following set of killer tunes you should listen to from based+qualified enjoyers of the genre. Enjoy!

Aril Brikha – “Ottil”

Despite being born in Iran and now residing in Sweden, Aril Brikha is a pivotal contributor to the formation of Detroit Techno in the vein of Jeff Mills or Robert Hood. The supposed simplicity and repetition of his tracks act as major positives here as I’m transported back to my early childhood days where using my dad’s Windows 98 at his office felt like I was taking a vacation.…


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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 1, 2024.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.

– List of Releases: March 1, 2024 –

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Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project
Genre: 
Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Label: BMG

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Daniel Herskedal: A Single Sunbeam
Genre: 
Jazz
Label: Edition Records

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Devastator (UK): Conjurers of Cruelty
Genre: 
Black Metal/Thrash Metal
Label: Listenable Records

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Everything Everything: Mountainhead
Genre: 
Indie Pop/Rock
Label: BMG

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Fathomless Ritual: Hymns for the Lesser Gods
Genre: 
Death Metal
Label: Transcending Obscurity

download (3)

Firewind: Stand United
Genre: 
Power Metal/Heavy Metal
Label: AFM

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Fontaines D.C., Massive Attack, and Young Fathers: Ceasefire (EP)
Genre: Various
Label: Battle Box

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Gulfer: Third Wind (Feb 28th)
Genre: Emo/Math Rock
Label: Topshelf Records

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Halfway Line: Halfway Line (EP)
Genre: Alt-Rock/Post-Rock/Shoegaze
Label: ?

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Ilat Mahru: Incipit Akkadian
Genre: 
Black Metal
Label: Death Prayer

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Liam Gallagher and John Squire: Liam Gallagher John Squire
Genre: 
Britpop/Alt-Rock
Label: Warner Music UK

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Liv Kristine: Deus Ex Machina (Reissue)
Genre: Gothic Rock
Label: Napalm Records

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Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven
Genre: 
Indie Rock/Post-Punk
Label: Epitaph Records

 

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Mildlife: Chorus
Genre: 
Psychedelic/Funk/Disco
Label: Heavenly

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Ministry: HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Genre: 
Industrial Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast

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Mini Trees: Burn Out (EP)
Genre: Indie/Dream Pop


Revisit other SputStaff Top 10 Lists:

Bjork | Bon Iver | Kanye West | Metallica | Mastodon | mewithoutYou

 My Chemical Romance | Queens of the Stone AgeThe National | Say Anything 

Taylor Swift | Tim Hecker | Thrice

swansartScreenshot 2024-02-23 at 03.49.33

Foreword:

Equal parts the preserve of masochistic veterans of the no wave scene, po-faced crescendo-riders, and arthouse devotees of guitar music’s more arcane side, few names command the same behemoth weight or stern complexion as Swans. Founded in 1982 as the brainchild of demoniac auteur Michael Gira, the band’s output has overlapped a wide range of collaborators and musical styles, yet rarely showcased anything less than ruthless focus and a profound sensibility for the extremities of humanity and inhumanity alike.

Originally prompted by last year’s release of Swans’ sixteenth album The Beggar and subsequent discourse over whether Gira appeared to be ageing with dignity or decrepitness, this list may not plumb the depths of the band’s multi-decade career or (spoilers) even dip its toes into their harrowing noise rock roots or folk-infused middle years, but it does provide a relevant snapshot of the eras they are best known for: well over a decade since Michael Gira reformed Swans, it’s remarkable how much staying power his ’10s output has had past its initial boom. This era saw Swans reframed from a revered cult classic to an obligatory hurdle to just about anyone starting out on the path of experimental rock music, and any reservations over the expansion of their audience or the datapool underpinning our democratic process can hold their horses until you’ve heard…


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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 23rd, 2024.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.

– List of Releases: February 23rd, 2024 –

A Burial At Sea: Close to Home
Genre:
Progressive Rock / Math Rock
Label: Pelagic Records

Ace Frehley: 10,000 Volts
Genre:
Rock
Label: Ace Frehley Merchandise

Allie X: Girl With No Face
Genre:
Synthpop
Label: Rough Trade

Amaranthe: The Catalyst
Genre:
Metalcore / Pop / Electronic
Label: Nuclear Blast

Atoll: Inhuman Implants
Genre:
Death Metal
Label: Rough Trade

Austrian Death Machine: Quad Brutal
Genre:
Metalcore / Thrash
Label: Napalm Records

Borknagar: Fall
Genre:
Progressive / Black Metal
Label: Century Media

Cathubodua: Interbellum
Genre:
Symphonic Metal
Label: Massacre Records

Coltre: To Watch With Hands…
Genre:
Heavy Metal
Label: Dying Victim Productions

Darkest Hour: Perpetual | Terminal
Genre:
Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal
Label: MNRK Heavy

