The 30 Albums You Have to Hear in 2022
We’re not exaggerating when we say 2022 looks set to be a historic year for new music, and that’s without taking into consideration the fact there are bound to be plenty of surprise releases along the way. Before the list was released we’ve already been treated to two brilliant records in the form of ‘Dawn FM’ by The Weeknd and ‘Caprisongs’ by FKA Twigs, with even more to come. This list contains exciting debuts, long-awaited returns and artists facing the pressure of following up excellent albums. We’ve tried to encapsulate a wide range of genre’s and artists, from 80s Synth-pop royalty through to post-punk pioneers and Spanish hip-hop.
So without further ado, here are our 30 albums that you have to listen to in 2022…
February
Bastille - Give Me The Future
Release Date: 4th February
Bastille never fail to deliver an epic concept record, with each of their three previous studio albums combining frontman Dan Smith’s passion for cinematic flair with an in-depth narrative centered around issues ranging anywhere from emotional trauma to global devastation. ‘Give Me The Future’ looks set to expand on their previous album ‘Doom Days’ apocalyptic party threads. This time Smith is intent on analysing the macabre world of VR alongside the rise of the increasingly more soul-destroying social networks. With the album just around the corner, we can’t help be excited following the record’s stellar singles; the Daft Punk Funk of ‘Distorted Light Beams’, the slice of Pop heaven that is ‘Thelma + Louise’ and the thundering foreboding percussion of ‘Give Me The Future’. If the virtual hellscape is this good, well we’re afraid to say we can’t wait to be plugged in.
Mitski - Laurel Hell
Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz
Release Date: 4th February
Japanese-American indie-rock artist Mitski almost gave it all up following the release of her incredible fifth record ‘Be The Cowboy’. Feeling consumed by the industry, not to mention the pressure of her profile rising rapidly she was intent on walking away from making music for good, describing the situation in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone “I could see a future self, who would put out music for the sake of keeping the machine running. And that really scared me.” The new record, Laurel Hell, which fittingly is named after a wild entangling plant, see’s Mitski burst free and back onto the scene. An album she’s worked on since 2018, it went through a variety of guises from Punk to Country before settling into a semi-electronic alternative groove. Early singles ‘Love Me More’, ‘Working for the Knife’ and ‘The Only Heartbreaker’ present Mitski’s sound at a crossroads between Robyn and label mate Phoebe Bridgers, there’s a deep sadness in her lyrics buried under the pulsating layers of rhythmic synths. It’s unclear where the future lies for Mitski past this record. She’ll be supporting Harry Styles at Wembley Stadium later this year on his UK tour, a major crossover moment into the realms of the mainstream. One thing is for certain however, this is lining up to be yet another creative masterpiece from Mitski.
Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There
Photo Credit: Rosie Foster
Release Date: 4th February
London Postpunk ensemble Black Country, New Road have been relentless in their recording output, their experimental debut album ‘For The First Time’ dominated album of the year lists and marked the musical collective as serious creative talents to watch. Not ones to rest on their laurels, their upcoming sophomore record ‘Ants From Up There’ will arrive practically a year to the date of their debut. Lead single ‘Chaos Space Marine’ feels like the lovechild of The National, Pulp and Arcade Fire. Each song defies classic musical structure. You’re genuinely unaware where the instrumentation will stretch next; trumpets rise triumphantly, strings cascade and a guitar will flare into life. It’s disarray in its most beautiful form. One thing is certain, their music will thrill you to the bone or leave you an emotional wreck, there is no in-between. Whether it’s the gentle simmering of ‘Concorde’ which bubbles over into frantic hysteria by its conclusion or the erratic almost intrusive carnal drumbeats of ‘Snow Globe’ that infiltrate your mind. This group is one of Britain’s most creative forces in music right now, leading the charge of an exciting new generation of Rock and Post-Punk, and their new record is one you can’t afford to miss out on.
