April’s best new albums

Savoury techno skank, icy ambient experimentalism, energetic drums-fuelled jazz, and more.

Our favourite new albums to look out for in April, selected by VF’s Gabriela Helfet.

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Calibre

Double Bend

(The Nothing Special)

Due: 2nd April

Calibre follows his Feeling Normal LP – one of our favourite records of 2021 – with his 17th (!) studio album, Double Bend. For the occasion, he leaves his more ethereal, tugging-on-the-emotional-140bpm-heart-strings productions behind, in favour of zippily twerky, dubbed-out techno and breaks-fuelled fare. Or, as Calibre fittingly refers to it: “savoury skank”. Released on an imprint that you can always count on for quality music, Craig Richards’ The Nothing Special, Double Bend is of course adorned with artwork by Richards himself. The LP also follows Calibre’s recent remix of Trevino’s ‘Backtracking’, with all proceeds donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

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Whatever The Weather

Whatever The Weather

(Ghostly)

Due: 8th April

London producer Loraine James furthers her electronic experimentalism with the self-titled, debut album under her Whatever The Weather alias. Diverging from James’ more club-oriented excursions, including her recent album Reflection – one of our favourite LPs of 2021 – she ventures into explorations of “ambient-minded” terrain for the project. Conceptually, each track is named as a different degree – 0°, 17°, etc – representing a numerical value designed to reflect its sonic mood. Like the LP cover artwork suggests, when consumed as a whole, the album is akin to standing at the foot of a mountain during sunrise on a crisp and snowy’s winter’s day. Whatever The Weather may be, trust in Loraine’s ever-growing artistry.

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Wet Leg

Wet Leg

(Domino)

Due: 8th April

Arlo Parks, Nilüfer Yanya, Beabadoobee, Aziya, Holly Humberstone, and on – the future’s looking very bright for UK indie, riding high on the wings of the next wave of brilliant British female rock artists. Enter Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, aka Wet Leg, who bring a math rock doting sensibility to this illustrious scene’s fold. Following a string of ear-worm inducing singles, the Isle of Wight duo ready their self-titled long player. Expect effortlessly low-slung vocals delivered atop catchy guitar riffs and tight drum hooks aplenty – appealing to both Gen Z’s fresh ears, and millennials clutching onto their 2010 indie days alike… on the chaise long, all day long.

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Axel Boman

LUZ/Quest For Fire

(Studio Barnhus)

Due: 15th April

Purveyor of sun-drenched, house-hued sonics, Axel Boman returns to his Studio Barnhus imprint with a new double album called LUZ/Quest For Fire. Expect glittering, dance-floor ready riffs, and trippy syrup electronics throughout, designed to create an expanded musical universe beyond its aural contents. To help Boman further this cause, across the album’s 18-tracks, he enlists familiar faces including: Off The Meds’ Kamohelo, Baba Stiltz, Bella Boo, Man Tear, Miljon, and Kristian Harborg, alongside designer Robin Ekemark, and art director/writer Erik Lavesson.

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Jas Kayser

JAS 5IVE

(Jazz re:freshed)

Due: 15th April

Drummer/composer Jas Keyser unveils her debut long player in Jazz Re:freshed’s iconic 5ive series –following artists including Nubya Garcia, Ashley Henry, and Kaidi Tatham here. “Step into your mind and you will see, those places you can go, open your heart and let kindness flow…” She’s no stranger to good company though: the young Berklee graduate has also performed with artists including Shabaka Hutchings, Lenny Kravitz, and Jorja Smith. Jas’ 5ive furthers the sounds from her first EP, as Jas joins her own dots between meditative jazz and uplifting Afrobeat, amidst spoken word and vocal hooks.

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Claire Rousay

everything perfect is already here

(Shelter Press)

Due: 22nd April

Texan musician and producer Claire Rousay turns sound into a delicate, ambient collage on her latest album everything perfect is already here. Comprised of two, fifteen minute compositions, amidst hushed pianos, and strings, her compositions oscillate in and out of focus – the whisper of a memory here, a wrinkle in your dreams there. Written entirely by Rousay, she weaves samples and field recordings through performances by Alex Cunningham on violin, Mari Maurice on electronics and violin, Marilu Donovan on harp, and Theodore Cale Schafer on piano.

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Toro Y Moi

Mahal

(Dead Oceans)

Due: 29th April

Taking you on a sun-drenched, psych meets funk via indie, road trip, Toro Y Moi s back with Mahal. Marking Toro Y Moi’s first release on Dead Oceans, and seventh LP under this alias, the record represents a natural progression from his chill wave roots – the vibes are still extremely zen amidst its neo-soul riffs. Dead Oceans also makes a fitting home for him, with likeminded label compatriots including Khruangbin, and Mitski.

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KMRU & Aho Ssan

Limen

(Subtext Recordings)

Due: 29th April

Following a collaborative performance at Berlin Atonal, which saw Kenyan sound artist KMRU and French digital composer Aho Ssan unite for a performance of sonic cacophonies, the duo returned to this creative source on Limen. Rather than the distinct minimalism both artists are known for, the album is “an attempt to scrutinize the yin and yang of destruction and creation.” With sound erupting around itself , the album is a snapshot of “the anxious floral beauty of an explosion or the colorful intensity of a raging fire.” As captivating as each artists’ solo releases, the LP represents a window into sides of their creative processes that were seemingly lying in wait for this collaborative moment.

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Kelly Lee Owens

LP.8

(Smalltown Supersound)

Due: 29th April

Mixing industrial sounds with Celtic mysticism and ethereal vocals, producer and musician Kelly Lee Owens returns to Smalltown Supersound with LP.8. Across its 9-tracks, she collaborates with avant-noise artist Lasse Marhaug to conjure an electronic record that “ebbs and flows between tension and release.”

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Batu

Opal

(Timedance)

Due: 29th April

Bristol DJ and producer Batu steps up with his awaited debut, Opal, on his own Timedance label. Harnessing the experimentalism he is known for in his techno-driven sets and previous productions, he takes this spirit further, careening off the dance floor and into left-field electronics that shine via his percussive explorations. Like its namesake, Opal “refracts Batu’s distinctive artistic imprint” into new light.