The Goo 1
FEB '25 Σtella - Adagio This is the lead single a
nd title track on the latest album from Greek songstress Σtella (pronounced Stella). There’s a soupçon ‘60s psychedelia which together with the nylon stringed guitar and staccato beats can’t help but lift your spirits. Much quicker than the song title might suggest, Σtella’s delicious voice transports you to sunnier climes on a beautiful little track. I’d be surprised if my vitamin D levels didn’t rise just listening to it. DC Everything is Recorded - Swamp Dream #3 This is the collaborative project of Mercury Prize nominee Richard Russell. Here he previews his latest album Temporary (due Feb ’25) on a track featuring Mary in the Junkyard’s Clari Freeman-Taylor. Combining analog and electronica its fuzzy warmth is like a hazy sun bleached memory. The unconventional but alluring arrangement entwines with Clari’s floating voice giving it a dreamlike quality. I’m really quite smitten by it. DC Skydaddy - Anchor Chains, Plane Motors and Train Whistles - EP The EP title is a quote from It’s A Wonderful Life where George Bailey is describing “The three greatest sounds in the world”. Rachid Fakhre draws from many sources across the five tracks including Sean O’Hagan, Tapir & Gruff Rhys. The pick is ‘Mushrooms’ inspired by the 2020 Beirut explosion complete with menacing screeches. The crescendo walks hand in hand with the plume of the mushroom cloud post explosion. DC Shape - Guts This is a second wave release for the French rock band from Normandy. They released their first EP in 2019 but failed to advance due to COVID. It has allowed their sound to move on considerably. Singer/ Guitarist Axel sings about his battles and frustrations with a chronic illness over the band sounding like Joy Division infused with modern synth equipment. A second single is due in February with a tempting 6-track EP coming in March. DC Butcher Brown - Ibiza Virginia’s Butcher Brown are announcing a new album Letters From the Atlantic (Due March). They count DJ Harrison as a band member and their output could be said to be broadly similar. If DJ Harrison is known for his bedroom hip-hop, perhaps then this is bedroom jazz? Everything is vaguely muted, the bass, the drums, even the sax sounds somewhat distant. Either way it’s very smart, very chill but also very excellent. DC 13