Album of the Week

If anyone calls Future Classic’s name home, it’s SOPHIE. The late producer died in a tragic accident nearly four years ago and released just one album, 2018 ’s Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides , but she’s as dearly missed as ever. Charli XCX, St. Vincent, Caroline Polachek, and AG Cook have all released musical tributes; a planet has been named after her; and the hyperpop pioneer’s influence is everywhere in 2024.

Now finally there is the second album, SOPHIE , which was already largely finished before her death. Four years later it sounds anything but dated - not a given in the current pop climate. With a well-considered mix of ambient, techno and genuine pop, the loss is well received, certainly also because the always so closed Scot makes himself quite visible here - albeit mostly through guest artists such as Kim Petras, Nina Kraviz and Hannah Kingdom. CD / LP

 

	How on earth do you sing about the loss of your partner when you've made all the music you've ever made with her ? Alan Sparhawk , the remaining half of Low, faced a huge challenge. The result, White Roses, My God , was unexpected by no one - not even by himself. Pitch-black, spartan electronics; Sparhawk unrecognizable by autotune; searching; overwhelming. My god . CD / LP
	You thought Van Morrison was productive in his old age? You don't know the half of it. New Arrangements and Duets is reportedly just the beginning of a long series of archive releases. In this case, it concerns duets with the likes of Willie Nelson and Joss Stone and a bunch of new takes on old gems like 'Someone Like You' and 'So Quiet in Here' - recorded since 2014. CD / LP
	Bring Me The Horizon may have achieved everything so well, but they are still looking far ahead. The title of Post Human: Nex Gen makes that much clear. They themselves call the genre in question 'future emo'. Not a bad idea. In any case, it is a packed album that also plays with hyperpop, nu-metal and electronics. AURORA and Lil Uzi Vert complete the chaos. CD / LP
	A week ago, Nubya Garcia was here, now it's the turn of the other standard-bearers of the London jazz scene: Ezra Collective . The group celebrates dancing in all its spirituality, being "our God-given ability to shake off all the bad things". The soundtrack is there on the third album Dance, No One's Watching . You know what to do. CD / LP

 

Of course, there's more that came out this week: It Took a Few Sides, Ed Sheeran's first greatest hits compilation: +–=÷× (Tour Collection) ( CD / LP ); and Pale Waves emphasize their gothic side on Smitten ( CD / LP ).

 

	With dance record Tension II (October 18) Kylie Minogue extends her umpteenth renaissance. CD / LP
	Woodland (November 15), Gillian Welch and David Rawlings ' first album with original lyrics in years, is their best album in much longer. CD / LP