60 minutes of new music curated with love. A splendid mixture of genres from around the globe, a couple of familiar names and artists to keep a watchful eye on. 

The Prids – Tell You Nothing

How long have The Prids been around now? This well-seasoned Portland, Oregon-based outfit seems to pop up every-so-often causing me to once again sing their praises. The band’s longevity can be traced to the tenacity of the ageless core of Mistina La Fave and David Frederickson. A couple who unabashedly claim to be a couple of weirdos drawn together in a Missouri podunk. In the ensuing years it’s fair to say they became a touring force and released consistently great records and in my opinion their latest long-player I Only Care About You & Me  is their best yet. On Tell You Nothing Mistina and David do what they do best – make damn fine music with everything fitting together so well, the production, the performance, the lyrics, the overall ambiance. Top marks!

Eat-Girls – Canine

From the very first few seconds this clever French trio grabbed my attention with Canine. Then I dived into their debut album Area Silenzio. Yes, there is a distinct whiff of late 70s/early 80s mod-new-wave, à la Française – that’s perfectly OK with me. Eat-Girls have been around for about 4 years and they obviously know how to make catchy chansons pop. Cool artwork, too.

Sex Week – Naked

“I dunno what that’s about” maintain Pearl Amanda Dickson and Richard Orofino of Sex Week. They sound innocently confused, first of all it’s, “I don’t want her/him to see me naked” then they contradict themselves with, “I want her/him see me naked”. But, then amongst their millennial angst, Pearl and Richard are conjuring up marvelous music. Their album Sex Week is on Grand Jury Records a label you need to investigate.

Memorials – Book Stall

First things first, I love this record. The interfering trainspotter in my noggin wants to rattle off a crate-load of references beginning with the reggae rhythm, the drum kit, the keyboards/organ/Wurlitzer – I could go on. The sum of it all is Verity Susman & Matthew Simms have made a bloody good LP with Memorial Waterslides. For a debut, this Canterbury-based duo have crafted a fabulous collection of songs. Memorials, a name to keep a watchful eye on. Plus, another cool sleeve.

Sukie Smith – A Ringing Bell

A large list of collaborations and accomplishments here from Sukie Smith which means it’s well worth a visit to her website. The trained actress part of Sukie’s persona is evident in her LP, The Glass Dress and A Ringing Bell. Her ability to create musical images fired up my imagination. I hope this doesn’t sound too awkward, I can hear Ms. Smith reciting a bedtime story to me. Perhaps I should go on at length about this album, yet that would not be fair unless you have listened to it. Sukie Smith’s talented theatrical instincts are evident here resulting in a fascinating collection of thought-provoking songs. Sukie Smith obliges by us by not confining herself to a particular genre and that is a big plus. I will admit that arranging a conversation with Sukie is bobbing around my brainpan.

Suzanne Kraft – What You Do To Me (Universal Cave Atmosphere Mix)

You gotta like this one, celebrated Philadelphia musician, Diego Herrera as Suzanne Kraft has taken a Philly Soul favorite from 1980 and treated it to a tasty 2024 version. With 3 excellent versions of What You Do To Me on the Universal Cave imprint, we selected the Universal Cave Atmosphere Mix which could be labeled as the extended dub. This soulful song in Diego Herrera’s hands is tantalizingly sexy at the same time kind of sweet while showcasing his nifty guitar playing. Play at 2am or as your lover brings you breakfast in bed.

Sugar Cane – What You Do To Me

The original 1980 version from Allan Chambers AKA Sugar Cane. A back-to-back comparison with the Suzanne Kraft reworking may be slightly unfair, but there is no getting away from acknowledging this is one gem of restrained soul. Sublime.

Celeste Madden – Joan of Arc

Before you get too hot and bothered by the notion of What You Do To Me, Celeste Madden puts the brakes on sharply to remind us that just when you feel like you are walking on cloud of incredible love, it can all suddenly fall apart. Celeste says the lyrics are her raw, tumultuous emotions, experienced following her first breakup. “I had all these really fresh painful feelings but I was having trouble translating them into words…I shut myself away, mostly because I just couldn’t communicate properly or accurately enough to any of my friends the depth of what I was going through.” Ah yes, the pain of your first break-up. I do like the way Celeste has put Joan Of Arc together and do make sure you listen carefully to her words. The South London artist adds, “Funny and sad and a little bit odd” of course, perfect.

