Westkust - Westkust

6.7

Swedish twee-gaze band Westkust releases their sophomore record in the form of a tight, seemingly coherent package. It's difficult to tear the tracks individually, as the members are truly busy playing it straightforward, without paying much attention to diversity nor nuance.

Highlights

- The instrumentals' thickness and their sense of engrossing atmospheres.

- Julia's warm, lush and distorted vocals and lyricism.

- The strong commitment and cohesiveness across the record.

Lowlights

- All the tracks seem like a single piece played and sub-divided into small chunks, without much variance and interesting details to bear in mind.

- At times it feels as if the potency the band displays lacked emotion and distinctiveness.

Standouts

- Rush

- Cotton Skies

- Drive

Country: Sweden

Released: March 1, 2019

Length: 31:02

Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising

8.8

Natalie Mering's latest album as Weyes Blood is her most cinematic and gorgeously arranged by a mile. The turbid lyrics contrast fantastically with the lush instrumentation to create material that can easily compete with the best pop-rock of the late 60s and early 70s. Titanic Rising is immaculate; an overall triumph for form and music.

Highlights

- Natalie's voice gives character, drama and passion to all the tracks where it's involved.

- The instrumentals feel opressed but thinly orchestrated, and the mixture of them swells you into a gigantic hole of sound and pace.

- The lyricism is cryptic and at-the-point, fulled with queasy anecdotes and sharp metaphors.

Lowlights

- At times, it feels like some songs could have used a bit more of diversity in lyrics and harmonies.

Standouts

- Everyday

- Andromeda

- Movies

Country: USA

Released: April 5, 2019

Length: 42:28

Helado Negro - This Is How You Smile

6.6

The latest release from the Ecuadorian-American singer-songwriter melts into tropical lullabies and spacious poetry in an album that's at times too busy being taciturn and sleepy to leave a moving impression on the listener.

Highlights

- The production, though shy, is packed with beautiful details.

- The transition between songs is smooth and effortless.

Lowlights

- Roberto Carlos' voice cannot sustain the album's momentum for long.

- Some songs are so quiet and numb that they lose the feeling.

- Though relatively short, the record seems too long and dense at times.

Standouts

- Please Won't Please

- Seen My Aura

- Fantasma Vaga

Country: USA

Released: March 8, 2019

Length: 40:54

Girlpool - What Chaos Is Imaginary

6.2

This record contains some truly endearing moments but it's mostly overshadowed by songs who seem too dulled into dreamy nebulas and melodic cul-de-sacs to leave strong impressions. Harmony Tividad shines, Cleo Tucker doesn't. It's unbalanced, and a shame.

Highlights

- Synthesisers and choral arrangements elevate some tracks to heaven.

- Harmony's voice makes up for the most interesting tracks on the album.

- Lyrics are cryptic and clever.

Lowlights

- Sadly, Cleo doesn't find comfortable ways to express himself. His voice doesn't sound good on the ears and most of the tracks where he takes an active role in are extremely drenched into reverb, repetition and/or ambiance.

- The record is at least 3-song too long.

Standouts

- Pretty

- Stale Device

- What Chaos Is Imaginary

Country: USA

Released: February 1, 2019

Length: 45:38