With the start of the academic year looming, In The Middle have cherry-picked 30 albums to look forward to this semester. Whilst the list is by no means extensive, it is one that touches upon the most exciting artists, collaborations and concept albums that the remaining months of 2014 will have to offer.
Shellac / Dude Incredible / 16th September
Shellac already have Louder Than War singing their praises. Crowning this album 10/10, LTW reassert their claim that Shellac “are the greatest rock band on the planet” and it’s not difficult to see why. Expect sublime guitar work and filthy bass.
Goat / Commune / 23rd September
There’s something hypnotic about the psychedelia produced by this talented group of Swedes who use African styled-guitar melodies. Commune is an immersive experience that pays tribute to the ritualistic nature of Goat’s live performances.
Perfume Genius / Too Bright / 23rd September
Perfume Genius is back and the video to ‘Queen’ is a testament to the style, maturity and defiance that characterises his latest album.
Alt-J / This Is All Yours / 23rd September
Beautifully crafted and bursting with new textures and samples, This Is All Yours is everything an Alt-J fan could have hoped for.
SBTRKT / Wonder Where We Land/ 23rd September
The first single to be released from WWWL, ‘NEW DORP, NEW YORK’ featuring Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig is refreshingly experimental and surprisingly fun. The latest release ‘Voices In My Head’ (feat. A$AP Ferg and Warpaint) effortlessly melds together a myriad of exciting textures, probing the boundaries between genres. SBTRKT’s latest album is as rewarding as it is ambitious.
Prince / Art Official Age/ 30th September
Prince’s latest release ‘FUNKNROLL’ from Art Official Age is minimal groove, maximum funk.
Dean Blunt / Black Metal / 4th October
Black Metal opens with the ethereal track ’50 Cent’ but these titles are wholly misleading – the album is more a fusion of rap, rock and ballad. Even after the divisive success of The Redeemer, Dean Blunt remains as enigmatic as ever.
A Winged Victory For The Sullen / Atomos VII / 6th October
Described by their label, Erased Tapes, as the “future of the late night record you have always dreamed of”, Atomos VII does not fail to deliver. Catch them at the Barbican from 19-20th October.
Iceage / Plowing the Field of Love / 6th October
The release of ‘The Lord’s Favorite’ earlier this summer signalled a shift from tumultuous post-punk to a darker, more spun-out thrum. Iceage’s most important release, this will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the Danish rock scene.
Caribou / Our Love / 7th October
Caribou caused an online sensation when he dropped ‘Can’t Do Without You’ on Soundcloud a few months ago. With a significant shift towards his Daphni alias, expect a confident and experimental digression from Swim.
Emily Watts