#2 in June, top spot now. Still a total earworm. Album Losey is now out, and finds Russian couple Sasha Piankov and Masha Piankova - now decamped to Slovenia without their drummer - leaning much more into the electronic side of their sound. There's even a point midway through 'Shakshuka And Pie' where they go full Daniel Avery techno.
Recorded by Pigs x7's Sam Grant. Enthusiastically endorsed by Richard Dawson. Mentioned in the same breath as Low, Codeine and Crazy Horse by Chris Sumlin of their new label Wrong Speed. A Geordie trio who've made the same move from restrained folk to minimalist rock as Big Brave? Do you really need any more reasons to give this and album Blunt Synopsis a go?
3. 'Highway Woman' - Squirrel Flower
All of latest album Say A Prayer To The Gods Of Getting Going - but especially this slice of folk-rock gorgeousness - makes me once again say a prayer to the gods of ensuring I happened to be walking past Green Man's Mountain Stage in the drizzle in 2019 when Squirrel Flower was opening the festival.
As discussed at length on Jake Shears' Queer The Music podcast. Add Jonathan Caouette's video into the equation and you've got a phenomenally powerful song.
I'll admit I didn't think I needed any more Sad Folk Beck and haven't really kept in touch with him since Sea Change - but the opener and title track of his new LP is a beauty (and what follows isn't bad either).
How exactly this lot escaped my attention is mystifying. Heaven-sent for anyone who loves both Wire and the Slits. Thanks to Horsegirl for the tip-off.
Smog/Bill Callahan is one of those revered artists with such an intimidatingly large back catalogue that you don't really know where to start, so you don't. Thankfully, I was cajoled into listening to A River Ain't Too Much To Love and 'The Well' in particular has helped me to see the light. Where to go next, though?
8. 'Several Got Away' - Dinosaur Jr
Well, new Dinosaur Jr album There Near was never going to be ambient techno, was it? But it was a pleasant surprise to see the three of them goofing around rather than at each other's throats.
These guys and Mandy, Indiana are making some of the most exciting rock music around by refusing to play by any of the rules. Pugnello is a beast.
10. 'Ain't Nothin' To Do' - Dead Boys
No-nonsense punk thrills. Derivative, perhaps, but I'm a sucker for this sort of thing.
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