Alt J - The Dream
Release Date: 11th February
It’s been five years since Alt-J’s last album, with 2022 also marking a decade since the group's incredible debut ‘An Awesome Wave’. Their upcoming fourth record ‘The Dream’ hints at what could be remarkably their strongest material yet. It’s been preceded by three spectacular yet diverse singles. ‘U&ME’ is a celebration of everything that's come before, it showcases growth in the group whilst still sonically harking back to the exceptional debut we all fell in love with. ‘Get Better’ is a stripped back acoustic heartbreaker, full of emotion, it unsurprisingly floored the group’s Gus Unger-Hamilton, as he noted in an accompanying press release "when Joe first played it to me I didn’t just get a bit tearful, I broke down. A big, big cry. A cry of the year". ‘Hard Drive Gold’ meanwhile is anthemic in nature, it shows the euphoric and explosive side to the trio’s sound. It sounds like ‘The Black Keys’ on acid, it’s equal parts a rocking foot-stomper, as it is progressive and psychedelic. All three singles show a band excelling at multiple aspects of their sound, we can’t wait to see what the sum of all these parts equates to very soon.
Foxes - The Kick
Release Date: 11th February
Louisa Allen aka. Foxes has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to creating finely crafted pop masterpieces. Last year she made a welcome return with the sensational ‘Friends In The Corner’ EP which perfectly sets the scene for her upcoming third record ‘The Kick’. It looks set to once again defy expectations, with its singles, she’s released some of the most incredible pieces of Pop over the last six months; ‘Sister Ray’ is joyous, full of fluorescent synthesisers and wistful lyricism. ‘Dance Magic’ hints at a record infused with a mix of electronica and disco destined to groove you to the bone somewhere in the darkness of a feverish club. Meanwhile, ‘Absolute’ is centered around a rampant and infectious earworm of a chorus that invokes the 90s Eurodance scene.
Metronomy - Small World
Photo Credit: Alex Lambert
Release Date: 18th February
Metronomy have been an ever-present force in the alternative pop world this past decade. Yet despite this, it still feels quite incredible that they’re on their seventh album with the release of ‘Small World’. Throughout their career, they’ve never stagnated, always willing to adapt and see their music evolve. Upcoming record ‘Small World’ is described as a “return to simple pleasures, embracing in part of more pared-down, songwriterly sonics… all while asking broader existential questions.” Singles such as ‘It’s good to be back’ and more noticeably ‘Things will be fine’ reflect the group embracing folk and acoustic influences more than ever, at its heart however remains the familiar stellar songwriting of the band’s only permanent member Joe Mount. It’s no surprise to hear the events of the past few years have had such a heavy effect on the sonics and creation of the record, from the mystical artwork down to the appreciation of mother nature that runs deep throughout the album. It wouldn’t be a Metronomy record without a dazzling array of ethereal synths, but noticeably, it might just also be their most profound collection of tracks to date.
Tears For Fears - The Tipping Point
Photo Credit: Frank W. Ockenfels
Release Date: 25th February
It’s been an incredulous seventeen-year wait for a new Tears For Fears album. The creation of ‘The Tipping Point’ literally left the fate of creative duo Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith on a knifes edge. As Orzabal explained in a statement alongside the announcement of the record “Before everything went so right with this album, everything first had to go wrong. It took years, but something happens when we put our heads together.” The creation of the record, initially due in 2017 fell apart when the pair’s old management placed them with some of “today’s hit songwriters”, destroying their relationship with their old management and almost each other. When they reunited with longtime collaborator Charlton Pettus and acquired new management however that’s when the magic clicked, the spark returned and the album found a new life. The title track retains all the electricity and flair that made the pair such a prominent force in the eighties, yet feels reinvigorated and modern without losing any of their edge. That’s why we’re so excited to see what’s in store when the full-length album arrives shortly.
