Astrobal‘s third solo album, L’uomo e la natura (Man and Nature), is nearing its release date on February 7th through Karaoke Kalk. On the run up to it, Emmanuel Mario, the French drummer, composer and producer behind the project, has let loose two singles, ‘Miami 2064’ and ‘L’abeille poupre’, and now he’s teasing the album again with a third cut called ‘Una melodia, i miei ricordi’. The single is the first of two title tracks from Astrobal’s upcoming L’uomo e la natura. Take a listen below.
Cast the Dice 2024 Album Picks
As the year draws to a close, we picked our favourite Albums of 2024.
Maurice Louca unveils brand new single ‘El Gawhara’
Right in time for the incoming festivities, Maurice Louca has gifted us with a buoyant banger. The immeasurably talented and adventurous composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer unleashed yesterday a brand new single called ‘El Gawhara’. Uplifting, ebullient and kaleidoscopic, ‘El Gawhara’ features Tarek Elshbah on drums, Ayman Asfour on violin, Rosa Brunello on bass and Louca himself on microtonal guitar. An end of year treat, behold!
Eilis Frawley shares second single, ‘Be A Lady’, off upcoming debut album
Last month, Australian-born, Berlin-based drummer and percussionist Eilis Frawley announced the release of Fall Forward, her debut album, and alongside the news she had shared the title track as the first single. Now, and ahead of the album’s release on March 7th through Sinnbus, Frawley has dropped a second single called ‘Be A Lady’, which offers a subtle yet impactful commentary on outdated and sexist language. ‘Be A Lady’ features backing vocals by Kat Frankie and you can listen to it below.
ECHT! set to release third LP, Boilerism, in March; listen to lead single ‘Highed’
ECHT! swept us off our feet with their debut EP, DOUF, released in 2019, and both albums that followed it, 2021’s Inwane and 2023’s Sink-Along completely blew our minds. So we’re obviously buzzing with today’s announcement of an incoming third full-lengh album. Entitled Boilerism, the new album sees the Brussels based futuristic quartet explore genres like acid, drum & bass, footwork, and UK garage, all while diving into faster tempos. Described as both a celebration and a reinvention, Boilerism is “an ode to club culture, to the energy of live music, and to the thrill of experimentation.”
We’ll have to wait un March 7th for the album to be out through Sdban Ultra but there’s already good reasons to be excited with the heady and intoxicating ‘Highed’, the first single unveiled today. Pulsing with “pounding rhythms, unexpected drops, exhilarating twists, and relentless energy”, ‘Highed’ captures the euphoria and mind-altering rush of a rave. Take a listen now.
Listen to Jean-Claude Vannier’s new single ‘La 2CV rouillée (The Rusty 2CV)’
Photo: Léo Alestro
February 14th will see the release of Jean-Claude Vannier‘s new album Jean-Claude Vannier et son orchestre de mandolines (Jean Claude Vannier and his mandolin orchestra), a record created as the soundtrack to a non-existent silent film. The French musician, composer and arranger had already shared the tender and heartfelt ‘Perdue dans la cité (Lost in the city)’ and the charming ‘Comme les enfants savent aimer’ and today he’s sharing a new single called ‘La 2CV rouillée (The rusty 2CV)’. Of the track, he says:
“I’ve always dreamed of writing for a mandolin orchestra – the instrument’s tremors seemed apt to expose romantic and sentimental melodies. It brings back old memories.
On Sundays, my father used to take us to the countryside in his 2cv.
It’s a funny car, with the slightest change in speed, a flick of the brake or the gas pedal, and it rocks like a duck on the water.
During these drives, I was unable to see the landscape because I was seasick.
My father was an inventor, and had come up with a rudimentary air bag that went off at the slightest jolt.
Those rides in the countryside were a nightmare for me, and I now avoid trips in the 2CV…”
Listen to ‘La 2CV rouillée (The rusty 2CV)’ below and grab the album when it drops on February 14th through Ipecac.
