From PinkPantheress to Thom Yorke — these are the best new albums of May

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2 days ago

Finding time to seek out new music is a luxury that's becoming harder to satisfy.
Not only does it feel like life just gets busier, there's more music than ever and it's never been easier to access it. This makes it tough to know where to start.
Our music experts hoover up most new releases, and they're dedicated to making sure the cream of what's been released finds a way to your ears. They might not cure your choice paralysis, but they'll help you through it.
Here are 10 albums worth your time this month, whether you're a pop stan, rock dog or someone who just likes a bit of everything.
Feel like time travelling for 20 minutes? Let British pop star PinkPantheress take you back to the dancefloors of the 2000s, where cinematic strings clashed with garage beats and sleek pop melodies to help bring the sound of London's underground to the mainstream.
While she borrows liberally for her second mixtape — you'll literally hear classics from Underworld, William Orbit, Panic At The Disco and Basement Jaxx in the mix — PinkPantheress imbues more than enough of her own talent and perspective to take it beyond pastiche and make it something unique.
For fans of: Sugababes, The Streets, William Orbit
"Back to my old tricks again" Thom Yorke sings on 'Back In The Game', from electronic album with British producer Mark Pritchard.
Indeed, Tall Tales contains all the Radiohead frontman's signatures; dystopian in both eerie sound and doomsaying subject matter, reflecting a world warped by greed, twisted politics and climate emergency.
Not exactly ground-breaking, predictable even, continuing Yorke's busy streak from The Smile, film soundtracks and a solo Australian tour (that wasn't without controversy).
That said, Pritchard's subterranean instrumentals – tinkered on through the pandemic and possessing the air of lockdown lunacy — prompt Yorke to muck around with his voice and toward territory that's darker and weirder, even by his standards.
'The Men Who Dance In Stag's Heads' is Lou Reed going gothic folk, the title track's sinister panoply of inhuman voices makes 'Fitter, Happier' seem like a pop ditty, while 'The Spirit' is a rare moment of beauty — a shimmering dream amid many nightmares.
For fans of: The Smile, Clark, Aphex Twin
Retro futuristic icons Stereolab haven't delivered an album in 15 years, so the familiar feel of Instant Holograms On Metal Film will provide comfort and joy to their fans.
There's a sophistication to the band's gentle, thoughtful, propulsive indie pop that extends beyond frontwoman Laetitia Sadier's French coo. It's in Andy Ramsay's gentle but decisive snare taps, the texture of Tim Gane's guitar, and the webs of vintage synths that scaffold each song.
Sometimes, like on 'Aerial Troubles', you get so engrossed in their groove it's jarring when it ends. Thankfully, there's always another uber-cool synthy jam to swallow you up.
For Fans Of: Françoise Hardy, Broadcast, Arthur Russell
Beginning as the solo project of Thungutti man Jimmy Kyle, Chasing Ghosts have evolved on their Double J-featured fourth album into an arena-ready punk rock act. Think Smith Street Band on a Green Day budget.
For all the polished production and instrumentation (Strings! Synths! Piano!) none of it sacrifices authenticity or intensity. Instead they amplify the emotional heart of tunes as likely to make you tear up as have you bellowing along.
Kyle's passion and honesty shine on cathartic anthems addressing mental health, domestic violence, suicide, and the inequity and intergenerational trauma still faced by First Nations people.
Therapy tackles tough topics but feels more life-affirming than harrowing, striking a tricky balance of being hooky, tender yet heavy-hitting.
For fans of: Luca Brasi, The Amity Affliction, Stand Atlantic
Americana trio I'm With Her stuck with their name post-Hillary (they had it first) and, more importantly, have kept making flawless, breathtaking folk music.
They aren't in a rush, this second album arrived seven years on from their debut (though just months after this perfect Sabrina Carpenter cover), and there's something beautifully unhurried about the music too. These pastoral songs sound as though they could come from any time and will maintain their relevance for years to come.
The elements are basic — mainly guitar and voices — and whether it's quiet intensity of 'Sister Of The Night Watch', the urgent, engrossing bridge of 'Standing On The Fault Line', or the lovesick jig of 'Find My Way To You', they deliver a procession of captivating moments that make them feel like more than the sum of their parts.
