Album of the Week – 13/02/26

There are a few interesting new albums this week, including Ásgeir (Julia), Chet Faker (A Love For Strangers) and the assorted weirdness of Colin Stetson, Greg Fox, and Trevor Dunn (Nethering)

For our album of the week, we went for some throwback indie sounds, from the quite lovely Howling Bells, with their new album Strange Life. It’s their first album in over a decade, and their 5th overall. You can enjoy the lead single below…

Album of the Week –  Howling Bells – Strange Life

Howling Bells have today released their acclaimed new album, ‘Strange Life’, via Nude Records. The UK-based Australian band’s first LP in 12 years, its release is accompanied by a new video for the album track ‘Sweet Relief’.

Says Juanita Stein of the newly released song, “Sweet Relief’ is a song about a friend of ours who has suffered with addiction issues. It’s about finding coping mechanisms for whatever struggles and challenges life may throw your way. Also, it’s a note to self, to remain empathic for anyone who might be struggling with this. After all, none of us is immune to life’s extreme shades. Some of us are just more equipped to respond.”  On the album, she explains, “In the decade or so between our last album and now we have lived multiple lives. Starting families, working other jobs, forging new communities and experiencing huge loss. All these experiences have gifted us shades and colours to create new musical canvases. Strange Life has been a decade in the making. In this time we’ve sat quietly and watched as the world around us has shifted dramatically. A wild and fast-paced carousel of music, art and politics has taken our breath away. Yet, we have remained curiously ambitious and stalwart in our commitment to our art and our sound. Strange Life is a testament to all of this.”

Albums of Note – 

— Middleman – Following the Ghost

— Ásgeir – Julia

— Colin Stetson, Greg Fox, and Trevor Dunn – Nethering

— Chet Faker – A Love For Strangers

— Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern

February 13th:

— Angel Du$t – Cold 2 the Touch

— Ásgeir – Julia

— August Ponthier – Everywhere Isn’t Texas

— Backstreet Boys – Lullaby Renditions of Backstreet Boys

— The Beach Boys – We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years

— Beck – Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime (Vinyl Release)

— Black Swan – Paralyzed

— Boy Golden – Best of Our Possible Lives

— Brent Faiyaz – Icon

— Brothers Osborne – Pawn Shop (10 Year Anniversary Edition)

— Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights

— Chet Faker – A Love For Strangers

— Claire Rosinkranz – My Lover

— Colin Stetson, Greg Fox, and Trevor Dunn – Nethering

— congratulations – Join Hands

— Converge – Love Is Not Enough

— Danny L Harle – Cerulean

— Department – Audacity Files

— Earth Tongue – Dungeon Vision

— Eric Church – Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

— Felsmann + Tiley – Protomensch

— femtanyl – MAN BITES DOG

— Feng – Weekend Rockstar

— Gogol Bordello – We Mean It, Man!

— hemlocke springs – the apple tree under the sea

— Howling Bells – Strange Life

— The Infamous Stringdusters – 20/20

— Jeremy Ivey – Its Shape Will Reveal Itself

— Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern

— Katzin – Buckaroo

— Lauren Spencer Smith – The Art of Being a Mess (Deluxe)

— The Lone Bellow – What a Time to be Alive

— Mariachi El Bronx – Mariachi El Bronx IV

— Melissa Aldana – Filin

— Middleman – Following the Ghost

— Mumford & Sons – Prizefighter

— The Nude Party –  Look Who’s Back

— The Olympians – In Search of a Revival

— Organ Tapes – 一包烟 EP

— The Paranoid Style – Known Associates

— Paul Anka – Inspirations of Life and Love

— PONY – Clearly Cursed

— Ponte Del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb

— Remember Sports – The Refrigerator

— S. Maria – Monkey Jar

— Sarah Kinsley – Fleeting EP

— Story of the Year – A.R.S.O.N.

— Tiana Major9 – November Scorpio

— Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood – Ten Years On

— TX2 – End of Us

— Velocity Girl – ¡Simpatico! (Remasterend and Expanded)

— WORM – Necropalace

— Wrabel – up above

— Yellow Days – Rock and a Hard Place