This week in New Music: Swedish sad-pop star Jens Lekman (above) is on fine form on latest track “Evening Prayer,” Missy Elliott returns with “I'm Better,” The Cranberries announce a new acoustic album and Irish duo All Tvvins channel classic 80s indie rock on debut album IIVV.
Jens Lekman – “Evening Prayer”
Sweden's Jens Lekman will release album number five Life Will See You Now next week.
The follow up to 2012's (honestly, slightly lackluster) I Know What Love Isn't, based on single “Evening Prayer” Lekman has regained some of the indie pop carefree tweeness of his earlier work.
A press release says Life Will See You Now “inverts pop's writing norm by making songs with sad concerns sound happy and songs with a happy subject sound sad.”
Yup, that's what he does. See “The Opposite of Hallelujah.”
Missy Elliott – “I'm Better”
Well now, there's a turn up for the books as former queen of hip hop Missy Elliott resurfaces with “I'm Better,” a follow up to 2015's “ETF” and 2016's “Pep Rally.”
Is a new album on the horizon?
Don't know.
Hopefully?
The Cranberries Announce New Album
Putting (alleged) differences behind them and following on from 2012 album Roses, Irish rock quartet and 90s legends The Cranberries have announced a new European tour to coincide with a new “unplugged.”
No details for the album yet but it is known that it will include three new songs along with orchestral re-workings of some of their biggest hits including “Linger” and “Zombie.”
The tour also includes some dates in Mexico.
Details of all dates here.
All Tvvins – IIVV
Irish duo All Tvvins actually released their debut album IIVV late last year but it's worth noting now as their enviable press seems to be leading to a modicum of mainstream success.
Conor Adams and Lar Kaye have been part of the Irish music scene, Kaye mostly being known for his work with post rock act Adebisi Shank, Adams for the less-than-successful but formidable Cast of Cheers.
With All Tvvins the duo have a plan – proper indie rock aimed at actual commercial success.
What we have here is ten songs over 37 minutes that are sparse and highly efficient. If that makes the album sound clinical, it's really not.
In fact the overall impression is of an early U2 or a late-career The Police – in other words some classic rock with enviable production values.
Have a look at their storming recent performance on Irish music show Other Voices below.