Soft Cell - *Happiness Not Included
Release Date: 25th February
Another iconic pairing of the eighties, Soft Cell are also preparing to release on the same day as Tears For Fears with their own collection of new material in twenty years. Frontman Marc Almond detailed the incredibly political charged record in an accompanying press release “In this album I wanted to look at us as a society: a place where we have chosen to put profits before people, money before morality and decency, food before the rights of animals, fanaticism before fairness and our own trivial comforts before the unspeakable agonies of others. But in the album, there is also a belief that there is a utopia if we can peel back the layers and understand what really matters.” That passion burns intensely on tracks such as ‘Heart Like Chernobyl’ which paints a bleak picture of our behaviour towards refugees as a country, religion and even references to North Korea. It’s been a long time since Almond and Ball’s pioneering synth-pop has dominated the airwaves, but this time they’re back and they’re making sure you hear exactly what they’re fighting for.
March
Peach Pit - From 2 to 3
Photo Credit: Mackenzie Walker
Release Date: 4th March
Vancouver four-piece Peach Pit’s third album ‘From 2 to 3’ is described by lead singer Neil Smith as “a collection of songs that were written late at night, alone in a small apartment with a hushed voice so as not to wake anyone.” That intimate environment has clearly influenced the record with the pre-release folk-rock singles evoking a wistful longing for the open road. ‘Look Out which is a “nod to the apartments and neigborhoods” where the songs were written is reminiscent of fellow Canadian’s Arcade Fire’s love letter to their own suburbs. ‘Vickie’ meanwhile is a joyous and wholesome dedication to a friend whose only wish for her birthday was a song of her own, which Peach Pit have duly obliged. The result is a foot-stomping tribute to those closest to us. Finally, ‘Up Granville’ with its sensational psychedelic guitar riff feels like a comforting embrace. We can’t think of a better spring record to play with the car windows all the way down as we hit the highway.
Rex Orange County - Who Cares?
Photo Credit: Alexandra Waespi
Release Date: 11th March
A last-minute addition to this list. Alex O’Connor aka. Rex Orange County has continued to go from strength to strength and his upcoming record ‘Who Cares?’ looks set to continue that trend. Previous record ‘Pony’ was his strongest work to date, the perfect amalgamation of the quirky singer-songwriters blend of sweet melodic Pop with Jazz meets Hip Hop beats and instrumentals. Brand new single and the first glimpse of ‘Who Cares?’ comes in the form of the orchestrated motivational speech ‘KEEP IT UP’. We’re also highly anticipated for another team up with Tyler, The Creator pencilled in on the album's tracklist.
Charli XCX - Crash
Release Date: 18th March
Charli’s upcoming record ‘Crash’ feels like the epic season finale of your favourite niche drama, one that has since grown into a global phenomenon but you tell everyone you know you were there when only a handful of people were fawning over it. It’s the last album on her longstanding and sometimes tense record deal with Atlantic and Charli is making an explosive exit. The lead single ‘Good Ones’ feels like the spiritual successor to noughties pop scene queens Spears and Minogue. It is single-handedly one of the greatest pieces of Pop I’ve heard in years. Meanwhile, ‘New Shapes’ see’s her once again combined with Christine & The Queens. This time however the duo are joined by avant-garde royalty Caroline Polacheck. Resulting in a girl group fans have been screaming after for years. The latest single 'Beg For You' with Rina Sawayama meanwhile takes an ingenious interpolation of September's Club classic 'Cry For You', a truly delightful collaboration. Do not be surprised if this record dominates everyone's Album of the Year lists come December.
April
Let’s Eat Grandma - Two Ribbons
Photo Credit: El Hardwick
Release Date: 8th April
Two Ribbons is the tale of two best friends finding both themselves and also finding their way back to one another. It’s been a turbulent three years for the duo since they last released music, the incredible ‘I’m All Ears’. For the first time they’ve written a selection of tracks separately, the lyrics are deeply personal and profound. Single ‘Happy New Year’ combines their lyrical mastery with an incredible gleaming hyper pop production sheen. The title track written by Jenny Hollingworth meanwhile is a stripped back ode to “two of the closest people in my life” she describes, “and how my relationships with them shifted over time through loss and life changes. It touches on the isolating experience of grieving, our powerlessness in the face of death, and the visceral emotions of grief.” It’s clearly evident that Two Ribbons will be a deeply emotional affair, destined to leave the listener crying, dancing or even both.
