New Music Report - Dua Lipa, Ulver, Tim Bowness

Last Friday was the most excited I've been for new music since March. Despite what's going on in the world, new music is still coming out. Some of it made before 2020, but the fact that its still coming out is great. It's important to have stuff to look forward to, even in a time when I'm catching up on Music I've overlooked. Each of these albums scratches a different musical itch I have, and does it VERY well.

Dua Lipa - Club Future Nostalgia (2nd Best Dance Album of 2020)

I haven't been this excited for a remix album since 2007. Dua Lipa's latest album Future Nostalgia is a perfect pop album, that will stand the test of time in spite of 2020 not because of it. Club Future Nostalgia sees these songs reinterpreted by Mark Ronson, The Blessed Madonna (different from Madonna), Joe Goddard from Hot Chip, Paul Woolford and more. Including special appearances from K-Pop girl group Blackpink, Gwen Steffani, and of course Madonna, and Missy Elliot. It also includes some leftovers from the original album as well. This remix album is not only just as impressive as the original, but I consider this release to be an essential listen for Dua Lipa fans, and for anyone who wants to be a DJ so they know what kind of energy they should bring during a set. This album makes me look forward to a future when I can safely go into a club and dance along to these tracks.

Check out the Visualizer for this album here:

Ulver - Flowers of Evil

I've been singing this bands praises even longer than I've had this website. First drawn in by their early trilogy of Black Metal Albums (Every good part of this genre in one convenient package) but it's the albums that came after that really made me a fan. Starting with "Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, they started slowly putting away their guitars in favor of haunting piano's and uneasy sounding synths (Heard on Shadows of The Sun, Blood Inside, and War Of The Roses). Taking a break every now and then to make Dark Ambient and Drone compositions (Terrestrials,Messe I.X - VI.X, ATGCLVLSSCAP, and Drone Activity) and even some Films Scores (Lyckantropen Themes, and Riverhead). Ulvers 13th Studio album does a lot of the same things that 2017's "The Assasination of Julius Caeser" did, taking their Dark Lyrics, and evocative music into a slightly poppier direction, kind of like a darker Depeche Mode, but even then thats not a proper comparison. This is going to be great "Night time" listening.

Tim Bowness - Late Night Laments

No-Man Singer; Tim Bowness has been a very busy man over the last few years. Keeping up with a regular album release schedule. He was a part of two great albums that came out in 2019; his previous solo album "Flowers at the Scene" and No-Man's "Love You To Bits", an ambitious Prog-Disco suite with two 18-ish minute long songs. His work in both bands is very laid back, but his Solo releases are where his voice is at its most soothing. "Late Night Laments" is in a way, a great album for Fall. It's warm, it's cozy, inviting you to kick back and relax while Tim Bowness soothes your senses with his voice. It's a warm cup of Tea for your ears and it's just the sort of thing I need as the skies get dark earlier, and the air gets a little chillier.