Soothing sounds for stressful times

The world needs to relax. Here are some suggestions...

Hello! I could spend today writing about all of the horrible stuff that’s going on in the world. But you have enough of that swamping your news and social media feeds. Instead, I’m focusing on new music that’s been making me happy. I hope you find something that helps soothe you too … enjoy!

Beabadoobee - Fake it Flowers

If you miss female-fronted 90s grunge acts like Hole and Veruca Salt, this Filipino-born, UK-based singer-songwriter is for you. Under the crazy good name Beabadoobee, Beatrice Laus makes crunchy indie-rock then layers her songs with hooks that refuse to leave your head. Out of all of these records, this is the one I’ve been playing the most - often as loud as I possibly can.

Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Times

I can’t get over how bonkers the guest list is for Gorillaz’ seventh album. Who gets Elton John and 6lack on a song together? Who gets guests spots by Schoolboy Q, Elton John, and Beck, back to back to back? Damon Albarn does, that’s who. This compilation from a series of monthly releases harks back to the fun of the Gorillaz’ debut, starting with this opener with The Cure’s Robert Smith. Strange Times indeed.

Adrienne Lenker - Songs/Instrumentals

Adrienne Lenker did lockdown right. Instead of staying home as American Covid-19 curfews began, the Big Thief front woman headed off to a cabin in the woods with nothing but her guitar to make two albums of heart-breaking intensity. Honestly, if you thought Big Thief was emotional, get a load of this (and read more about how she made these records in this insanely detailed New Yorker story).

Glass Animals - Dreamland

I initially put these British genre-mashers in the same box containing Foster the People and Alt-J - the one marked “dork-pop not for me”. Turns out I quite like Glass Animals, and Dreamland hasn’t left my stereo since it came out in August. Much of that is thanks to my son, who keeps blasting this Denzel Curry-assisted banger out of his bedroom. The rest of the album is just as much fun, the equivelent of stumbling across your new favourite band in the Big Day Out’s Boiler Room back in the day.

Benny the Butcher - Burden of Proof

This spot could have been taken by any of the barrage of unmissable releases coming out of New York’s titanic Griselda crew over the past few months. Westside Gunn’s Flygod is an Awesome God and Conway the Machine and The Alchemist’s joint project Lulu are especially great. But Benny the Butcher’s Hit-Boy-produced effort from October is right on the money: laid-back production swallowed up by Butcher’s bruising rhymes. I’m into it. All of it.