Traditionally, the first release day of October is a jam-packed one. It barely even fits in the newsletter.

Album of the Week

No band is as good as Godspeed You! Black Emperor at making the persistent, blunt misery palpable, as is the case on their eighth album “NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD” . You can probably guess what the title refers to. Even by Godspeed's standards, this is a particularly bleak album, a combination of mourning and anger. The longest track on the record, 'RAINDROPS CAST IN LEAD', in particular, embodies the bloody arbitrariness of a hopeless war with its merciless drum salvos and screeching strings. As always with the Canadian post-rock band, the political message is unmistakable ( Yanqui UXO (2002) fiercely criticized the military-industrial complex; G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! (2021) dreamed of an end to the American empire), even if not a word is said about it. This is a record that will make your skin shiver and clear your vision. CD / LP

 

 

	While the buzz around a Radiohead reunion is heating up again, The Smile is quietly steaming along. Two albums in a year - we haven't seen that kind of productivity from Yorke and Greenwood since Amnesiac . Cutouts also feels like a slightly more challenging work than its predecessor - more atmosphere, less 'songs'. Greenwood works in his Middle Eastern inspirations; Yorke winks at Bowie. CD / LP
	Coldplay claims to be working towards their final album. On Moon Music it is already clear that the band has a lot to say before then. It is full of samples (including civil rights activist Maya Angelou) and guest appearances (including Jon Hopkins, Burna Boy and Little Simz). Meanwhile, Chris Martin tries to explain his wisdom more clearly than ever: "In the end, it's just love." CD / LP
	Forget the label 'retro soul'. Almost a decade after his breakthrough and three years since his last album, Leon Bridges has continued to deepen his own sound. His latest album Leon is Leon. The 35-year-old singer from Texas takes the space for emotional digging, sparse gospel and an extensive ode to his native soil. The 'Texas Sun' shines brighter than ever. CD / LP
	After the long-awaited Dutch-language album, here is the long-awaited return of Racoon to English. It Is What It Is . Hmm, maybe a bit of coal English. The band is inspired by the West Coast sound of the seventies on the eleven songs. A record of calm and resignation. It is what it is, it doesn't have to be different every time. CD / LP / Boxset
	Now that Black Midi has disbanded, it turns out the dizzying English math rock band has kept frontman Geordie Greep in line all this time. Even by Black Midi standards, his solo debut The New Sound feels , uh, insane. What goes in the blender? Zappa! Bossanova! Prog rock! Showtunes! Chansons! Steely Dan! Jazz! Salsa! And then those bizarre lyrics - sung in his bizarre voice. All fans unite! CD / LP

 

Of course, there's more out this week: A new archive release from Joni Mitchell delves into The Asylum Years: 1976 - 1980 , in which she experiments with jazz ( 6CD / 4LP ); Eilish brother Finneas traded in his bedroom studio for a real band on For Cryin' Out Loud! ( CD / LP ); Dutch pop star Merol experiments on Naar De Haaien & Weer Terug on the loose ( CD / LP ); and Jake Bugg makes a political yet catchy statement on Modern Day Distraction ( CD / LP ).

Pre-orders

	A reason to celebrate: after sixteen years there is a new album by The Cure . Although Songs of a Lost World (November 1) will not be as cozy. CD / LP
	Franz Ferdinand return to the sound of Right Words, Right Action on their upbeat sixth album The Human Fear (January 10, 2025). CD / LP