Excited about the new year? Dreading it? Either way, a litany of new releases confirmed for 2024 should delight you at least a little bit. Pay extra attention to the entries in bold — those are the releases that The Bad Penny is most looking forward to hearing.
January 5
Babys – Live at the Bottom Line, 1979 (Omnivore) Children’s Hour – Going Home (Drag City) Jordsjuk – Siste Skanse single (Indie) Kevin Burt & Big Medicine – Thank You, Brother Bill; Tribute to Bill Withers (Gulf Coast) Morgue Terror – s/t (self-release) Oddeven – Darkness (Eclipse) Pile – Hot Air Balloon EP (Exploding in Sound) Sprints – Letter to Self (City Slang) Umbrellas – Fairweather Friend (Slumberland)
It’s been a minute since we caught up with our pals, African psychedelic-rock combo and Treefort Festival 2021 participants Orchestra GOLD. But it was a good time to do so recently, as the Oakland combo just unveiled a new song, “Keleya.” Check it out here:
“Back in 2019, we recorded at Tiny Telephone Studios in Oakland, CA and now we are finally getting Medicine out into the world,” frontman Erich Huffaker recently told The Bad Penny. “It was mixed by Chico Mann of Antibalas, Afrobeat Orchestra and Here Lies Man. We are super-thrilled with the sound.”
Huffaker further commented: “This song is about jealousy in the context of polygamy/polyamory. It illustrates how destructive it is when men pit women against each other for selfish reasons.”
The tune will appear on the group’s third album, Medicine, due January 20. Orchestra GOLD are self-releasing the effort, with a vinyl version to follow later.
A press statement issued with Wednesday’s release of “Keleya” reads: “This profoundly spiritual and dance-inducing ensemble continues their pursuit of spreading healing and community through the universal gift of music.”
Huffaker imparted to The Bad Penny that Orchestra GOLD will give two more early tastes of their new Medicine when they release new songs from it on December 7 and January 11.
For more on Orchestra Gold, read our in-depth interview with main members Erich Huffaker and Mariam Diakité right here:
This week, we examine a long-awaited album by one of the biggest heavy metal bands ever, an expertly crafted debut by a Danish band and the most bottom-heavy metal/hardcore record in recent memory.
Byrds of Paradise – TBA (Don Giovanni)
• Bad Penny download: “Barefoot Generation” Cut Copy – TBA (TBA) Dave Hause (Loved Ones guitarist/vocalist) – TBA (Paper + Plastick) Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (Warner Bros.) Haroula Rose – These Open Roads (TBA) Spectrals – Spectrals Extended Play EP (physical version; previously available digitally; Moshi Moshi)
• Bad Penny download: “Chip a Tooth (Spoil a Smile)” Continue reading →
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