Best New Tracks Of The Week: March 11th, 2024
Late again, I have a good excuse this time though (she doesn't have a good excuse.)
5. Wild God - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
After a trio of albums under the Bad Seeds name that very fittingly saw Nick Cave exploring something more somber, introspective, and poetic, he got weird again on a 2021 collaboration with Warren Ellis. Now that bizarre tone and style of songwriting that's always existed in his music is coming revving back to the Bad Seeds in this new single. I appreciate his uniquely bizarre imagery and the way the song dramatically rises throughout.
4. Summon - Jlin
As has been the case throughout her career Jlin is a master of texture. Leaning away from some of the grinding electronics deployed on last year's EP this song focused more on the combination of an array of chimes with what sounds like some of the tensest strings I've heard anywhere so far this year. The result is quite striking at first but it's something I settled into more and more as I listened.
3. Incognito - Justice
This track feels like an interesting middle point between the two singles released prior to it. The track features some of the harder-hitting thumping dance grooves but it also blends its way in and out of some passages of more psychedelic instrumentation. The combination comes together smoothly even if it can occasionally deploy some jarring transitions between the two.
2. Soul-net - DIIV
While the lead single DIIV dropped has grown on me a bit I definitely think this is the stronger song. Much of that comes from the sonic presentation which is certainly leaning into some shoegaze staples. Everything from the gentle vocals to the incalculable walls of guitars to the soaring shimmering leads is a tried and true formula that works for a very good reason.
1. Prologue - Kamasi Washington
In one of the least surprising moments of the week Kamasi Washington's return is just as epic as pretty much everything he's done. He dropped the introductory track to his new record and it features so many of the hallmarks that have always made his music so great. Saxophone that goes from splittingly intense to irresistibly smooth and a versatile array of supplementary instrumentation make Prologue yet another can't miss outing for jazz fans and a great sign of what's to come from Kamasi.
