Pablo Alboran, “Clickbait”
Spanish pop songwriter Pablo Alboran usually deals with romance. However, “ClickBait” faces a variety of classes of relationships. “Many people say they know me, but they don't know who I am,” he complains in Spanish with an auto-tuned edge. In Spanglish, he continues, “Flash Flash, Mucho Clickbait, Mucho Fake.” It's a choppy track that jumps between a ballad with a minor chord and a thrilling drum and ties them together. Alboran sings about people who have “poison in their minds,” and he is willing to destroy his character in order to counterattack.
Since its founding in 1990, Chicago's instrumental band Tortoise has been blending jazz, rock, minimalism, electronics and improvisation. The first new track since 2016 is “Oganesson,” named after a very short-lived element of synthesis with atomic number 118. This is a 7/4 funk tune, an off-quilter with a spy movie vibe. Perhaps the last noise elongation represents atomic decay.
The title track of Lucy Dacus's new love-filled album, “Forever Is A Feeling,” rejoices in a romance that may just endure. “My wrists are in your zip tie/25 life, why?” Dax sings, marveling at the possibilities of permanence. Poems surround her with stereo nervous, point-iist patterns – piano notes, percussion – as she sings about what is the tentative beginning. The chorus reassures her with her enthusiastic vocal harmonies.
Allison Russell, “Super Rover” featuring Annie Lennox
Here is an unexpected yet wise alliance: Nashville songwriter Alison Russell from Canada has joined Eurysmics' Annie Lennox. “Super Robert” is a plea and prayer for children of the world, especially in the battle zone. It mainly involves Russell's banjo picking, but adds church overtones. “There is no God of Fire and Blood / If God is there, God is love,” sings Lennox. Is that enough to save lives?
The thoroughly retro torch song with a cocktail piano, studio orchestra and relaxed swingbeat is covered in burning out as Monraferte's jeal explodes with “Otra noche de llorar” (“Crying on another night”). With her mastery of her usual dynamics, Lafathe begins to sweetly love each phrase. But the sweetness rises to poor near-scream before she lets her boyfriend know, “I have to cut you off now / She's sure to be by your side.” The timing of this release is odd. Lafate sings that it's almost Christmas. However, the anger of being betrayed does not know the season.
