New music from Anitta, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Spiritualized and Fontaines DC and the answer to who’s singing another anthem of robust sex-positive pop feminism.
Anitta – “Versions of Me”
29-year-old singer, dancer and actress Larissa de Macedo Machado aka anitta has been a mainstream pop superstar in her home country of Brazil for many years. With “Vai Malandra” (2017) and “Bola Rebola” (2019) she has also managed to release two spectacular singles, which not only caused a stir outside of Brazil but also among pop hipsters, as grandiosely stumbling beat mountains beyond the usual mainstream Pop borders – and because Anitta in the rather explicit video for “Vai Malandra” also unusually explicitly – in a close-up – showed the orange skin on her butt. With the new album “Versions Of Me” (Warner), the leap to international pop superstar should finally succeed. That could work, big Latin-Pop-Crossover-Pop-Theater including American superstar guests like Saweetie or Cardi B. Unfortunately, avant-garde-mainstream-pop strokes of genius like “Vai Malandra” and “Bola Rebola” aren’t there. With “I’d Rather Have Sex” but again an anthem of robust sex-positive pop feminism. Jens Christian Rabe
Ry Cooder & Taj Mahal – “Get On Board: The Songs Of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee”
The country-blus nods continue: After the Black Keys dedicated their latest album “Delta Kream” to their Mississippi Hill Country blues heroes Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside, and Black Keys singer Dan Auerbach has just released a terrific album of previously unknown Son House recordings, celebrate on “Get On Board” (Perro Verde/Nonesuch) now Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal their piedmont blues heroes Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. So splendidly played along as well as commemorative work to remember the black roots of pop. Jens Christian Rabe
Spiritualized – “Everything was beautiful”
On the cover of British indie pop band’s new album ‘Everything Was Beautiful’ (Bella Union). Spiritualized a medicine packaging can be seen. Is the music the medicine or do you need some afterwards? Well, the typical sensory overload of the band’s songs allows for both. However, the record ends rather thoughtfully, with psychedelic rock, rap and gospel: “If you want another world, I would be another world for you”. Eve Goldbach
Fontaine’s DC – “Skinty Fia”
The title of the new album “Skinty Fia” (Partisan Records) by the Dublin post-punk band Fontaines DC is an Irish curse meaning: “Damn stag!” In the title track, the deer are actually roaring. Not to be confused with the deep voice singer Grian Chattens tries on the sluggishly rumbling “Bloomsday”. The secret hit, the nostalgic accordion piece “The Couple Across The Way”. Eve Goldbach