Wet Leg - Wet Leg
Release Date: 8th April
It’s the debut everyone is talking about. Last year, The Isle Of Wight group captured hearts, building an adoring fan base with their infectiously catchy debut single ‘Chaise Lounge'. We can only imagine how sales in the now-infamous item of furniture have skyrocketed over the last six months. The track is full of tongue in cheek lyrics and a phenomenal chorus that whilst simple, never fails to draw a smile across your face. Crucially, the indie anthem also gave us the feeling we were witnessing the start of a really special and significant rock group, and their following singles have only ramped up expectations to a fever pitch. ‘Wet Dream’ is gloriously joyful and bonkers whilst ‘Too Late Now’ is an example of how they’re not afraid to embrace the abstract featuring an unexpected, almost frightening structure alongside the sort of powerful monologue Self Esteem would be proud of. There is a reason everyone is anticipating this album. Be very excited.
Jack White - Fear Of The Dawn / Entering Heaven Alive
Photo Credit: David James Swanson
Release Date: 8th April (Fear of the Dawn) & 22nd July (Entering Heaven Alive)
Jack White doesn’t stand still for a moment, he’s only just come off a raucous resurgence album cycle with The Raconteurs before now preparing to release two records within the space of a few months. First up is ‘Fear Of The Dawn’ scheduled for this April, it’s set to highlight his trademark intense sonic barrage of guitar rock in all its glory, first single ‘Taking Me Back’ feels like it's arrived straight from a White Stripes greatest hits record. Surprisingly, the second record ‘Entering Heaven Alive’ is a folk affair, acoustic lead single ‘Love Is Selfish’ is almost country in nature. Of all the artists to divide their sound into two digestible full-length records that showcase the yin/yang nature of their talents we couldn’t ask for anyone better than White. It’ll be fascinating to see how the records combine when he takes them on the road this summer, in the meanwhile, we have two exciting rare solo albums from a true guitar legend to keep us busy this year.
Hatchie - Giving The World Away
Release Date: 22nd April
Australian Singer-Songwriter Hatchie’s 2019 dream-pop debut album ‘Keepsake’ was a remarkable introduction, featuring the stellar single ‘Without A Blush’. Follow up, ‘Giving The World Away’ according to Hatchie represents turning over a new leaf “This album really just feels like the beginning to me, and scratching the surface – and even though it’s my third release as Hatchie, I feel like I’m rebooting from scratch.” Pre-release singles already hint at what is to be a spectacular album, ‘This Enchanted’ is joyous, full of reverb that assaults your senses, Hatchie’s fluorescent vocals blend the lines between Pop and shoegaze. Meanwhile, the latest release ‘Quicksand’ is sensational, written with Dan Nigro who helped helm 2021s biggest Pop release, Rodrigo’s ‘SOUR’, it has all the Hatchie electropop hallmarks turned up to their max accompanied by a brilliant bridge. There’s good reason to be excited by Hatchie's return and we can’t wait to hear more.
Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia
Photo Credit: Filmawi
Release Date: 25th April
Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. have been hard at work ever since the release of their debut album ‘Dogrel’ back in 2019, swiftly following it up with the lauded and critically acclaimed ‘A Hero’s Death’. Third record ‘Skinty Fia’ which is an old Irish swear that roughly translates as “the damnation of the deer” is both a love letter to their home of Dublin and Ireland as a whole as well being a deep-rooted introspective analysis of what it means to be Irish, and being away from their home. Speaking with Rolling Stone magazine, the album is described as “a record that merges accordion and doomy electronica, Nineties alt-rock and Irish angst.” Our first glimpse of the record is the intense and doom-laden ‘Jackie Down The Line’, equal parts sinister and spectacular it alludes to yet another masterpiece from the pioneers of modern postpunk.
