Unraveled’s June Release Recap
June proved to be anything but dull with a swathe of new releases from artists big and small. Here’s a few of Unraveled’s favourites from the month.
MAJOR MOMENTS
Forest Claudette - Everything Was Green (EP)
Playful and vulnerable in equal measure, the Naarm / Melbourne singer & rapper’s sophomore EP is a more confident step forward, full of lush, easy grooves to lose yourself in. It’s equal parts fun and moving, playful and introspective. Don’t let this one pass you by.
Nothing But Thieves - Dead Club City
One of the UK’s most criminally underrated acts gets bigger and more audacious with their fourth LP, Dead Club City. Finally over the third album hurdle, this 70s & 80s-inspired retro-futurist concept album walks the fine line between knowingly kitschy and unabashedly earnest, full of extremely addictive hooks, killer riffs and expert production. Nothing But Thieves are more confident than ever with Dead Club City building off the natural progression from the previous records.
Kelly Clarkson - chemistry
USA pop titan Kelly Clarkson has come down from the mountain of daytime TV to bless the world with a brand new album, exploring many different facets of love and divorce. It’s an emotional, heavy homecoming that is bursting at the seams with ideas, trying to cover all bases with many hits and few misses. Clarkson’s earned the right to do whatever she likes, and chemistry feels more personal than ever as a result.
Maisie Peters - The Good Witch
Another UK act to watch, Maisie Peters makes a strong case for deserving more attention with an entertaining and varied folky synthpop album that will put her contemporaries on notice. After a busy few years since her debut release, some cute but brutal wordplay, bouncy percussion and a dash of dizzying sound design later, and The Good Witch has what it takes to be a worthy addition to your library.
Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance (Deluxe Tracks)
If the release version of Abrams’ devastating Good Riddance somehow wasn’t enough, the rising singer-songwriter’s got you covered with some bonus tracks of the best variety - 4 heartbreaking, raw songs that feel like they could have been included on the main album all along. It’s some deft songwriting and wonderfully subtle production, which is always a good combo. You’ll want to have some tissues on standby.
Thomas Headon - six songs than thomas headon likes and thinks you would like too - EP
The casual name of the EP is pretty representative of the EP itself - blissful, upbeat pop that does exactly what it sets out to do. There’s some tracks here that’ll be perfect for summer playlists (when summer finally rolls around in the southern hemisphere). There’s a breezy carelessness across the 6 tracks that makes it an easy, entertaining listen, thanks in part to the ultra-modern production underpinning the project. The British-Australian singer-songwriter’s first big project is worth checking out - you may as well jump on the bandwagon before he gets really big.
SINGLES
It also has proved to be a fairly exciting month with single releases across the spectrum of fame. Here’s a quick wrap-up of the highlights:
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice – Barbie World (with AQUA)
Even as little as five years ago the notion that 2 of the biggest contemporary rappers would revive AQUA’s magnum opus was unthinkable. And for a live-action Barbie movie, no less, helmed by one of the most celebrated female film directors in recent years. What a time to be alive. And the song being an absolute banger doesn’t hurt either, with Nicki and Ice Spice affirming their status as rap powerhouses - all that’s left to be said is more, please.
Radicals - Threshold
One of your new favourite local acts just turned things up a notch with a ferocious cover of an iconic number from Scott Pilgrim vs The World. The fictional song ghostwritten by Beck is given a dose of Aussie pub rock rage in the vein of the Oils that’ll surely make it a staple of Radicals’ live sets - be sure to catch them at your local as soon as humanly possible.
Budjerah – Therapy feat. YDE
Speaking of local heroes, Budjerah’s already sterling release Therapy gets an elevation with YDE on board to lend her voice. The result is a song that’s gone from being great to near-perfect, as though it needed a second voice all along. The gospel inspiration lurks in the background with synth stabs galore ready to tug at your heartstrings in a number that’s reminiscent of Major Lazer, Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley’s Powerful, in the best way possible.
Teddy Swims – Lose Control
The lead single from Teddy Swims’ new LP is a neo-blues masterpiece, feeling a little like both Rag’n’bone Man and the Teskey Brothers all at once. There’s synth stabs, some dirty lead guitar, a heavy swinging pendulum of a beat and some deliciously difficult vocal runs to add a layer of technical brilliance on an emotional bomb-drop of a track. This is one to drink wine in the dark to - after all, the EP is titled I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy. Mark the September release date on your calendar.