Tank and the Bangas "Green Balloon"
Find your new favorite tunes for the sizzling summer months by Edward Jack, Manager, Central Square Records
Summer is here, time for a brand new soundtrack. This season has so much new music to offer, and we love helping you find your next favorite album. Here are a few ideas to get you started, then follow up with a visit to Central Square Records for more recommendations.
Lucette “Deluxe Hotel Room” — The new sultry style of Canadian-born Lucette is getting a lot of attention, tinging her Americana roots with a touch of indie rock. Kicking off the album with the title track, Lucette’s airy vocals recal ’90s indie chanteuse, Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star, as she blends R&B, pop, and soul styles, while keeping it dark and mellow. Produced by indie country giant, Sturgill Simpson, “Deluxe Hotel Room” will certainly gain a following this summer.
Versing “10000” — One of the best indie bands to hit our ears this summer, Versing’s guitar-forward sound set this Seattle band apart from the rest of the herd. It’s the looseness in the playing that allows for new ideas in their music, while keeping a disciplined structure to their songs. “Tethered” is indicative of the bands signature sound, but the elasticity of tracks like “Vestibule” and “3D” show the band experimenting with their own styles, resulting in some fresh new directions. “10000” is a must listen for fans of Parquet Courts, R.E.M., and fellow Seattle-based artist, Jo Passed.
Flying Lotus “Flamagra” — Genre-fusing producer/performer/lyricist Steven Ellison, a.k.a. Flying Lotus, has collaborated with a number of artists over the years, pulling from nearly all genres ranging from hip-hop, rock, to electronica and jazz. “Flamagra” is perfect evidence of this visionary style and direction, which immerses itself in intense jazz-funk for most of the album, while enhancing tracks with amazing guest artists. FlyLo has a serious gift of bringing a vast array of talent to his projects. Who else has contributions from artists as varied as David Lynch, bass-master Thundercat, and Solange? Key moments are the fiery funk of “Takash,” the Anderson Paak led “More,” and the mind-bending flow of “Actually Virtual,” featuring hip hop duo Shabazz Palaces.
Tank & the Bangas “Green Balloon” — Though a band whose energy really needs to be experienced live to get the full effect, Tank & the Bangas offer up their first studio release in quite some time. Winners of the NPR Tiny Desk in 2017, New Orleans-based Tank & the Bangas, led by native singer Tank, real name Tarriona Ball, leads an eclectic group of musicians, rappers, and vocalists that run the gamut of musical styles, from spoken word and hip-hop, to funk, rock, and soul. Tank’s endlessly inventive vocal style, (as demonstrated in “Spaceships,” and “Happy Town”) backed by a super tight band, complete with horn section, is sure to stimulate both mind and body. “Green Balloon” also features some cool, pensive interludes from producer Robert Glasper, adding a mellow touch to the album.
Kevin Morby “Oh My God” — Though a little late to the game on this
April release, we have watched Kevin Morby’s “Oh My God” send tremors
through the music scene, even popping up on popular television and film
productions. This contemporary crooner, often compared to Leonard Cohen
and Bob Dylan, brings forth his fifth album, covering melancholic themes
with a vocal airiness that seems to bring his dark subjects to light.
Backed by a bare minimum of instruments, Morby’s ethereal voice is at
the center of every song, evident in the rhythmic “No Hal,” and the
Cohen-tinged “Seven Devils.” For those looking for their next midnight
listening album, “Oh My God” will certainly deliver.
Visit our website at centralsquarerecords.com