Curated by Xavier Farrow-Francis (any/all)
Later that day, the day before, or the day before that
Casey MQ
Writing this particular review was tough for me because, as I was listening through this record for the hundredth time, I could not stop sobbing. Canadian producer/composer/musician Casey MQ has crafted one of the most intimate, soft-spoken, and purposeful albums I’ve honestly ever heard. Made up primarily of piano, vocals and ambient electronic textures, Later that day… delves into memories: where they go, how they morph over time, and how we interact with them. Casey’s androgynous and delicate vocals cradle poetic and touchingly abstract lyrics, echoed through the wonderfully intricate production. This album is a darling that understands our ever-changing emotions and experiences. I adore it so much, and it will likely remain my favorite record of 2024.
Listen if you like: oklou, Joni Mitchell, Studio Ghibli soundtracks
Genres: ambient pop, singer-songwriter, alternative R&B
Dennis
Sega Bodega
Take everything I said about Casey MQ’s heavenly album, flip it on its head, descend it to the abyss, and apply it to this one. Sega Bodega’s third full-length questions what happens in our heads when we sleep, taking us through an eclectic musical journey in the process. From trance, to dembow, to folk music, and ambient, the record is cryptic, shadowy, mischievous, haunted. I can’t say I’ve heard another album so sonically ambitious and thematically surreal this year. But despite how chaotic it may sound, there is much that drew me in and felt familiar about Dennis and its obscured psyche.
Listen if you like: Arca, Squarepusher, the surrealism of sleep and dreaming
Genres: electronic, UK bass, art pop, IDM
Here In the Pitch
Jessica Pratt
Jessica Pratt’s singular brand of folk-pop songs are enigmatic, yet earnest – the kind you listen to, aren’t entirely sure how to spell out, but you know and feel them deeply. Bringing elements of bossa nova and the classic sounds of 60s pop music, Here In the Pitch channels a nostalgia for a time past, but so truly and genuinely lives in that space. Her voice is just so magical and enchanting too, sounding ageless, and so close and far away at once. It’s an incredibly short and sweet listen too (sitting at below 30 mins), so really you’ve got no excuse not to check it out!
Listen if you like: Weyes Blood, Nancy Sinatra, Cat Power
Genres: singer-songwriter, psychedelic folk, 60s-era sunshine pop
BUG
Kacy Hill
A record all about fulfillment and aspiring for self-happiness, Kacy Hill’s newest album glows with positive change and catharsis. She leans closely into her influences on BUG, calling back to the 90s alternative of Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan, and embracing her affinity for country music. The combo of twangy pedal steels, plucky synth passages, and Kacy’s angelic voice make for a really homely listen. BUG emanates those warm fuzzies you get when you notice how much you’re growing and changing for the better.
Listen if you like: Maggie Rogers, The Japanese House, Sheryl Crow
Genres: indie pop, soft rock, dream pop
Please Don’t Cry
Rapsody
Rapsody’s fourth studio album comes five years after her last, and it’s clear to see why. Just three tracks in you can tell how much of an emotional outpouring this record is. Please Don’t Cry is intensely personal; an album about the human condition and how much we analyse everything we experience. Rhapsody explores it all: perception, anger, love, grief, injustice, sex, faith. With a fantastic selection of guests and producers, the music holds her stories so tenderly. Please Don’t Cry is one of the most soulful albums I’ve heard this year, and a must-listen for any hip-hop fan.
Listen if you like: Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Mos Def
Genres: conscious hip-hop, neo-soul, boom bap