New Music Reviews (2/10)

Each week, KEXP’s Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Shopping, Obongjayar, Gil Scott-Heron, and more.

Shopping – All or Nothing (FatCat)
This London-bred, Glasgow/LA-based trio’s fourth album is a strong set of energetic, dance-friendly post-punk with nimble, angular guitar lines, bright synths, propulsive rhythms, alternating lead vocals and sharply crafted lyrics of liberation and resilience. 

Obongjayar – Which Way Is Forward? EP (September)
The latest EP from this Nigerian-born, London-based artist is a strong 7-song set blending Afrobeat with arty electro-pop, slinky soul and more, combining a propulsive, imaginatively textured sound with his gravelly vocals and lyrics of identity and resilience. 

Gil Scott-Heron – We're New Again (A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven) (XL)
Chicago drummer/producer Makaya McCraven reworks the late poet/musician’s final album (2010’s I’m New Here) with help from a strong supporting cast of Chicago musicians including Jeff Parker on guitar, Brandee Younger on harp, Junius Paul on bass and Ben Lamar Gay on multiple instruments. McCraven & co. provide a stronger, more deeply rooted jazz framework that blends beautifully with Scott-Heron's bluesy vocals and poetic lyrics of struggle, love, loss, family and mortality.

Against All Logic – 2017-2019 (Other People)
The second album from Chilean-American producer Nicolas Jaar’s Against All Logic project finds him taking a sharp left turn with some harder hitting techno beats and darker atmospheric textures. 

Caitlin Sherman – Death to the Damsel (Nine Mile)
The debut solo album from this Seattle artist (and former member of Evening Bell and Slow Skate) is a diverse set ranging from bluesy, noirish rock and ‘60s-steeped garage-pop to brooding, psych-tinged rock and dreamy atmospheric ballads. 

Say Hi – Diamonds & Donuts (Euphobia)
The 13th Say Hi album from Seattle artist Eric Elbogen is a well-crafted set of dark electro-pop with moody synths, propulsive rhythms, quirky lyrics and catchy song hooks. 

Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – Texas Sun EP (Dead Oceans)
Houston trio Khruangbin collaborated with Fort Worth artist Leon Bridges for a 4-song EP blending dreamy psych-rock with laid-back soul. 

Ásgeir – Bury The Moon (One Little Indian)
This Icelandic artist’s third studio album is a well-crafted set of majestic folk-pop with a haunting, atmospheric sound combining a variety of acoustic and electronic instrumentation with his soaring vocals and lyrics of lost love.

Mo Troper – Natural Beauty (Tender Loving Empire)
This Portland artist’s third album is a fine set of hook-filled power-pop with crunchy guitars, bright keyboards, soaring harmonies and sparkling pop melodies. 

Slashed Tires – Don't Party (Off Tempo)
Slashed Tires is the project of Seattle-based musician/producer Kenneth M Piekarski. Their debut full-length is a rhythm-driven blend of funky dance-pop and New Wave with anxiety-fueled lyrics revolving around connection and club life. 

Hamerkop – Remote (Drag City)
The debut album from this Baltimore-based duo comprised of New Zealand expatriate Annabel Alpers (formerly of Bachelorette) and drummer Adam Cooke is a solid set of prog-tinged psych-pop with shimmering keyboards, hypnotic rhythms and dreamy melodies. 

Poolside – Low Season (Pacific Standard)
The third album from this LA band led by Jeff Paradise is a fine set of buoyant electro-pop with bright synths, occasional tropical touches, propulsive rhythms and sunny melodies.