Published on
May 9, 2025
Category
Features
Essential weekend listening.
This week’s rundown is by VF contributors Emily Hill, David Murray and James Hammond.
billy woods
GOLLIWOG
(Backwoodz Studios)
billy woods returns two years after his breakthrough album Maps with GOLLIWOG—a dark, twisted journey into reality, nightmares, and the spaces in between. The album takes a contemporary horrorcore-inspired approach, filled with menacing sounds and vivid imagery alongside sharp lyricism that confronts the macabre realities of state violence, capitalism, and everyday life. At this point, it’s no surprise that woods’ writing is exceptional; he has long been one of hip-hop’s most incisive lyricists. This time around, however, the sound design on GOLLIWOG and the album’s deep thematic cohesion elevate it to be one of the strongest releases of the year so far. – KD
Kali Uchis
Sincerely,
(Capitol)
Kali Uchis proves once again that she’s one of the most consistent and talented singer-songwriters of her generation. Sincerely, is gorgeously hazy and atmospheric, tracks floating effortlessly into one another, with vocals that feel like rays of sunshine cutting through clouds on a summer’s day. On this record, Uchis infuses her signature Latin-influenced R&B sound with production dreamier and more psychedelic than before. It’s often reminiscent of Blood Orange and makes for a truly stunning listen when paired with her intimate lyricism. While the tracks do feel less standalone or single-ready than those on Isolation and Red Moon Venus, this record doesn’t seem concerned. Sincerely, only flourishes with each full listen and makes you wish you were lounging in the hot summer air all evening long. – DM
Chaos in the CBD
A Deeper Life
(In Dust We Trust)
Chaos in the CBD reach triumphant new heights with their phenomenal, long-awaited debut album, A Deeper Life. This 14-track release marks a significant evolution in the duo’s sound—an ode to ’90s house, infused with nostalgia for the lush landscapes of their New Zealand upbringing and a deep connection to London’s vibrant dancefloors. The album features a mix of longtime and new collaborators, including Novelist, Nathan Haines, and Midnight in Peckham saxophonist Isaac Aesili. A Deeper Life feels like a major milestone for the duo — both a musical escape and a powerful statement for the club scene. – EH
Pinkpantheress
Fancy That
(Warner)
pinkpantheress returns with Fancy That, her love letter to early 2000s British music that magically captures the feel and sound of growing up at that time. “Stateside”, the mixtape’s electric second single, is an immediate standout and the rest of the record continues the streak. It’s incredible what she manages to achieve over its short runtime, conjuring memories and feelings of Dance Dance Revolution in arcades, friendships and relationships, music videos on television, and character selection screens. Known for her sampling, the interpolations on Fancy That are nostalgic for this era but never feel inauthentic. Working in Just Jack, Basement Jaxx, Sugababes, and more, there’s a genuine love for her selections, and it shows on this incredibly enjoyable record. – DM
Robert Millis
Interior Music
(Discrepant)
Robert Millis returns for another assured quest into his unique collaging process. Having long been able to blur the boundaries between temporal zones and what’s sampled and what’s played in his compositions, this collection looks to the resonance of hollow wooden chambers and an expanse of sonic artefacts. Buoyed along by the extended notes of Hindustani dhrupad music, breathy extended swirls of fragmented sounds and disembodied voices abound. – JH
PARAMIDA
Devil’s Destination
(Love On The Rocks)
Love on the Rocks’ latest release, Devil’s Destination, marks a powerful return from label head PARAMIDA —her first EP in three years, following an exciting back-to-back touring schedule. The four-track EP features two new original compositions, a stunning collaborative reimagining of a rare 2000s tech classic with E-Talking, and a remix by the legendary Mathew Jonson. Throughout the record, PARAMIDA’s deep musical knowledge shines through, crafting a sound that resonates both on and off the dancefloor. – EH
Julie Doiron
Loneliest In The Morning
(Numero Group)
Alongside her self-released debut LP Broken Girl, Julie Doiron’s follow-up effort Loneliest In The Morning gets the reissue treatment from Numero Group. Originally released on Sub Pop in 1997 and in the midst of an era that had no shortage of similar visions, Doiron’s sparing and uncluttered approach to songcraft still holds a certain sway. A fine way for the unfamiliar to acquaint themselves with an understated and subtly melancholic set of songs. – JH
Sign up to our weekly newsletter
Never miss a thing
