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Christmas may seem like such a distant memory you're unsure whether it actually even happened, but we are in fact only 22 grey, drizzly days into the new year. 22 days, though, seems to have been more than enough time for a few wonderful musicians to release some impressive albums & EPs.
Already, there's been hyped debuts, even-more-hyped comebacks, cover albums and charity EPs. The one's we've listed below have two things in common - they're all available to stream now, and they're all really really good...
Happyness - Happyness
This South London three-piece have been heaped with praise since releasing their self-titled EP. Its woozy, lo-fi sound, paired with punchy lyrics like "You said i'm an anarchist, communist, feminist, phlemotomist... Yeah, right", make for brilliant listening.
Warpaint - Warpaint
The album opens with a mistake, a distant cry of "Arghhh, sorry!" from the drummer, and a re-start. From then on, it's slick, enchanting and dreamy - what we've come to expect from Warpaint following their debut album The Fool. Oh and, according to frontwoman Theresa Wayman, it's "sexy" too. We tend to agree.
Drowners - Drowners
A brilliant debut from a hugely exciting New York based 'post-punk' band, with a Welsh frontman. Featuring the single 'Luv, Hold Me Down', Drowners' self-titled debut is an accomplished and catchy offering.
Mogwai - Rave Tapes
The title of Mogwai's eighth album is more than a little bit ironic. It would be quite difficult to rave to this LP, but easy to fall into something of a trance from the ambient sounds it provides. It'll be a trance you'll quickly be rudely awakened from though, as the record offers the occasional, perfectly judged, burst of noise.
Sampha - Sundanza
Sampha has re-released this EP (for charity), and it is a collection of Sampha's early recordings. Though, unless he was something of a child prodigy, presumably not quite as early as the album artwork suggests. It's more a showcase of Sampha's talents as a producer than as a vocalist, though there are hints of the soulful voice he's now known for littered throughout.
Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
As is puzzlingly standard for The Boss, High Hopes is fronted by some fairly terrible artwork. If you can look past that though, this is an accomplished collection of cover songs, outtakes and re-imagined versions of old tracks.
James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical
McMorrow's second album perfectly treads the fine line between evolving and staying recognisable. His beautiful vocals remain the star of the show, this time accompanied by minimalist, trip-hop instrumentals.
Pixies - EP2
When Pixies released EP1 at the end of 2013, shortly followed by EP2 early this year, it was the first new material they'd released in nearly ten years. Considering their old work's fearsome legacy, it's a bloody good job this is so good. 'Magdalena' is the stand-out track - its anthemic potential is wonderfully undercut by the haunting melody.
