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 24 August 2020.

Sneaks - Happy Birthday (Merge Records)

On her fourth album, the Washington D.C. musician continues the expansion from her post-punk origins towards a hybrid sound which mines elements of hip-hop, house and krautrock. With atonal and direct speak-sing lyricism, Sneaks catches fleeting moments, feelings and thoughts over 9 rapid fire tracks, displaying a sound which is singularly her own.

Briggs - 'Always Was' EP (Island Australia/Universal)

The Australian rapper releases his first collection since 2014s acclaimed and award winning Sheplife. A stunning display of his formidable lyrical talent and unapologetic social commentary, Briggs has said about his new release “it’s six tracks that make up six different parts of my personality...A lot of people know me for a lot of different things but this is back to the fundamentals of who I am as Brigggs.”

Elsie Lange - 'Talk to Me' EP (Wing Sing Records / Future Popes)

Talk to Me is the debut EP from the Melbourne folk-pop singer-songwriter Elsie Lange. With laconic ease, Elsie Lange explores themes of love and heartbreak, belonging, and womanhood. Talk to Me exhibits her shimmering lyricism encased in a wash of jangling pop and lo-fi fuzz.

Nubya Garcia - Source (Concord)

The acclaimed saxophonist and composer follows up her work with bands Maisha and Nérija with her debut solo album Source. Self-produced in collaboration with celebrated producer Kwes, the debut explores a multidimensional jazz sound with shavings of soul, wide-ranging afro-diasporic sounds and the occasional dub-step rumble of her native London. Driven by virtuosic saxophone, Source celebrates the power of community and pays tribute to the heritage of the African diaspora.

Burna Boy - Twice As Tall (Warner)

Burnaboy continues his ascendent rise with Twice as Tall, following his Grammy nominated African Giant and it’s accompanying sold-out stadium tour. The new record double’s down on the Nigerian rapper's confidence in his path towards a global stardom, with tracks featuring the likes of Stormzy, Anderson.Paak and even Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Exploring themes of black unity and global political awakening to entrenched oppression, Twice as Tall is a testament to Burna Boy as an essential voice in the wider global movement.

Kev Carmody / Various Artists - Cannot Buy My Soul (EMI)
In 2007 Paul Kelly curated a collection of tributes to his friend and long-time collaborator Kev Carmody with covers performed by the likes of Dan Kelly, the John Butler Trio, the Waifs and Clare Bowditch. This album is re-released in 2020 with fresh takes on Carmody’s body of work from Courtney Barnett, Kasey Chambers, Jimmy Barnes, Mo’Ju & Birdz, Kate Miller Heidke, Alice Skye and Archie Roach.

The Kid LAROI - F*CK LOVE (Columbia)

The prodigiously talented Australian rapper releases his debut full-length at the age of 16, following a move to California. Exhibiting his unique take on emo trap-rap reminiscent of Lil Uzi Vert and LAROI’s late mentor and friend Juice WRLD, F*CK LOVE documents the late stages of a disintegrating relationship with talent and insight well beyond his years.

Cut Copy - Freeze, Melt (Cutters Records)

On their sixth album, the Melbourne four-piece take an inward turn for a band long known for dance-floor euphoria. Following a move to Copenhagen, the band exhibit a clear influence from the ambient and instrumental electronica that corner of the globe covets. Frontman Dan Whitford, reflecting on this shift has noted “in the past when we were in the studio, we were striving to move people on the dancefloor, but in this case, it was all about trying to move people in more of an emotional way.”

Pop Filter - Banksia (Spunk! Records and Osborne Again)

Pop Filter is a new band composed from members of Snowy Band, the Ocean Party and Cool Sounds. Normally stretched around different corners of Australia, the band retreated to a family holiday in Broulee on the NSW South Coast for four days to record Banksia. The band has said that the album marked “the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the band members, while acknowledging their collective shared history.”

No Joy - Motherhood (Joyful Noise)

On their first album in five years, the Montreal group led by principal songwriter Jasmin White-Gluz radically expand on their shoe-gaze/noise rock sound to veer into a complex pastiche of genre, with elements of trip-hop, trance, nu-metal, dream-pop and house gathered into a chaotic whole. That this record remains coherent and even compelling is a testament to the songwriting and focused vision of White-Gluz.