ALTERNATIVE/INDIE

Lucifer on the Sofa
By Spoon

Well, excuse us for thinking we’d discovered something new only to find, from the UK’s Guardian newspaper, that Spoon, ‘a little band from Austin, Texas’ were one of the most reviewed acts of the 2000s and have actually been going for 17 years!
Spoon, where have you been all our lives? The five-piece indie rockers have just released a new album, catchily titled Lucifer on the Sofa, and, as you can probably tell already, we’re more than a little bit in love.
For us, the standout tracks include The Devil and Mr Jones which rounds in from a big opener to something much more laidback and contemplative. Then you check out the lyrics, which seem an ode to a certain illicit substance, and realise that, as with so much from this band, there’s more to discover.
Wild is new but oh so familiar. You could be listening to this at any time over the last 20 years and it wouldn’t be out of place. Make sure you listen out for the early U2-esque guitars, though that’s where the similarity ends.
Astral Jacket has a deeply mellow intro, into which we fell immediately, and with lyrics like “In the blink of an eye, You feel so fine, You move in light divine, In the blink of an eye, You feel it, You lose all track of time,” this is like the soundtrack to a dream and requires at least several listens.
And last but not least, the title track, Lucifer on the Sofa, which features some jazzy brass and a story-telling vibe.

Texas Moon
By Leon Bridges & Khruangbin

American soul singer, songwriter and record producer, Leon Bridges, teams up with eclectic trio Khruangbin – it’s pronounced Krung-bin in case you were wondering – for an EP that’s genre defying and easy listening at the same time.
A follow up to the collabo’s 2020 release Texas Sun, Texas Moon is a little darker, a little more soulful but still filled with references that are unmistakably modern-day Texas scene.
Opener Doris is the perfect showcase for Leon Bridges’ voice with an almost psychedelic background over a distinctly soul-inspired bassline and the storytelling capabilities of old-school soul.
B-Side – watch the video to encounter the weirdness of Khruangbing – channels the fest of funk, an almost fusion of indie and RnB – and will be guaranteed to have you on your feet or chair dancing if, like us, you’re working as you listen.
Chocolate Hills sounds just a little bit Princey, a compliment indeed. But, to be honest, it’s really not fair to compare these guys to anyone else, their sound is so fresh and just a welcome new listening experience.
Father Father is a tuneful departure from the overtly soulful influences. The lyrics – bell-clear – are sad and contemplative but the sound is deeply mellow. A tune for relaxing and switching off to.
Mariella. We love the intro on this track and its tale of lost love which beautifully illustrates the country feel. Gentle, tuneful and overall, the whole ticket.
Texas Moon, as an EP, might be short but it packs a whole lot of musical experience into its 22-minute- plus running time.