Week of April 4, 2021
Listening selections for the week of April 4, 2021, specially selected for WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland’s 2021 Telethon, best enjoyed with a cup of Rising Star Coffee’s Direct Trade Blend, for pronounced notes of delicious caramel and toasted nuts.
Streaming Links:
Highlights include:
The cascading, dreamy title track from Misha Panifilov Sound Combo’s Days As Echoes
Effortless, trashy glam from T. Rex’s second straight masterpiece
The Smiths’ glib “borrowing” of that T. Rex melody
A statement of purpose for DJs from the concluding record in Bowie’s Berlin trilogy
An exuberant, funky anthem from tUnE-yArDs’ latest full-length
Swaggering jazz hip-hop fusion from Sons of Kemet’s forthcoming Black To The Future, out May 14
The sweltering Afro-heat of Black Market Brass’ newest single
Explosive, horn-driven R&B from Tower of Power, ripe for the vaccine times
Kaleidoscopic, Beatle-esque pop from Ohio’s Andrew Gabbard
Power pop perfected, in an ode to one of its progenitors
Vibe-y roots reggae from Brooklyn’s The Far East
Face-melting dance punk from Perth-based psychedelic rock band Pond
New hyperpop from Jam City, rooted in the sharp, pristine sounds of Chicago house, Detroit techno and London grime
A coy, electro-pop banger from Georgia and Speedy Wunderground’s Savage Gary
Shimmering ‘80s pop revival from Laura Mvula’s soon to be released Pink Noise, due out July 2
Spacious piano pop sheen from Electric Guest
The essence of cool in contemporary music, also known simply as Khruangbin
Jangling Brit pop from The Stone Roses’ classic debut, sporting one of my favorite bubbling, melodic basslines
The inception of our current psych rock renaissance, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year
Soulful bedroom pop from Yenkee, aka Graham Cooney
St. Vincent’s welcome embrace of the sounds of ‘70s
Pristine piano jazz from Jamael Dean, Sharada Shashidhar and Stones Throw Records
Crystalline garage pop from Mikal Cronin, and one of the first recorded instances of WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland influencing my taste
Spellbinding guitar work from Tuareg guitarist Mduo Moctar’s forthcoming Afrique Victime, out on Matador Records May 21
A crescendo of indie folk energy from Meg Duffy