February's release schedule was dominated by the still difficult to believe return of shoegaze originators My Bloody Valentine, whose new album m b v really has to be heard if you've yet to have had the pleasure. But other albums, from both young and veteran artists, are also worth checking out. Here are my favourites:Mountains - Centralia
An eerily beautiful album of ambient electro-acoustics, that references Terry Riley and Brian Eno. This one is continuing to grow on me with every listen.
Grouper - The Man Who Died In His Boat
This one is a sequel of sorts to Liz Harris' breakthrough 2008 album Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill, and is therefore more centered around the acoustic guitar than more recent Grouper albums. Again, I'm looking forward to spending more time with it.
My Bloody Valentine - m b v
I hope to be reviewing this one in the future so I don't want to say much about it yet. The music can speak for itself for now.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
Nick Cave goes back to his quieter, romantic side for the latest Bad Seeds album. The softer moments are balanced out with epics "Jubilee Street" and "Higgs Boson Blues", which are as good as any songs Cave's written.
Iceage - You're Nothing
You're Nothing is a more challenging album than Iceage's debut, New Brigade. If you weren't sold on that album, this one isn't for you. The first two and last two tracks are the best, I find.
Trade - SHEWORKS005 (EP)
Trade is the collaborative project of Blawan and Surgeon, and their EP for She Works The Long Nights contains four tracks of heavy, pulsating modern techno. It shows off the capabilities of both producers extremely well.
Rainer Veil - Struck (EP)
As my Single of the Week feature suggests, I'm looking forward to what Rainer Veil will do in the future. Until then there's their EP for Modern Love, which is more than gratuitous.
Atoms For Peace - AMOK
Finally I was pleasantly surprised by the electronic-cum-Afrobeat project of Thom Yorke/Nigel Godrich/Flea/Joey Waronker, Atoms For Peace's AMOK. It's expensive-sounding fun, and lord knows Thom needs some of that every once in a while.
This month expect new albums/EP's from David Bowie, Pete Swanson, Justin Timberlake, CHVRCHES and more. Tracks from some of these albums/EP's can be found on my latest monthly mix Culture Shock (and in previous mixes if you care to look):
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