Crucial Material – Best Releases of the Week (August 11th, 2018)

Another week means another crop of stellar releases.

To help you avoid the task of sifting through hundreds of new albums, we’ve selected what we think are the best releases of the week. Hopefully you discover something new!

Tirzah “Devotion”

Genre: Leftfield R&B / Alternative Pop
Label: Domino
Purchase

I was eagerly waiting the debut album from British artist Tirzah who has been making waves since 2013 with a few EP’s, loose tracks and mixtapes. Clearly I wasn’t the only one. In the first few days since its release, “Devotion” has been drawing rave reviews from most music media outlets. The production on all of Tirzah’s music ever released is handled by genius composer/producer/cellist Mica Levi, the two met at the Purcell School for Young Musicians. The album has an unmistakable UK feel to it, fitting somewhere in the continuum of 90’s Trip-Hop x Post-Dubstep with its moody vocals and textured production that envelops you. A headphone masterpiece!
– Lexis

Iglooghost “Steel Mogu” & “Clear Tamei”

Genres: Really Wild Electronic / Bass
Label: Gloo
Purchase

Yeeeeeeah buddy! Boy-wonder / internet wrecker Iglooghost is back with a B2B EP set and it’s exactly what you’d want from him. These 10 tracks move relentlessly at hyperspeed and are essentially the perfect soundtrack for flying head-first into infinity (or to soundtrack your ADHD, either or)! I’m not totally sure what the difference between the two EPs is, but my guess is that “Clear Tamei” leans more on natural instruments (vocals, strings, bells, flutes etc.) and sounds more “beautiful” where as “Steel Mogu” is a bit more Rave-synth heavy and aggressive. Everything this mans puts out blows my mind, and the fact that almost nothing ever repeats just shows the amount of work Iglooghost puts into his releases.
-Mike Jones

Louis Cole “Time”

Genres: Jazz / Funk / Fusion?
Label: Brainfeeder
Purchase

Anotha One! Comedian / musical genius Louis Cole joins up with Brainfeeder camp and delivers a solo full-length filled with his signature brand of technically advanced and super swung Jazz / Funk and tongue-in-cheek lyrics (obviously Thundercat is lovin’ it). Louis Cole is a real anomaly in the music world, mostly because he really doesn’t give a s*** about anything other than just crankin’ out the jams and having a ton of fun while doing it. Other than the Brainfeeder clan, he’s been getting a lot of love from the likes of Quincy Jones and The Red Hot Chili Peppers with his group called Knower. Don’t miss!
-Mike Jones

Loop.Holes “Back In Bap”

Genres: Hip Hop / Beats / Jazz
Label: Millenium Jazz Music
Purchase

MJM are back with another stellar release, all jazz-hop instrumentals from Norway’s collective Loop.Holes. 18 Instrumentals perfectly crafted. If you’re into Damu the Fudgemunk, The Sound Providers and mid 90’s Pete Rock productions, then you’re in it for a treat.
-Walla P

Jeremiah Jae “Daffi”

Genres: Hip-Hop / Beats / Boom Bap
Label: Hit+Run
Purchase

A very welcome new album from Chicago’s talented Jeremiah Jae who remains one of the most criminally slept-on artists. The 16-track self-produced album was recorded in both Chicago and his Los Angeles home studio The Black Light. Contributions by Oliver The 2nd, The Koreatown Oddity, Busdriver, KarenBe, and his legendary band leader (for Miles Davis) and musician father Robert Irving III.
– Lexis

K15 “Fear / When It All Fades”

Genres: Piano / Beats
Label: Self-Released
Purchase

London’s continues his spectacular string of EP’s and remixes in 2018 with this self-released 2 tracker. An introspective and intimate pair of tracks where the musician “decided to document what’s been in my head in audio form”. “Fear” is a beautiful solo piano piece while “Fades” is closer to K15’s signature sound of beautiful keys and swinging beats.
– Lexis

Motohiko Hamase “Intaglio”

Genres: Modern Classical / Jazz
Label: Studio Mule
Purchase

Studio Mule once again pulls a forgotten Japanese gem to the surface, and this time it’s Motohiko Hamase’s 1986 “Intaglio”. It’s hard to decipher whether these tracks are pieced together with samples, played live, or a combination of both, but however it happened it was the right way to do it. A few tracks bring to mind Steve Reich’s “Vermont Counterpoint” if it was played over by Jaco Pastorius, and all show a high level of curiosity and experimentation with the tools available at the time.
-Mike Jones

DJ Overdose & Hadamard “Propaganda Moscow: Code One”

Genres: Electro / Techno
Label: Propaganda Moscow
Purchase

A bumpin’ split 12” made strictly for the club. Each of these four tracks feel sort of like what would be playing while you were trying to stealth your way past the laser grid to plant the bomb. Electrooo!
-Mike Jones

Teymori “Teymori EP”

Genres: House / Beats / Live Musicians Making Dance Records!
Label: Self-Released
Purchase

Teymori is a brand new EP from Australian producer Amin Payne who we have talked about and pushed in the past on MIMS. His first release in a few years explores his unique take on house music from the perspective of live musician. Rather than a one man show with drum machines, synths and VSTs this is an ambitious project featuring 8 musicians (including Horatio Luna, SilentJay and more) representing the burgeoning Australian music scene.