Erika de Casier: Still
Genre:
Trip Hop / Pop
Label: 4AD

Hand of Kalliach: Corryvreckan
Genre:
Melodic Death Metal
Label: Prosthetic Records

Jazmin Bean: Traumatic Livelihood
Genre:
Pop Rock
Label: Interscope

Job For


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Slift-Ilion

The best thing I can say about Ilion is that it is the first album in a while, in my memory, that really sells the idea of it being a journey, or telling a story- the moments that eclipse the album’s experience as a whole come few and far between, but every moment serves to communicate this great journey. And what a journey it is, told through an enormous, ever-shifting wall of sound, and through the three members’ stellar musicianship including great riffs, looming bass, passionate vocals, and propulsive, furious drumming. These elements are able to successfully carry the momentum across the entire length- not only does Ilion cover 8 songs in 80 minutes, but these songs really ROCK too. Even the repetitive closer feels like music that might play while looking at the destruction created after a final boss is defeated, or ceremony music that symbolizes a great and terrifying change in the life of a protagonist. Even if better albums come along later in the year, this is a story that must be told, and an album you must hear.

Squiggly


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Here’s a non-exhaustive list of new releases for the week of February 16, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.

– List of Releases: February 16, 2024 –

Art of Anarchy

Art of Anarchy: Let There Be Anarchy
Genre: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Label: Pavement Entertainment

Open Arms - Cream

The Boxer Rebellion: Open Arms
Genre: Indie-Rock
Label: Universal

Darkspace

Darkspace: Dark Space – II
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Season of Mist

Chromeo

Chromeo: Adult Contemporary
Genre: Funk/Disco
Label: BMG

Einar Solberg

Einar Solberg: The Congregation Acoustic
Genre: Progressive Rock/Art Pop
Label: InsideOutMusic

Eternal Storm

Eternal Storm: A Giant Bound to Fall
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Transcending Obscurity

Grandaddy

Grandaddy: Blu Wav
Genre: Indie-Rock/Lo-Fi
Label: Dangerbird

IDLES

IDLES: TANGK
Genre: Punk/Post-Punk
Label: Partisan

Ihsahn

Ihsahn: Ihsahn
Genre: Progressive/Black Metal
Label: Candlelight

ILLUMISHADE

Illumishade: Another Side of You
Genre: Metal/Gothic
Label: Napalm

Jason Derulo

Jason Derulo: Nu King
Genre: Pop/R&B
Label: Atlantic

This is Me…Now (Deluxe CD)

Jennifer Lopez: This Is Me… Now
Genre: Pop/R&B
Label: BMG

Laura Jane Grace

Laura Jane Grace: Hole In My Head
Genre: Folk/Punk
Label: Polyvinyl

Faith Crisis Pt 1 TRANSPARENT

Middle


Previous Diagnoses:

Paradise Lost|Primus|Faith No More|Paramore|HEALTH|Dir En Grey

Band/Artist: MC Ren

Origins: Compton, California, USA

Founded: 1992

Studio albums: 4

Active: Yes

Taste Test: Playlist

Good day denizens of Sputnik, and welcome to the seventh instalment of my diagnosis series. After covering a mixture of rock and metal bands, I thought I’d tap into some hip-hop, and more specifically, highlight an underrated MC in the game: Ren. For my money, Ren is a great rapper – his baritone voice has the same kind of well-rounded warmth and weight to it his peers Ice Cube and Dre have, and his feral attitude and cold-killer bars make his discography a very engaging one. Yet, he’s not really talked about a great deal. Why? Well, being in, arguably, the most important hip-hop act in music history won’t have made his situation any easier, giving that N.W.A was comprised of pedigree talents Ice Cube, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, all of whom went off to shatter and re-define the genre with their own solo careers. As such, while MC Ren didn’t grapple the zeitgeist as aggressively as Ice Cube say, his music still deserves every hip-hop fan’s attention.

Shock of the Hour (1993)
album 1

The Doctor’s rating: 4/5

Analysis: After the success of his debut EP Kizz My Black Azz in 1992, with the aid of Eazy-E, Ren set to work on…


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Here’s a non-exhaustive list of new releases for the week of February 9, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.

