2024 has been a crazy ride so far but - from hardcore punk to throwback soundtracks - one constant that's kept us going is the incredible new music. We take our bi-annual look at the records that have held down the Townsend Music office over the last six months and provide a Spotify playlist at the end of the article if you'd like to take a listen yourselves.
Alex Needham: Junior Account Manager
FEET - Make It Up (Buy Here)
FEET’s highly anticipated second album Make It Up marks a strong return for the London five-piece. Following their 2019 debut, What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham, the band has refined their sound, blending post-punk and indie rock influences. The album is an enjoyable easy listen, packed with plenty of hooks and not detracting from its foundation.
Make It Up is packed with energetic, guitar-driven songs, from the upbeat lead single ‘The Real Thing’ to ‘Sit Down’. The ironically titled album closer ’Goodbye (So Long, Farewell)’, particularly stands out; I heard it live in Manchester before the album’s release and it piqued my interest, making me eager to explore the entire album.
St Vincent - All Born Screaming (Buy Here)
All Born Screaming is a change to St. Vincent’s previous releases, self-produced by Annie Clark, it’s a more primal and immediate music that has influences from Tori Amos and Nine Inch Nails.
It spans industrial, electro-funk, and even reggae at times. Tracks like ‘So Many Planets’ and ‘The Power’s Out’ bring a lot of change to the album featuring contributions from Dave Grohl and Cate Le Bon. My favourite picks on this are ‘All Born Screaming’ and the single ‘Big Time Nothing’.
P Barney Barnes: Head Of Digital Marketing & Content D2C+
Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross – Challengers (Original Score)
I can't be the only person who's listened to Nine Inch Nails tracks like 'Happiness In Slavery' and 'Closer' and felt that, while I'm here for the Roland TB-303 squelches and driving trance kick drums, I'm not really in the mood for distorted guitars and sadomasochistic screams on a sunny day like today thank you very much, Trent. Well, with Challengers (Original Score) we've got the closest we may ever come to a straight dance music album from Mr Reznor (ably abetted by his regular soundtrack companion Atticus Ross) and it's every bit as fun as that sounds.
Driving intense tennis showdowns (honest!) between a twisted love triangle across a story from 2006 to 2018, the music underpins the drama while avoiding tipping its hand to any specific time or place in the timeline. Instead, the duo chose to wind further back and volley a bevvy of 90s-influenced beats across the net. From the caustic Chemical Brothers' acid house of 'Challengers' to the Dust Brothers' trip-hop of 'I Know' to the effervescent Big Beat of 'The Signal', this album is the perfect excuse for two producers at the top of their game to serve an ace of straight-up sunshine bangers without the dark cloud of their most famous musical incarnation raining off play.
Justice - Hyperdrama (Buy Here)
Nearly 20 years after their monumental debut Cross, French duo Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay aka Justice return with their fourth album Hyperdrama. The key to the pairs' elevation beyond their early Ed Banger Record peers was always the ability to infuse their lush electroclash with distinct elements of progressive rock, jazz-funk and even heavy metal. Well, how do you say "if it ain't broke, then don't try and fix it" in French? There are successful attempts to keep up with the times on Hyperdrama - both tracks with Tame Impala's Kevin Parker have been streaming and radio juggernauts - but they merely serve as a shop window to the more succulent treats inside. While the album is arguably the pair's smoothest to date, tracks like 'Incognito' and 'Generator' still drive with the speed and style of a vintage Bugatti, swerving dramatically from pompous to pumping with technique that only Justice can handle.
Simon Walsh: D2C Campaign Manager
Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX Gen (Buy Here)
Rarely have I found an album so highly anticipated and delayed to be worth the wait as Bring Me The Horizon's POST HUMAN: NeX Gen. At one point you might have even considered it destined to be a Gen Z Chinese Democracy, what with the continual delays and departed band members. Thankfully, unlike the ill-fated Guns N Roses album, this one proves to be well worth the wait! Having been preceded by several stellar singles, I was concerned all the good songs were already out there, but how wrong could I be?! Album tracks like ‘n/A’, ‘YOUtopia’ and ‘liMOusIne’ would be the lead singles on anyone else’s album.
It’s a superb album from start to finish – there are just no misses at all - and one where multiple genres are touched on and inter-spliced coherently alongside the signature scream-a-long choruses and heavy riffs that sent them stratospheric in the first place.
Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
This album really caught me out with how good it is. Eventually, I succumbed to the widespread acclaim and decided to give Knocked Loose, who previously I couldn’t get into at all, another chance and they’ve won me round and then some!
It’s far and away the most aggressive album I’ve listened to all year, but it is far more refined and more tuneful than anything I’ve heard from them previously. Between the riffage, the breakdowns, the transitions and general shouting… everything about it just ‘works’ and comes together brilliantly.
Also I imagine everyone else picked Charlie XCX's BRAT, which is a worthy contender for the crown.
Callum Blanchfield: Account Manager
VENNART – Forgiveness & The Grain (Buy Here)
The latest solo album by Vennart showcases Mike's intricate and emotive musicianship. As the former Oceansize frontman, current member of Empire State Bastard and Biffy Clyro session musician, Vennart blends aggressive guitar riffs with melodic undertones, delivering a rich, immersive experience. Standout tracks like 'Luminous Target' and 'Fractal' feature complex arrangements and powerful vocals. Fans of Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree, and Radiohead will appreciate the album's atmospheric textures and emotional depth. This album is a must-listen for progressive and alternative rock enthusiasts.
John Grant – The Art Of The Lie (Buy Here)
The Art Of The Lie opens with 'All That School for Nothing,' a poignant track that reflects on Grant's disillusionment with adulthood. His baritone blends with lush synths and orchestral flourishes, creating a rich, melancholic soundscape. His sharp wit and lyrical depth stand out, setting the tone for the album.
The rest of the album continues this exploration of societal expectations and personal introspection. Tracks like 'Marbles' and 'Daddy' showcase Grant’s talent for merging electronic elements with heartfelt storytelling. Fans of Rufus Wainwright and Father John Misty will appreciate the complex, emotionally resonant compositions throughout.
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