Album of the Week – 1/08/24

This week we have new sounds from the Smashing Pumpkins with the suitable arty-sounding Aghori Mhori Mei. One trip to Google Translate later and I’m still unsure what that means.

ChatGPT says – The title of the Smashing Pumpkins’ new album, “Aghori Mhori Mei,” is a phrase that blends elements from various cultural references. “Aghori” refers to a sect of Hindu ascetics known for their unconventional and intense practices, often linked with themes of death and rebirth. The meaning of “Mhori Mei” is less clear, but it may be an artistic creation by the band, possibly intended to evoke a sense of mysticism and depth​ (Alternative Nation)​​ (100.3 The Fox)​.

The title is very Billy Corgan!

Otherwise, there are new sounds from David Lynch and Chrystabell (Cellophane Memories) which we already featured in our New Music slot. There are also new albums from Simon Fisher Turner (Instability of the Signal) and Brigitte Calls Me Baby (Future Is Our Way).

This week, we’ve gone for something quite upbeat and cheery… for a change! It’s Personal Trainer from Amsterdam, who have approximately 7 members, with Willem Smit leading the lineup! See what you think below…

Album of the Week – Personal Trainer – Still Willing

If you like pop music to keep you on your toes, Amsterdam’s Personal Trainer provide that service fulsomely on their superb second album. Essentially the project of Willem Smit (working with co-producer / collaborator Casper van der Lans) on record and a band live, Personal Trainer showed a facility for DIY indie-pop exuberance and experiment in sync with 2022’s debut, “Big Love Blanket”. Now signed to Bella Union, Willem returns re-energised with Still Willing, a multi-faceted album of shining contrasts and spry melodies, effusive arrangements and subliminal sounds, playful lyrics and self-reflection: in short, a pop album executed with dynamism, vim and charm.

As Willem says, this is a record fuelled by its extremes: sometimes energetic and loud, sometimes quiet and thoughtful, always full of hidden pleasures. “When I listen to the records I make, the main thing I hope is that every time something happens on them, you’re like, ‘Wow.’ I like to be taken by surprise like that on a record, to kind of be thrown around.”

Albums of Note:

— David Lynch and Chrystabell – Cellophane Memories

— Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei

— Brigitte Calls Me Baby – Future Is Our Way

— Simon Fisher Turner – Instability of the Signal

August 2nd:

— Anberlin – Vega

— april june – baby’s out of luck again EP

— Blood – Loving You Backwards

— Brigitte Calls Me Baby – Future Is Our Way

— Cowboy Boy – Lipstick on a Pig

— David Lynch and Chrystabell – Cellophane Memories

— Elijah Blake – elijah.

— Ella Langley – hungover

— Footballhead – Before I Die EP

— Howard Jones – Live at the O2

— Jack White – No Name

— J.R.C.G. – Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra)

— John Carter Cash – Pilgrimage to Rising Fawn

— Kacey Musgraves – Deeper in the Well

— Khalid – Sincere

— Killer Mike – Songs for Sinners & Saints

— Liang Lawrence – What’s Dead and Gone EP

— Los Lonely Boys – Resurrection

— Maren Morris – Intermission EP

— Mechanical Canine – To My Chagrin

— Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin

— Moses Sumney – Sophcore EP

— MOULD – MOULD EP

— Nick Zanca (Mister Lies) – Hindsight

— Orville Peck – Stampede

— Personal Trainer – Still Willing

— Ruel – Adaptations EP

— Saleka – LADY RAVEN (Original Music From The Motion Picture TRAP)

— Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour (10 Year Anniversary Edition)

— Simon Fisher Turner – Instability of the Signal

— Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei

— Sonagi – Everything Is Longing for Secret Voice EP

— Swami & The Bed Of Nails – All Of This Awaits You

— T. Graham Brown – Memphis to Muscle Shoals

— Teen Daze – Elegant Rhythms

— Tones and I – Beautifully Ordinary

— Ween – Chocolate And Cheese (Deluxe Edition)

— WHY? – The Well I Fell Into

— X – Smoke & Fiction

— ZEBEDEE – Going Nowhere Fast