May
Liam Gallagher - C’Mon You Know
Release Date: 27th May
We’re rather fond of the raucous Gallagher brother at The Perfect Tempo. Whilst arguably he’s been unable to recreate the magic of the early Oasis records which defined rock music in the nineties and turned them into live behemoths, both of his solo records have contained some really special moments and we’re sure the third record will be no different. Most intriguingly his strongest tracks have seemingly been the epic orchestrated ballads, we’re hoping for more of those but perhaps even a true to form rock stomper or two, to really reclaim his rowdy rock crown. One thing is for certain, it definitely won’t be lacking in bravado whatever he has in store. First single ‘Everything’s Electric’ arrives on the 4th of Feb and with a BRITs performance to boot, we’ll soon have more of a clue what to expect.
TBC
Rosalia - MOTOMAMI
Release Date: TBC
LA ROSALIA! The Spanish superstar became a global icon with her sublime dissertation turned sophomore album 'El Mal Querer'. Whilst there have been plenty of Spanish language albums and stars in recent years that have managed to break through into chart and critical success, none have done so with such an experimental or groundbreaking style of music. Rosalia isn’t afraid to take risks and despite it being nearly four years since her last record she’s remained a prominent figure in the cultural zeitgeist with frequent collaborations and vastly unique singles whether that be the emotional ‘Dolerme’ or the empowering anthem that is ‘Aute Cuture’. Not much at all is known about her upcoming third record ‘MOTOMAMI’. However, a recent profile with Rolling Stone teased “a masterpiece full of dissonance, synthesizers, and saturated organs. It’s an innovative, avant-garde work that captures Rosalía’s roots and technical capabilities, leaving you with more questions than answers once you finish.” Whilst its sultry lead single which saw her tango with superstar Weeknd for a fiery duet doesn’t indicate as such, it leaves us even more intrigued to hear what has got the renowned music publication so excited.
Caroline Polacheck
Release Date: TBC
Caroline Polacheck’s third solo record (her debut technically under her given name), 2019s ‘Pang’ felt like the moment everything had aligned for the alternative pop star. It was the culmination of years refining her unique and unquestionable talents. It saw her combine her delicate vocals with the progressive Pop production of PC Music’s Danny Harle. Any follow up was bound to be highly anticipated, however when she released a very small taste of what to expect in the form of ‘Bunny Is A Rider’ she surpassed even the heaviest of expectations. The single takes her avant-garde sound and merges it with an infectious whistle and almost tropical production. Her vocals contort like a gymnast over layers of synths, scratches and cascading beats. It’s a glorious single that sets the scene for what could be a very significant record when it drops later this year.
Christine & The Queens
Photo Credit: Jamie Morgan
Release Date: TBC
Héloïse Letissier, better known as Christine & The Queens has just continually gone from strength to strength. Their 2018 sophomore record ‘Chris’ blended both French and English Pop into a confident, beautiful and powerful album that focused on love, identity and dismantling the social barriers between them. It is an incredible and timeless record that we thought couldn’t be topped, we were perplexed at where they could take their sound next? The answer 2020’s striking EP ‘La Vita Nuova’ which hinted at even more languages within Letissier’s repertoire and featured the multilingual masterpiece 'People I’ve Been Sad’, an extraordinary track that felt like the epitome of Letissier’s incredible talent. Last year Letissier began teasing her highly anticipated third album with the mysterious Rahim Redcar Instagram account (a title hint perhaps?) alongside a double-sided cover single featuring a wondrous rendition of George Micheal’s ‘Freedom’ with the added twist of Letissier’s trademark revolutionary production flair. Consider this, the record to keep an eye out for this year.
