22 June 2010 (Music Profile)

 

 

Every month, we select our top five new releases for the month ahead, letting you know exactly why we think they're worth a trip to your local record shop. We're on a bit of an indie kick this July, but also looking forward to the new one from the Aussie Queen of Pop. | Words: Jenny Mulligan

 

 

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (30th July)
Easily one of the most hyped albums of 2010, there's been a steady stream of news and gossip about The Suburbs since Arcade Fire first returned to the studio back in November of last year. Those media savvy Canucks know how to milk it too. Releasing details one small piece at a time, they've ensured maximum coverage in music publications. Recorded between New York and Montreal, with the help of producer Markus Dravs, who also produced Neon Bible, the few tracks released so far hint at a less anthemic and occasionally rockier sound than their previous work, but we'll have to wait and see.

Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite (2nd July)
The anticipation of the announcement of this, Kylie Minogue's eleventh studio album, was so great that fans unintentionally crash her website with their teeming enthusiasm. As well as Kylie's own songwriting skills, Aphrodite features the talents of electronic musician and producer Stuart Price, Calvin Harris, the Scissor Sisters Jake Shears, Nerina Pallot and Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley. With a list of credits like that, it's no surprise to hear Kylie is going in an electro dance-pop direction with this one, while she herself described it as having "feeling of euphoria". Mostly, we figure it'll make a good soundtrack for a night on the town.

 

 

Tired Pony - The Place We Ran From (9th July)
There's been much animated talk about this new Snow Patrol/R.E.M. "country" sideproject. Headed up by Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck, Tired Pony also features the talents of top Irish producer Garret 'Jacknife' Lee, Belle & Sebastian drummer Richard Coburn and Bangor singer songwriter and Reindeer Section member Iain Archer. If you still think they don't have enough names on board, just wait. The Place We Ran From also features guest appearances from She & Him duo Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, as well as Editors' Tom Smith. Most likely the list of credits will be the most exciting thing about this album, but we're curious all the same.

 

School of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire (9th July)
Since leaving Secret Machines, Benjamin Curtis has been busy working with On! Air! Library! twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza as School of Seven Bells. Their 2008 debut, Alpinisms, was a thing of beauty, all glittery electronics, exotic influences and hazy, ethereal and gorgeously harmonized vocals from the Dehezas. This month comes its follow up, Disconnect From Desire, produced by Curtis himself, and following in much the same modern shoegaze vein. Perhaps the initial buzz has worn off this band somewhat, but no doubt they're still just as capable of creating soothing, hypnotic melodies of the highest order. For a free taster, click here to download the track 'Babelonia'.

 

Menomena - Mines (30th July Pushed back to August 6th)
Critics love Menomena, and yet they remain mysteriously off the radar. They can be accurately described as Pitchfork darlings, and yet they escape the overly trendy connotations that are usually associated with that term. Their oddball combination of rhythmic loops, echoing piano, bass sax and ever so slightly unnerving melodies made their last album, Friend And Foe, easily one of the best records of 2007. After three years waiting for its follow up, here at entertainment.ie we're understandably keyed up about Mines. Visit www.menomena.com and download the track 'Five Little Rooms' for free to see why. 

 

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