Jacob Diamond – Two Years Of Breaking Up 

While we are wallowing in recalling break-ups, Australian singer-songwriter, Jacob Diamond gets straight to point and rubs a large helping of salt into the wounds with Two Years Of Breaking Up. Here is a talent who writes heartfelt poems and sings them a remarkable restrained passion. Along with his new album, Yes Angel, Jacob has a number of releases you need to check out. He was based in Melbourne I understand but now has headed west to delightful Fremantle and extends his “Respects to all Elders of the Lands on which this music was written and recorded: I acknowledge particularly the traditions of song and storytelling sacred to these territories.” Bravo.

Julie Dawson – Bottom Of The Pool

This is an intriguing song, Bottom Of The Pool from the LP of the same name by Julie Dawson. My first inclination is to caution you to not dwell on Julie’s whispery, almost little-girl voice. By the time you finish listening to Bottom Of The Pool you’ll agree this is not the meanderings of a breathless young lady. Need more convincing, take a listen to Silly Little Song, then indulge in all the cuts from Julie’s smart LP. Galway, Ireland is home for Julie Dawson, let’s hope she gets to travel further afield shortly to share her noticeable talent. Also, if Ms. Dawson was instrumental in selecting “Dark Sky In The Pool” by Katherine Bradford as the artwork for the sleeve, then she has an astute familiarity with creativity. Thumbs up all around.

Josef Scott – Picture Me

“Imagine a song that captures that playful, almost daydream-like state of mind, when you start to fall for someone and imagine what could be” Those are the words of Auckland-bred/Boston-based artist Josef Scott. He has more to say about Picture Me, “ The song came to life one afternoon in my apartment in Boston. I was playing around on my acoustic guitar, and reminiscing about the time I met my partner for the first time. It’s a light-hearted take on the thrill of being really into someone but not knowing where things might go. I was caught up in the excitement of it all, hoping she might see me the way I saw her.” Well, there’s certainly no mistaking that we have a serious Romantic here. I approve.

Soela – Even If I Asked You To Stay

This is the work of   Elina Shorokhova, a Russian-born, Berlin-based pianist and vocalist who has made a hugely impactful transition into electronic music. “I was dealing with some very complex feelings, so I came up with this album, which helped me not to despair, to work on myself, to grow internally” says Elina AKA Soela, she continues, “It helped me to keep sane when my country invaded Ukraine with a full scale war. It absolutely broke my heart, and music was one of my main salvations.” Soela/ Elina’s album Dark Portrait deliberately mixes up the genres as she guides us through Ambient, Deep House, Electronic, Dub and more with mostly instrumentals all superbly orchestrated. I listened to the whole album in one sitting the other evening and found myself fully engaged the whole way through. 

Tess Parks – Crown Shy

The lovely Tess Parks confessing to a vulnerability on Crown Shy from her latest album, Pomegranate. It should come as no surprise to regular listeners that I’m a confirmed fan of the Canadian singer-songwriter. Her ability to take me back to a probably imagined time of psychedelia with poise while gently nudging me to remember she is a chanteuse of the 21st century. Her carefully styled waif-like image may be intended to detract while the honesty in her music allows the listener to peer past the bangs. Tess is enormously talented. Pomegranate could be the album the world deserves right now. Make sure you listen to my conversation with Tess Parks here.

Midland – Never Enough

London-based DJ, producer & label owner, Harry Agius goes by the moniker, Midland. In this volume a small taste of the man’s excellent work with his new long-player, Fragments Of Us. In the next volume of LEM, the full version and more info about the fella who runs the Graded label. Impressive.

The artwork is a photograph by Angus “Jock” Ballentyne 1945 – 2011 “Dramatic Sky #4” 20” x 24” litho print on archival paper 1998. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection