April 2025 Music Roundup
Another month gone by - a relatively quiet one in terms of new releases in-between two very busy month so this might not be as long as the previous entry, but there's some fun stuff to chat about.
New Music Immediate Impressions
Bon Iver - Sable, Fable
Honestly, as predictable as it is, I could have easily had a full album's worth of Justin Vernon returning to his roots as a melancholy man with an acoustic guitar; as the first three songs of this album (which were released as their own separate EP last year) prove, he's still got the magic in that regard and for me personally, it's such a comfort zone sonically. Yet, I think Sable, Fable really gets its strength from that sudden transformation it takes from the fourth song onwards. Vernon finally allows himself to be fully happy on record and the first three songs represent the moment of introspection that took him where he is now - the rest of the album then rings out as an ode to joy as he unabashedly and unashamedly enjoys life and making music. This is already climbing up as one of the year's must-haves, perhaps moreso than it would have been if it was just full of acoustic dark nights of the soul. But as it is, it's been a wonderful soundtrack to the start of the spring.
Craig Finn - Always Been
I generally find myself more drawn towards Finn's solo work over his day job as the frontman of The Hold Steady, though I do really enjoy them as well - but I got into Finn's music through his solo albums first so that mode of him just feels closer to me. On his latest one he's paired with The War on Drugs' Adam Granduciel in the producer's seat, with some of the rest of WoD filling instrumental duties throughout. Unsurprisingly, Finn's intricate storytelling over americana-indebted singer/songwriter music now has a heartland rock sheen on it - and it works really well. I haven't gotten quite as obsessed about this as I have some of the prior solo albums, but every time it's on I find myself really getting into it.
Charif Megarbane - Hawalat
I discovered Charif Megarbane when he opened for The Go! Team a few years back, and you can hear the connection - his music sounds like something The Go! Team would sample when they make their technicolour pop explosions. Megarbane merges together Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences in his chilled-out, impeccably groovy instrumentals and they are really lush jams to chill out to. In all honesty I'm not sure I'll ever need to own more than one album from him (that'd be Marzipan from a few years back) but that's not down to quality: Hawalat is a really good trip and worth checking out.
Hoard Updates
The shelves keep creaking... Besides any new 2025 releases, here's what got added to my seemingly endless pile of music in April.
CD
- Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue (1998)
- Chumbawamba - Enough Is Enough (CDS) (1993)
- Chumbawamba - On eBay (CDS) (2004)
- The Cranberries - Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001)
- The Divine Comedy - Foreverland (Deluxe Edition) (2016)
- H.W.A. - Supersonic (CDS) (1992)
- Gang of Youths - Let Me Be Clear EP (2016)
- Sonic the Hedgehog - Zero Gravity Tracks: Sonic Riders Shooting Star Story Original Soundtrack (2008)
Mostly business as usual - Chumba singles, a Sonic soundtrack, some whim purchases when I found myself in a record shop. The curio of the month is the H.W.A. single. It's a 1992 house song which samples Green Hill Zone ("Hedgehogs With Attitude", get it?), and which was subsequently officially licensed by SEGA for wider distribution, with all of SEGA's profits going to a music therapy charity. It's a fun little piece of Sonic-related memorabilia - and also the the song slaps.
Most played song of the month according to Last.FM
My most played song of April is one already linked above, Bon Iver's "From". The second prize medalist is Pinegrove's classic debut album closer "New Friends", on back of starting reviews for Pinegrove's back catalogue on my music site. Incredible song, and below is a cracking live version.