Hozier - Unreal Unearth
Photo Credit: Edward Cooke
Release Date: TBC
At the turn of the year, we finally got the name for Hozier’s highly anticipated third album. ‘Unreal Unearth’. The Irish songwriter with a deeply emphatic and poetic soul knows how to stir emotions with just a single line of prose. Unafraid to tackle global issues, Irish history and matters of the heart in equal measure. His last album, the sensational ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ was an ingenious concept record that interpolated the apocalypse with tales of romance and redemption. We have little idea yet of what his new album will have in store for us but Hozier is constantly on the pulse of socio-political issues, so expect a powerful and present record. A recent collaboration with dance act Medusa called ‘Tell It To My Heart’ hinted at a desire to experiment with his sound, yet not once comprising on his lyrical brilliance. Consider us intrigued and excited to hear ‘Unreal Unearth’ later this year.
Rina Sawayama
Photo Credit: Hendrik Schneider
Release Date: TBC
It’s hard to think of someone who had quite the impact with a debut record in recent years as Rina Sawayama. She captured everyone’s attention with the release of the phenomenal single ‘XS’, immediately evoking memories of Britney Spears at her peak, it was a moment of magic that preluded a special record in the form of ‘SAWAYAMA’. The album was an unfiltered combination of Punk, Pop, Grunge and Electronica which dominated critics highlights of 2020. Her profile has only skyrocketed since. She collaborated with Elton John with her moving tribute to untraditional family dynamics on ‘Chosen Family’. She also fronted a powerful rendition of 'Enter Sandman', shredding her way to glory on the recent Metallica Blacklist record. Such a versatile performer and artist there is literally no limit to what direction her follow-up could contain, at its heart however is bound to be some of the finest pop music we hear this year, that's for certain. We can’t find to find out.
Rihanna
Photo Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty
Release Date: TBC
Yeah, this one is hopeful but hear us out… it has to happen at some point surely!? It’s been over six years since Rihanna graced us with the creatively bold and brave ‘Anti’, it was an interesting direction that inadvertently revolutionized the musical soundscape for Female Pop music from that moment forward. It still sounds fresh all these years later, she’s crafted so many major pop hits over the last two decades but very few sound timeless in the way Anti does. There have been whisperings of double records, and reggae influences for the last couple of years now, but honestly, whatever she has in store is set to revolutionize the Pop landscape once more. Pop has moved on and evolved in so many ways, expanding into multiple subgenres these past six years. Therefore, we just can’t wait to hear what a Rihanna album sounds like in 2022. Intrigued is an understatement.
The Cure
Photo Credit: Andy Vella
Release Date: TBC
Another elusive album (or two?) that’s been promised for years now. Smith has frequently mentioned in interviews over the past few years that he’s recorded two brand new Cure albums with contrasting moods and sounds. At one point there was a reference of a 19 track record filled with 12-minute songs. One thing we’re certain of however is that It’s been fourteen years since the last selection of original material from the pioneering punks of goth rock so we don’t mind waiting a few more months. With a winter tour already lined up and corresponding press releases that feature mentions of the mysterious new music, it seems like 2022 might just be the year Robert Smith once enthrals our bleak hearts.
Kendrick Lamar
Photo Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters
Release Date: TBC
Pre-pandemic we felt like we were on the verge of a new Kendrick record at any moment, especially considering he was scheduled to headline the 2020 edition of Glastonbury Festival for what felt like a career-defining moment on these shores. He’d released an abstract trailer for project pgLang which is rumoured to be the title of his new self created record label. Those whispers only gathered pace following his statement stating his upcoming album will be his last for Top Dawg Entertainment (who he’s been signed with since his debut and has a longstanding relationship with label head 'Top Dawg'). Whilst a notable reclusive artist, recent months have seen Lamar begin to stir, he featured prominently on the brilliant debut album from his cousin Baby Keem and in just a couple of weeks he will take to the esteemed Super Bowl halftime show stage for an all-star team up with Dr Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige. We hope this means we are only weeks away from discovering what Lamar has up his sleeves for the single most anticipated hip-hop album of the year. It’s going to be fascinating to see how he follows his Pultizer winning previous work ‘DAMN’ that’s for sure.
