It’s time to snip off those festival wristbands. The summer’s gone, and with it the summer anthems. But October’s crop of musical drops isn’t dour. It’s a festival of fun, with big-name releases from Janet Jackson and Josh Homme, as well as indie gems from the likes of Joanna Newsom and Jeffrey Lewis, all striving to keep the sun shining. Just don’t look out of the window.
Eagles Of Death Metal – Zipper Down
Groin-thrusting blues-rock duo Eagles of Death Metal (co-founded by QOTSA frontman/ginger Elvis Josh Homme) break the seven-year silence since Heart On with a
Eagles Of Death Metal – Complexity
Janet Jackson – Unbreakable
Janet’s back, and on fine form. Unbreakable is a booming statement of intent, a ground-shaking reclamation of space. Ms Jackson is pop, and you’d better not forget. Across 17 tracks she rides roughshod over the genre, that inimitable coo proving as adept atop gushing synths as the R&B jams that made her legend. There’s space for guest spots from Missy Elliott and J Cole but ultimately this is Janet being Janet. It’s been seven years since her last release, and the landscape of pop music has changed irrevocably – but Unbreakable fits snugly back into the charts, as though she’d never been away. Available Oct 2 via iTunes, priced £8.99.
Janet Jackson – Unbreakable
John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
The 47-year-old, hirsute singer and former Czars frontman has produced a thing of wonder and beauty with Grey Tickles, Black Pressure. Cannily written synth-pop sits alongside heart-melting strings; melancholia and personal reflection rub up against 1980s electronica. There’s humour in the darkness, and Grant has a way of delivering his pathos with just the right amount of mischief. Best served on the rocks. Available Oct 2 via iTunes, priced £8.99.
John Grant Feat. Tracey Thorn – Disappointing
Kelela – Hallucinogen EP
A co-sign from Bjork after just one mixtape immediately makes you one to watch. The 31-year-old L.A. singer’s new EP is a powerful teaser – a sign of even bigger and better things to come. Think synth-drenched electronica, with Kelela’s vocals winding through, but beneath the club beats a darkness rumbles. A collaboration with Bjork’s producer Arca hints at what’s to come – and in that case, we’re very, very excited. Available Oct 9 via iTunes, priced £3.99.
Kelela – A Message
Deerhunter – Fading Frontier
The follow-up to 2013’s Monomania, Fading Frontier is the seventh studio album from Deerhunter – and judging by single Snakeskin, signals an evolution in the Atlantans’ sound. Chirpier than their previous fare, the group’s new material sees frontman Bradford Cox sharing vocals with bandmate Lockett Pundt for the first time. It’s also nice to see a happy, healthy Cox in the the video, seemingly recovered from the car crash he suffered last year. Available Oct 16, price TBC.
Deerhunter – Snakeskin
Joanna Newsom – Divers
It’s been a long five years since her last release, but Joanna Newsom’s fourth album shows she’s still a divine songwriter. Early single Sapokanikan is a twinkling, piano-led weird lullaby, overlaid with Newsom’s grown-child vocals. Expect nods to the waltz and ragtime, and an exploration of vintage American styles. Available Oct 23 via iTunes, priced £7.99
Joanna Newsom – Sapokanikan
Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts – Manhattan
Manhattan is Jeffrey Lewis’ first release since 2011’s A Turn in the Dream-Songs. An illustrator, activist, poet and general renaissance man, Lewis here pays homage to his favourite part of his favourite city, detailing its stories and nuances in typically lyrical style. Outta Town is a jaunty, gloriously twee, handclappy indie-pop triumph, and no doubt the rest of the album will follow suit. Available Oct 30 via Rough Trade, priced £7.99.
Jeffrey Lewis – Outta Town
