Soundscape is a weekly look at local and international releases making an impression on our musical radar. The list offers a cross section of EPs and albums arriving at the station

We have been busily scouring the Soundscape! Check out some of our favourite finds for this week 18 February 2019

Julia Jacklin - Crushing (Liberation Records)**Album of the Week

Crushing is the follow up to Jacklin's 2016 debut Don't Let the Kids Win, an alt-country gem which won her instantaneous critical praise and took her on tour around the world. With Crushing, Jacklin tackles heartbreak and obsession following the dissolution of a long term relationship and years on the road. The sparse, guitar focused production allows space and breathing for each sonic element.

Chaka Khan - Hello Happiness (Island/Universal)

The Queen of Funk releases her 12th studio album with Hello Happiness, recruiting producer Swift, a close collaborator of the likes of M.I.A, Diplo and Major Lazer. Hello Happiness jumps through disco, funk and even dubstep in celebrating "the life-affirming power of music."

Mavis Staples - Live In London (ANTI-/Cooking Vinyl)

The octogenarian, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and soul legend celebrates a period of renewed pop-culture relevence with this live release, following recent high profile collaborations with the likes of Nick Cave, Jeff Tweedy and Ry Cooder.

Joe Tossini and Friends - Lady of Mine (Efficient Space)

Reissued by retrospective Melbourne label Efficient Space, Lady of Mine is the 1989 debut by Sicilian born American Joe Tossini. Following a period of turmoil in his life, Tossini turned to music for therapy, releasing this truly singular lounge record notable for it's charming positivity, resoursefulness and odd, sometimes psychodelic lyrics.

Ladytron - Ladytron (Ladytron Music)

Ladytrons sixth album, and first since 2011 has a directness and urgencey despite or perhaps because of this lengthy period of hiatus. The Anglo-Bulgarians waste no time in finding their feet with their distintive rythmic, synth driven sounds and deadpan vocals.

Sleeper and Snake - Junction and High (Aarght Records)

Sleeper and Snake is a collaboration between prolific Melbourne artists - and bandmates in the excellent Terry - Al Montfort and Amy Hill. Junction and High is a collection of guitar driven jangle pop and more free-form experimental fare.

Teymori - 'Teymori' EP (Wax Museum)

Teymori is the project of Melbourne based producer Amin Payne. With this alias, he traverses his own take on house, featuring a variety of collaborators from the Melbourne scene including Silent Jay, Blasko and Horatio Luna.

Homeshake - Helium (Sinderlyn)

Helium is the third release from Peter Sagar's project Homeshake. With this relaese, he searches for a new aesthetic identity experimenting with instrumental interludes, hazy synthersizers and ambient textures, creating a distinctive sound far removed from his heritage in bedroom indie-pop and lofi R&B.

Methyl Ethel - Triage (4AD/Remote Control)

The Perth psych-rock band return with their third release. With Triage the band move further into the pop-stratosphere with excellent results, showing a restraint and efficiency and shedding some of their more experimental tendencies.

The Beasts - Still Here (Bang! Records/RiSH)

The longrunning Australian group - formerly known as Beasts of Burden - reunite following the passing of members Spencer P. Jones and Brian Hooper. The music is celebratory, carrying on with the dirty, ferocious, guitar driven wall of sound which made them a legendary live act over the last three decades.