For fans of: First Aid Kit, Gillian Welch, boygenius
Canadian indie troupe Men I Trust are the definition of easy listening. Sticky melodies and woozy atmospheres are everywhere in their soft-focus, groove-driven bedroom pop, fronted by Emma Proulx's effortless, feather-soft vocals.
They've achieved word-of-mouth popularity, with titanic streaming figures to match, despite lacking label backing or anything resembling mainstream presence. That's largely because they're the perfect 'switching off' soundtrack.
Equus Caballus is no exception. But close listening is handsomely rewarded with sumptuous details lurking beneath the impossibly smooth surface — glossy synths, gargled bass tones, canny key changes and vivid, warm beauty.
They're unfairly lumped in with groups that prioritise 'vibe' over song craft, but Men I Trust's latest proves they're head and shoulders above the zoned-out catnip littering Spotify playlists that encourage passive listening.
For fans of: The Marías, Mac DeMarco, Air
Fans didn't need much from Mclusky's return to recording after 21 years. If the songs were noisy, immediate, aggressive, and funny without veering into novelty territory, they'd be happy.
While we've no doubt Andrew Falkous is a multifaceted human being, he knows his strengths. Any fear of this album sullying the Welsh trio's legacy are destroyed within minutes, as its pacey, intense songs with titles like 'kafka-esque novelist franz kafka' and 'way of the exploding dickhead' remind us why we fell so hard for this trio in the 2000s.
Recent hearing issues haven't dulled their approach, as grinding bass, squawking guitar and pummelling drums remain the perfect platform for Falkous's cutting witticisms.
For fans of: IDLES, Big Black, The Drones
Hailing from the inner-north Melbourne suburb of Coburg, Surprise Chef's instrumental cinematic jazz-funk and hip-hop-tinged soul has made them darlings of crate-diggers, community radio and international taste makers alike.
They're known for carefully orchestrated atmospheres and grooves tight enough to set your watch to. Superb, however, sees them loosening up, trading precision for spontaneity on music that's freer to tinker and explore.
From the bait-and-switch of 'Body Slam' to the knob-twiddling on 'Consulate Case' and hazy highlights 'Websites' and 'Tag Dag', this is a group who fully grasp their signature, luxurious sound but are now confident enough to add extra spice to their established menu. Allow Surprise Chef time and space to cook, and they're guaranteed to dish up something tasty with a satisfying twist.
For fans of: Khruangbin, Karate Boogaloo, Sven Wunder
Melbourne garage punks Civic look a little different than on their last album, with a new drummer and one fewer guitarist.
They sound a little different too. While the snarl of earlier records remains, Chrome Dipped's pace is comparatively subdued, relying on moodier sounds and textures to demonstrate their ferocity. The result is an engrossing display of rumbling rock'n'roll that calls to mind great Australian punk of the past while retaining its own identity.
They haven't abandoned the aggression of previous records entirely — limbs will continue to flail when they play thrashier songs like 'Poison' and 'Fragrant Rice' live — but the evolved sound points to a new-found versatility that makes an already great band all the more compelling.
For fans of: Fontaines D.C., Violent Soho, Radio Birdman
From their ridiculous name on down to their stoner-friendly sound and gnarly live show, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are essentially Perth's own King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
Similarly, their penchant for the absurd can seem easy to dismiss. But to do so is to miss out on a fun, fierce, satisfying listening experience. Instantly ranking among the group's best work, Carpe Diem, Moonman refines the band's extremes.
The heavier moments crunch even harder — 'Another Reincarnation' and 'Weird World Awoke' are all fuzzy, face-melting riffs and hammering grooves — while the mellower passages excel at spacey atmospheres anchored by melody, such as 'Scapegoat' and 'Qwik Maff'. Meanwhile, headbanging spectacle and psychedelic ambience fuse on 'Out the Universe Pours'.
For fans of: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Ty Segall, Frankie & The Witch Fingers
Tune in to Double J for more great new music.