– List of Releases: February 9, 2024 –

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Chelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out To She Reaches To She 
Genre: Gothic/Folk/Alt-Rock
Label: Loma Vista

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The Chisel – What A Fucking Nightmare
Genre: Punk
Label: Pure Noise

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Dizzee Rascal – Don’t Take It Personal
Genre: Hip-Hop/Grime
Label: Big Dirte3

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Helado Negro – PHASOR
Genre: Alt/Indie Pop
Label: 4AD

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Hulder – Verses In Oath
Genre: Black Metal
Label: 2o Buck Spin

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Infected Rain – Time
Genre: Nu-Metal/Djent/Metalcore
Label: Napalm Records

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In Vain (ESP) – Back To Nowhere
Genre: Heavy Metal/Thrash
Label: Fighter Records

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Itasca – Imitation Of War
Genre: Folk/Rock/Psych
Label: Paradise Of Bachelors

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Kali Malone – All Life Long
Genre: Classical/Drone
Label: Ideologic Organ

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Kristoffer Gildenlow – Empty 
Genre: Prog Rock/Alt-Rock
Label: New Joke Productions

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The Last Ten Seconds Of Life – No Name Graves
Genre: Death Metal/Hardcore/Deathcore
Label: Unique Leader

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Madi Diaz – Weird Faith
Genre: Indie Folk
Label: ANTI-

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Morbid Saint – Swallowed By Hell
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Label: High Roller

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Nocturnal Sorcery– Captive In The Breath Of Life
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Kvult

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The Pineapple Thief –


Previous Diagnoses:

Paradise Lost|Primus|Faith No More|Paramore|HEALTH

Hello music enthusiast, and welcome to another instalment of Dr.Gonzo’s ‘Diagnosis Series’– where I go through a band or artist’s studio recordings and find their strengths and weaknesses. Today’s edition is on Japanese legends Dir En Grey, so join me while I try and wade through their sprawling and epic work.

Band/Artist: Dir En Grey

Origins: Osaka, Japan

Founded: 1997

Members:

Kyo – vocals

Kaoru – lead guitar

Die – rhythm guitar

Toshiya – bass

Shinya – drums

Studio albums: 11

Active: Yes

Gauze (1999)

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 The Doctor’s rating: 4/5

Analysis: As far as debut albums go, Gauze is an excellent entry point for fans looking to listen to some great J-rock music. Tracks like “Yurameki”, “Akuro No Oka”, “Cage” and “Yokan” reveal the raw talent within the band, with a deluge of infectious melodies, fantastic vocal performances and solid playing from every member. “Cage” in particular is a song I hold close to my heart, as I spent A LOT of time trying to play it when I first started playing the bass (the solo is still one of Toshiya’s career highlights). In hindsight though, Gauze’s strongest attribute is setting the stage for the rest of Dir En Grey’s career. The album gives every member the opportunity to shine and show their…


As we enjoy the countless year-end best-of festivities, let’s not forget the wonderful album artwork that 2023 has brought us. Below is a list of 100 of the best covers I saw all year, not ranked by quality but following a vague progression of color and shape. As always, this is by no means an exhaustive list, as many iconic artworks were left on the cutting room floor, but I think it all adds up to my favorite collage yet! Have fun, and here’s to another year of great album covers! — neekafat

Click or tap the 10×10 grid for the high-res image:

https://imgur.com/a/u5yhFmX

Top-Album-Covers-of-2023

 

The Albums:
Young Fathers // Heavy Heavy

Madeline Kenney // A New Reality Mind

Gretta Ray // Positive Spin

Ulrika Spacek // Compact Trauma

The Hirs Collective // We’re Still Here

Allison Russell // The Returner

Jeff Rosenstock // HELLMODE

Beta Librae // DAYSTAR

Covet // catharsis

Indigo De Souza // All of This Will End

Ayesha // Rhythm is Memory

George Clanton // Ooh Rap I Ya

Altin Gün // Aşk

Beth Bombara // It All Goes Up

Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean // Obsession Destruction

Blood Incantation // Luminescent Bridge

Hail the Sun // Divine Inner TensionAlbum Review: Hail the Sun - 'Divine Inner Tension' - The Alternative

Caroline


 

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Peter Gabriel-i/o

The usual hesitations behind releasing a record in December seemed to matter fuck all to legend Peter Gabriel, who kicked off the month with his first studio album of original material since 2002, which he had been tracking since as far back as 1995.  i/o’s nearly 30 years in development did not go to waste either, as this may be his richest and most densely produced record since the ’80s.  The man even released three separate mixes of the record, each highlighting enough new subtleties in the production to make any of them a reasonable candidate for “the definitive version”.  Peter approaches the sonic palate here blending electronics and traditional instrumentation perhaps the furthest he’s ever gone, spanning a range from beautiful, lush, and sprawling orchestration (“Playing for Time”) to tightly constructed borderline sculptural beats that almost sound assembled in a musical junkyard out of any scrap he could find (“The Court”).  This is a notably more patient and subdued record than some of his bombastic and thunderous early work (understandably so at 73 years old), but even a few throwback bangers rear their head and show the man can still sell jubilant pop tunes overflowing with vibrancy, most notably the exhilarating “Olive Tree”.  It’s the title track however, a warm and moving piece on universal connectedness that only feels more earnest and resonant in Peter’s old age, that serves as the heart of the whole project.  Although i/o admittedly falls short of the unfairly high


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