Recent and Decent #113

Feat. Group A.D., Sassy 009, Yin Yin...

Hello and welcome back to another instalment of diverse, recent, decent music. For all the newbies out there, this is a celebratory Substack, where we shout about great stuff (rather than slag off crap stuff). There’s a whole world of amazing music out there. Let’s try to be positive shall we? I know it’s tough sometimes, but it’s time to rest those weary shoulders, wipe that sweaty (disgusting) brow of yours, and put up your big stinking feet. Ignore the kids for a bit and that washing-up you should probably address at some point soon. It’s time to self-indulge.

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Recent and Decent Playlist (click on pic for Tidal playlist)

Every week, I take it turns with my mate and fellow new-music discoverer, Chris, to share and write about 7 songs. All songs under 1 year old, all bloody decent. This week’s playlist is curated by Chris and includes some psychedelia, art-pop and microtonal math(s) rock…

• Group A.D - This Is The Sound (05/25)

  • Thanks to my mate Mark for this recommendation. These guys hail from Leeeds, are playing Manchester Psych Fest in Manchester this September, and I’m already looking forward to it.

• Yin Yin - In Search of Yang (01/26)

  • To my untrained ear, the sample on this, which suggests how all of metaphysics could be unlocked if you can get to grips with the mindblowing concepts of ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, is in the running for the most profoundly inane psychobabble award this year. But, the internet tells me it’s not them, it’s me: it IS profound, and I am not. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, regardless, and there’s an absolute wealth of authentic sounding retro-disco in there too.

• The Space Lady/Cloud Management - General Assembly (03/25)

  • The third of four spoken word tunes, this one samples the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1948, no less. The original declaration itself was delivered without the ambient dub-step behind it - but the UN council subsequently declared that that was their loss.

• Photokem - Cactus Flower (01/26)

  • This 5-piece hail from New York and offer us this melancholic melodic gem. And the bass player is called Wolfgang Hunter, no less.

    Imagine being dealt the hand where you could (legitimately) say, “Hi, my name is Wolfgang Hunter, and I play bass in a New York band.”

• Angine de Poitrine - Fabienk (02/26)

  • Wallop! This bonkers, interesting and wonderful offering is from ‘an anonymous Canadian duo who play asymmetrical and dissonant math rock with a rock n roll exuberance’.

    Well, hell yeah, but, it should be maths rock, really, though, shouldn’t it.

• White Denim - (God created) Lock and Key (01/26)

  • Have another Wallop! track in your life - you deserve it. This one is for anyone who can play air guitar hard.

• Sassy 009 - My Candle (01/26)

  • The opening to this track might make you think that you haven’t listened to Kid A for a while, but Oslo artist Sassy absolutely stands up on her own merit and is well worth four minutes of your time.

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Recent and Decent Album Journal

Every week, I update you with my new favourite albums whilst I have a little wander.

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Sign off

As predicted, I did pop out and see some live music at the weekend. I’m seeing Tim Key this week and seeing a few friends so I might not actually see any live music this week. But you never know. Anyone else got music plans? Or new album recommendations?!