Take some time out, put on the headphones, drop the needle on the record, or queue up the latest releases on your phone.
Here’s four recently released albums that we’ve been playing at OUTinPerth HQ including new discs from La Roux, Keith Jarrett, Clancy, and TERRA + Cimarrón
Old Flames
La Roux
★ ★ ★ ★
La Roux (Ellie Jackson) returns with her fourth record, an album that explores the feelings that come at the end of a long-term relationship and the point in life where you simply want to run away and be left alone.
The album opens with the sound of a cassette being loaded into a player against the backdrop of a rainy day. La Roux is ready to take us on a journey.
After a brief intro proclaiming that “Old flames burn out”, accompanied by funky beats, we dive into the single Cabin Fever. The beauty of La Roux is that the music sounds fresh and nostalgic at the same time, and the lead single is a perfect example of this balance.
Things become more intense on Lose Myself, which was also released as a single. There’s a palpable sense of tension running throughout the track.
The third track, Falling, is more sedate, but the energy ramps up on To Make Our Love, a track driven by thumping bass and cascading vocals. The tune samples material from the 1980s girl trio Mai Tai.
Things keep rolling along with Your Lover and Final Fantasy before the delightful Night Vision showcases La Roux’s ability to create perfect pop. The previously released Babyline is another gem.
The album concludes with the closing bookend, Old Flames, bringing the journey full circle.
Roma
Keith Jarrett
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Years ago, I spent an evening with Joe O’Sullivan, the founder of the now sadly defunct Film and Television Institute. We met to discuss an idea he had for a program that would encourage older people to become involved in filmmaking and film appreciation.
Over wine and cheese, we discussed the concept before taking a detour to Mojos Bar to watch an indie band perform. We then returned to his home to continue talking about film and storytelling. Before I left, Joe suggested the perfect way to end the evening would be to listen to Keith Jarrett.
I was completely unfamiliar with the acclaimed jazz pianist. He farewelled me while insisting I take his burned CD copy of Jarrett’s 1975 recording The Köln Concert for the drive home. I’ve been a fan of Jarrett ever since.
Over his career, Jarrett has released more than 100 albums, many of them improvised live recordings.
This concert was recorded a decade ago during Jarrett’s final European tour. Across ten parts, Jarrett takes listeners on an intense and varied journey featuring nothing more than a brilliant musician alone at the piano, accompanied by the occasional vocalisation that has become one of his trademarks.
This is the fifth concert from that tour to be released, following recordings from Budapest, Bordeaux, Munich and Vienna, each offering a distinctly different listening experience.
Two years later, Jarrett suffered two strokes. Although extensive rehabilitation enabled him to regain some ability to play with his right hand, he is not expected to return to public performance.
Jarrett has recorded the standard Somewhere Over the Rainbow many times and often performed it as an encore. Here, we get another interpretation of the song, which has also become an enduring gay anthem.
The album closes with a rendition of the American standard It’s a Lonesome Old Town, a song previously recorded by Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Nat King Cole and many others.
When I was first introduced to Jarrett, I went out and bought two copies of The Köln Concert: one for myself and one for the mighty Joe O’Sullivan. It was the first of many Jarrett albums I would go on to buy. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, pull up any of his albums on your preferred streaming service and dive into a rich and rewarding musical world.
Pretty Intelligent Girl
Clancy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This is the debut mixtape from Clancy. Clancy Davidson is best known as the vocalist with local band smol fish, as well as for collaborations with Noah Dillon, Gia Como and No Nomad.
The opener, Love Me, is filled with Clancy’s distinctively sweet vocal, which reminds me of Angie Hart of Frente! fame. It’s a distinctly Australian voice that remains incredibly sweet and captivating. The track is a compelling mix of powerful strings, solid beats and just enough odd and experimental sounds.
There’s an unexpected turn on Sunshine, You’re The Life of the Party. Is indie hyper-pop a thing? It is now. The lyrics on this song are equally profound and hilarious.
Heavenly Bite is sombre and instantly catchy, a slice of melancholy and enchantment. Woman Like You is another unexpectedly electronic song. Suddenly, we’re plunged into a world of dark trip-hop, and it’s delicious.
Oh Why is perky and quirky, but as it progresses the layers of sound take listeners into bold experimental territory. Give You Everything feels warped and stretched in fascinating ways before the closing track, Love You, delivers a farewell lullaby.
These 22 minutes across seven tracks are first class. Give us more Clancy. We need more of this ASAP.
Amor Virtual
TERRA + Cimarrón
★ ★ ★ ★
Hailing from Buenos Aires, Terra delivers hyper-pop at its most energetic. Across six tracks created with producer Cimarrón, the EP races along at a breathless pace, evoking memories of early 1990s club culture.
Things kick off with FANATICO, which speeds along with infectious energy and an uplifting chorus. Beautifully, in the final 30 seconds, the track slows dramatically, as though someone has switched the record player from 45 to 33 RPM.
XTASI is another instantly catchy, fast-paced track, while FUGITIVA incorporates reggaeton influences that give it a distinctly summery feel.
EN EL CIELO slows things down, but only briefly. It’s the perfect warm-up for UNA FOTO, which arrives at twice the pace of the previous tracks and features a guest appearance from Bbynito.
The final track, ADIOS, is another high-energy dancefloor stomper. If you’re looking for a short, fast-paced EP guaranteed to boost your energy levels, this new offering from Terra and Cimarrón is well worth a listen.
