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AUDIO Andrew Lambert Sophia McDonald Zara Hedderm
ann HousePlants Dry Goods [Bone China Records] Lady Gaga Dawn of Chromatica [Interscope Records] Dry Goods is an album of growers but unfortunately, Daithi and Paul Noonan’s collaboration doesn’t blossom. Daithi’s instrumentals feel more reserved than his traditional violin fuelled club tracks. Opting for more neutral beats, the all too familiar feeling of loneliness (particularly in an pandemic) pulls some of the album into a chokehold, sapping the core energy away. This shifts the focus more towards Paul Noonan’s vocals that match the relaxed tone of the album. Noonan recalls early ‘00s Snow Patrol with his reserved tones but he doesn’t push any boundaries. Highs and lows are not a feature and without strong pulsating vocals to push the record to another height of heavenly collaboration – it falls flat. More a meeting of friends than a meeting of minds, there are moments of fun as heard on Reveller and Companero. Electronic groove melodies induce some head bobbing and make earworms of cuts that don’t begin with a bang. This unexpected catchiness redeems Dry Goods, turning it from easy listen to a record that gets into your head and wins you over. Without crescendos or heightened emotive lyrics on the first listen, you can’t tell the wood from the trees on Daithi and Noonan’s collaborative debut. SMcD Like This? Try These... Daithi - L.O.S.S. Snow Patrol - Final Straw Editors - The Weight of you Love As inimitable as ever, this mutated version of Chromatica is built for the remerging dancefloor worshippers. With a line-up that would make any music lover weep, the remixes don’t stray too far from their originals and instead add even more spice to an album that reminded us what it’s like to free yourself in the club. Featuring artists that have been defined by their bright amazing music such as Arca and Rina Sawayama, Dawn of Chromatica lives up to the high Gaga standards we’ve come to love and will be heavily featured on playlists for years to come. SMcD Men I Trust Untourable Album [Self Released] Men I Trust handle their relaxing indie pop with a certain sensitive touch. This new release was made behind closed doors, giving the impression it’s a time capsule. Veering into the experimental, a darkness seeps in through warped synths and wavering vocals. Emmanuelle Proulx’s vocals are as sweet as ever, rooting the album in their unique indie sound. At the surface, their chill lovelorn sentiments remain and they include tracks which could easily find their way onto their next set of touring songs. SMcD HAVVK Levelling [VETA Records] Manic Street Preachers The Ultra Vivid Lament [Sony] Dublin based alt-rock trio HAVVK level up on their conceptual sophomore record, incorporating a series of profound existential themes into 12 tracks while embellishing the blissful brand of ethereal dream pop that stood out on their 2019 debut. While the markedly matured narratives explored on Levelling unveil newfound depths to Julie Hough’s songwriting, there’s still room for the grungy guitar hooks that HAVVK clearly thrive on to balance out this effective sequel. AL Few bands have endured for 35 years like Welsh trio Manic Street Preachers. For their 14th studio record, the Manics changed things up significantly. Lyrically, Nicky Wire was inspired by the recent deaths of his parents and the fraught political landscape in Britain, all while doing some soul searching. “I used to make sense, but now I am confused,” James Dean Bradfield delivers Wire’s words on The Quest For Ancient Colour. Unexpectedly pretty (Still Snowing In Sapporo) and ABBA fused (The Secret He Had Missed) arrangements make for an immediately welcoming and rewarding listen. ZH CLICK IT OUT… 56 We know it and so should you food, fashion, photography, film, books, magazines, music, design, drink and a curated section of events for you to consider