Festival season is among us. Dust off your tent, stock up on wet-wipes and get those carpools arranged: this is the summer we have been waiting for. We’re not as young as we were pre-pandemic, so stay hydrated, take an occasional nap between sets and don’t buy pills from strangers… obviously.
Also keep your eye out for RIOT coverage from a series of festivals and concerts over the coming weeks: we’re back, baby.
Here are our favourite tunes of the week, bottom’s up.
Mr. Jukes & Barney Artist // Poems
Following the success of 2017 debut God First, Mr. Jukes (AKA Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack Steadman) has returned with a collaborative album alongside East London rapper Barney Artist. The Locket pairs nostalgic hip-hop with jazz-facing production to make for an album that is not only cohesive, but a whole damn vibe!
black midi // Cruising
Initially only available as a bonus track on Japanese copies of their Calvacade album, avant noisemakers black midi have shared ‘Cruising’ with the rest of the world, and thank heavens that they have.
Public Service Broadcasting // Blue Heaven
With new album Bright Magic arriving in September, Public Service Broadcasting have ditched the archived sound samples for this euphoric banger. ‘Blue Heaven’ features Andreya Casablanca of Berlin indie duo Gurr.
audiobooks // LaLaLa It’s The Good Life
The return of audiobooks coinciding with the reopening of dancefloors is a coincidence worth celebrating. ‘LaLaLa It’s The Good Life’ sees the duo take on frantic hyperpop and will feature on audiobooks’ forthcoming album, arriving in January via Heavenly Recordings.
Nation of Language // This Fractured Mind
NOL fuse the retrospective fun of 80s synth-pop with Ian Delaney’s wistful introspective lyrics to create a sound that is truly transportive. The New York trio tour Europe next year, visiting some statement venues – this could be a moment worthing seeing in the flesh.
BLACKSTARKIDS // JUNO
Dirty Hit’s BLACKSTARKIDS have made the juncture between hip-hop and pop entirely their own recently, with a string of effortlessly likeable singles.
Treeboy & Arc // The Condor
Fresh from the Speedy Wunderground alumni’s latest EP. Life Preserver packs more of Treeboy & Arc’s off-kilter post-punk, albeit with a more slick, radio-friendly flow than their previous output; definitely worth 15 minutes of your time.
Photo Credit: Kevin Condon
