Kim Gordon

I will forever be enthralled by the sounds of Sonic Youth and all of the spinoff projects associated with the now defunct and legendary band.  One of the latest is the new solo effort from Kim Gordon.  There is something about her cool and detached monotone delivery that has always grabbed hold of my shoulders and screamed directly into my psyche.  Grab the "Play Me" LP here from Matador and listen to "Not Today" below.

Circuit des Yeux

For whatever reason, Chicago band Circuit des Yeux is one of the artists that has just never clicked with me.  That seems primed to finally change with the upcoming new album "Halo on the Inside."  First taste "Megaloner" combines moody darkwave synths with gothic overtones and some dark and foreboding, late-era Scott Walker experimental theatrics to craft an bleak and intense sound.  Hell yeah.  Listen below and pre-order the LP here from Matador.

DARKSIDE

Nicolas Jaar's and Dave Harrington's electronic project DARKSIDE are back in February with new album "Nothing."  The duo have never made straightforward electronic music, and the new album feels no different with new single "S.N.C." grooving on elements of krautrock, disco, and some good, old-fashioned improvisation.  Give it a listen below and pre-order the LP here from Matador.

Horsegirl

Chicago trio Horsegirl are back in February with new album "Phonetics On and On."  Our first taste is "2468," a lo-fi ditty that pulls from alt-rock, alt-country, and post-punk.  Check it out below and pre-order the LP here from Matador.

Kim Gordon

The one and only Kim Gordon is back next month with her second solo album "The Collective."  Check out the noise and spoken word delivery of "I'm a Man" below and pre-order the record here from Matador.

Bar Italia

UK alt-rock band Bar Italia already released one album this year, May's "Tracey Denim," and their following that up with another next month with the upcoming "The Twits" LP.  Check out the subdued honky-tonk vibes of "Jelsy" below, a track that plays like something from a dusty old jukebox in a dream, and pre-order the record here from Matador.

bar italia

Here's some kinda grooving new alt-rock from UK band bar italia.  I can hear so many influences in the moody, slinky sounds of "changer," that i don't even know where to begin, but it's good, and i love it.  Check the track out below and get the band's new "Tracey Denim" LP here from Matador.

Yo La Tengo

Yeah, the world continues to fall apart, but at least Yo La Tengo keep making music.  That's one thing we've got.  Listen to "Fallout" below and pre-order the upcoming "This Stupid World" LP here from Matador, out in February.

Algiers

Post punk band Algiers released the excellent collaborative track "Bite Back" with Billy Woods and Backxwash last month, infusing all kinds of new sounds into their usual mix of post punk, soul, and gospel.  That was just the teaser.  February brings us new album "Shook," featuring a slew of different guest artists to shake things up (pun absolutely intended), including Rage Against the Machine's Zack De La Rocha.  Check out "Irreversible Damage" below and pre-order the record here from Matador.

Horsegirl

Chicago trio Horsegirl have really taken off over the last few months.  Coming seemingly out of nowhere late last year with a cool sound indebted to shoegaze and underground '90s alt-rock, the band moved from their instantly sold out debut 7" to a record deal with Matador and their debut full-length album, "Versions of Modern Performance" dropping this summer.  Check out the very cool and bored new single "Anti-glory" below, think about listening to it in your bedroom in high school like i'm doing, and pre-order the album here.

Darkside

Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington are dropping a new album as Darkside on us this summer.  Check out the groove of "The Limit" below and pre-order the "Spiral" LP here from Matador.

Mdou Moctar

 

Tuareg guitarist and songwriter Mdou Moctar is set to release his new album "Afrique Victime" next month, his first for Matador Records.  Using world beats, desert blues, and some absolutely scorching riffs, the artist ruminates on love, God, inequality, and the lasting effects of imperialism and colonialism on Western Africa.  Check out the title track below and preorder the album here.