Lav's Music Corner

Fever Ray is the solo project of Swedish musician Karin Dreijer who is most well known as one half of electronica duo The Knife alongside their brother. While it's been 10 years since The Knife last released new music Fever Ray released their second solo album back in 2017. Fans were excited for Radical Romantics  not only because Karin was returning to releasing new music, but also Olaf Dreijer, the other half of The Knife, is returning with production and songwriting on many of these tracks. Review by Lav: With a recent video I've been working on covering the best albums of 2013 and the great trio of singles Karin has released dating back to last year, I've rekindled my love for The Knife. Revisiting some of their old material that I've always loved and hearing these new songs gave me expectations for this record that I felt might be a bit much. Turns out I was wrong because this is seriously a wonderful listen that sees Karin not only writing phenomenally catchy tune...

5.  Selfish  - Slowthai On Selfish , Slowthai is lashing out. While he focuses on his internal battles and those he is responsible for the entire world around him calls him selfish, which makes the dramatic and dark instrumental make a lot more sense. Continuing to show off his versatility, Slowthai shines on the song both at his most intense and most reserved. The instrumental journey of the track alone makes it worth hearing.  Listen 4.  Pray It Away  - Chloe I never really "got" Chloe x Halle they just felt like inessential players in R&B from the moment I first saw them pop up at an award show without ever hearing anybody who knew their music. But if this is what Chloe's new solo album will sound I am all the way it. Even with it being major Beyonce worship she lives up to that comparison with great vocals and a fusion of the sexual with the spiritual that doesn't isolate or favor either side. Great song. Listen 3.  Kandy  - Fever Ray The hype ...

After easily the worst release weekend of the year so far thankfully this was a big one, both a deep collection of new songs and a handful of really high profile artists. Enjoy <3 5.  The Ending  - Brockhampton Despite the drop in spot on the list, I think this is an improvement over the first "Brockhampton" single. I put the air quotes up because once again this is really just a short Kevin Abstract song and while it has all the personality you'd expect plus the addition of a grand gospel sampling instrumental, it is still pretty stripped down.  Listen 4.  Insomnia   - Parannoul Parannoul's follow-up to last year's brilliant breakout album To See The Next Part Of The Dream has been something I've been thinking about for a while and finally we have a taste. While the song starts off slow with a much more whimsical and meditative sound the lo-fi sonic intensity you'd expect finds its way into the track and it does on and when paired with the soaring synt...

Better late than never. Enjoy <3 5.  Never Gonna Change  - Sharon Van Etten If you know Sharon Van Etten then you can probably predict what this song is going to sound like going into it, even if the fusion of Weyes Blood style chamber with a dash of classic heartland still manages to be compelling. It probably also won't surprise fans that despite it being a deep cut that missed the official tracklist of Sharon's album earlier this year, it's still great and should be headed directly into the ears of indie folk fans.  Listen 4.  The Loneliest Time  - Carly Rae Jepsen (Feat. Rufus Wainwright) The singles from Carly's new album have been pretty all over the place in terms of style but very consistent in terms of quality. This sort of disco ballad which yes, randomly features Rufus Wainwright actually turns out great. The song has the emotional poise to justify playing it a little slow but Carly refuses to make something you can't dance to, with wonderful resul...

Karen Dreijer aka Fever Ray is a Swedish electronica and experimental music artist who began as one half of electronic music duo The Knife alongside her brother. In 2009 during a long studio album drought from The Knife she took to writing and creating music on her own under the solo moniker Fever Ray with her 2009 self-titled album. After nearly ten years and a new Knife record in 2013 Fever Ray returned with a second solo record in 2017 as well as an extensive tour backing it. Live At Troxy is a live show recorded last year made up on tracks from both Fever Ray records and marks her second live release as a solo artist. Review By Lavender: I was just a bit young and my taste a bit under-developed for Fever Ray to be on my radar in 2009, but by the time The Knife dropped their epic Shaking The Habitual record in 2013 I was all ears. Returning to all of the old Knife and Fever Ray records proved very useful in the coming years when Karen saw fit to release the second Fever Ray r...