And now a breath of fresh air from our friend Zach Condon, best known as the musical mind behind Beirut.  Addressing his concerns of preservation and impermanence, Condon wrote the song as part of a soundtrack composed for the Swedish contemporary circus company Kompani Giraff. Let the soothing sound of “Caspian Tiger” wash over you anytime by grabbing it as a free download. 

Slowly but surely, O & The Mo, are teasing out tracks from their forthcoming album, Make Way For The Sun (set to drop in late January, 2025). Recorded in their home studio in the pastoral valley of Wakapuaka, New Zealand,  “The High” captures their signature sounds as they emanate from a handmade nikau palm guitar. 

Let’s turn now to a band that you might not be aware of. Trupa Trupa is a post-punk band from Gdańsk, Poland, known for their unique blend of brooding alternative rock and psychedelic influences. Dark, dense, and full of mystery — “Sister Ray” recalls the beat of the 1980s in the best way possible. 

Australian indie-poppers Parcels know how to bang out hooks. ”Leaveyourlove” has all the ingredients you need to strike up your dopamine receptors and keep them flowing: retro grooves, catchy lyrics, and sweet sentiments. It’s the band’s first new song in a while and just the thing to tide us over as they return to the studio to record their third album. 

British-born, Stockholm-based poet and musician Joshua Idehen makes magic by intertwining both mediums. On “Mum Does The Washing,” Idehen dissects world theories via a simple-yet-meaningful analogy that will make you laugh (and think). And be sure to check out his cover of Talking Heads’ “Once In A Lifetime.”

As Japanese-Canadian musician Saya Gray gears up to release her (semi)self-titled debut album on February 21, 2025, we are told to expect an album that will delineate the past from what the future holds. Until then, enjoy “H.B.W.” (shorthand for heartbreak wave), the latest tease from the forthcoming lp.  It’s an undulating and delectable ditty. 

It’s crazy to think that the postmodern, post-punk, post-human collective known as The Mekons are celebrating roughly 50 years together. These rebellious souls are still doing their thing, challenging and entertaining us at the same time. “You’re Not Singing Anymore” will find you ruminating on their acidic wit and most likely singing along to the chorus. 

Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses buckled down in a studio in Rhode Island to write the track “Drugstore Drastic.” This rousing, guitar-strumming extravaganza originates from a dialogue overheard on a sidewalk between a sober and not-so-sober duo in New Orleans. 

Columbian artist Ela Minus will soon unveil her sophomore album DIA (translating to “day” in English). It will arrive almost five years after the release of her debut album acts of rebellion. Cast as an electronic venture intertwining the singer-songwriter’s personal reflections and written in numerous inspirational locations, we catch a glimpse of the future with the song “Broken.”

We all know Tunde Adebimpe as the frontman for TV on the Radio and some of you may even know him as an actor… But did you know he was once a graphic artist and animator who listened to KCRW as he toiled away ? It’s true! Though that was a long time ago.