The Smile
Photo Credit: Alex Lake
Release Date: TBC
With three London launch concerts only days away (and a global Livestream available for those not lucky enough to be in attendance), it feels like we’re on the verge of finally getting to hear the mysterious record from The Smile which has been created in collaboration with the renowned and frequent producer of Yorke’s, Nigel Goldrich. First premiered during Glastonbury’s Live at Worthy Farm last summer, The Smile contains long-term Radiohead bandmates Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood accompanied as a three-piece by Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner. We were treated to an enthralling, exciting return to post-punk roots from Yorke and co. that felt like a sensory explosion. Debut single "You Will Never Work in Television Again" hints at some of Yorke’s most creative and inspired work in decades, we can’t wait to hear more.
Sigrid
Photo Credit: Alex Sarda
Release Date: TBC
Norwegian Popstar Sigrid blew everyone away with her sensational breakout single ‘Strangers’, it was without a doubt an example of the perfect Pop song. A great debut album followed, establishing Sigrid as a spearhead for the next generation of Pop. However, you feel her upcoming sophomore album will soon take her into superstar orbit. Early singles ‘Mirror’ and ‘Burning Bridges’ not just recapture the initial thrill of hearing ‘Strangers’ for the first time, it surpasses them. Her ear for a pop melody and killer chorus is simply unmatched. If that wasn’t enough the ultimate team-up with Griff resulted in the phenomenal ‘Head On Fire’, she simply doesn’t miss and with a UK arena tour in her sights this winter, we hope we won’t have to wait long to find out if this record is truly the masterpiece early signals suggest it well might be.
Foals
Release Date: TBC
Despite their last ambitious double record, 2019’s ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost’ being a pair of concept albums centered around the end of the world, I don’t think even Foals frontman Yannis Phillipakis predicted the impending global pandemic that followed. Thankfully, the now three-piece have decided to embrace a funkier and disco-influenced direction for their upcoming seventh album. The lead single ‘Wake Me Up’ is as fluorescent and summery as one of Phillipakis trademark vintage shirts, it also seems to be a clear indication of the exciting new sound we can expect. Recently speaking with Dork, Phillipakis spoke more about finding a new rhythm “We weren’t particularly interested in writing any more heavy rock songs right now. The appetite and the intuition in the band was to write dancier tracks, some of which are poppier maybe than what has come before, not all certainly, but yeah, just to enjoy the drier, more rhythmic side of the band”. We hope that we hear more ahead of their highly anticipated Spring Tour.
Maggie Rogers
Photo Credit: Olivia Bee
Release Date: TBC
Maggie Rogers debut record ‘Heard It In A Past Life’ was simply sensational. An intricate combination of folk and pop. The long-awaited record featured singles such as the triumphant ‘Light On’ and the song which gained Rogers such excitement in the first place from Pharrell Williams ‘Alaska’. The track floored anyone introduced to the singer-songwriter. Since then we’ve had the chirpy and bright standalone ‘Love You For A Long Time’, a perfect example of how Rogers can construct the most beautiful of songs from the simplest of melodies. In 2020, Rogers presented an archive collection of her work from 2011-2016 further displaying the artistic journey she’s undergone the past decade, much more than an overnight success. Rogers has promised her upcoming second record will appear at some point after a high profile slot at this years Coachella Festival. Rogers has started to tease and preview some experimental and exciting snippets of what’s sure to be another glorious creative masterpiece from the American folk star.
First Aid Kit
Release Date: TBC
The Swedish Söderberg Sisters have never put a foot wrong, boasting an incredible expansive discography of beautiful folk music. It's been over four years since the pairs previous album, 'Ruins'. The record reflected a tumultuous time for the sisters, both had drifted apart, their bond as family frayed whilst in the midst of it all heartbreak within their individual romantic relationships. It presented a darker direction from the siblings. Now with things looking much brighter for the pair, and their bond also restrengthened, they spoke in a recent anniversary celebration of their album 'The Lions Roar' that their new work would reflect their uplift in spirits. The pair have a reputation for creating simply sublime pieces of art, so we cannot wait to see what they have in store for us later this year.