1. Tiña - Positive Mental Health Music
This album was an accidental discovery for me - ordered purely on the strength of it being the first full LP release on the Speedy Wunderground label. It grabbed me from the first play and continues to deliver intriguing angles on each listen.
It is very much the personal journey of Josh Loftin, the band’s lead singer/songwriter; the 11 tracks charting his feelings as he battled with mental health issues.
But this album is far from downbeat. It courses from slightly dark opening tracks Buddha and Rosalina to the immediately uplifting and humorous I Feel Fine, Rooster and Closest Shave. These are instantly likeable songs, with Loftin’s distinctive vocal accompanied by a psych-pop sound.
The refrain from Growing In Age “It’s Like A Hug Will Kill Us All’ provides the watch-word for the 2020 lockdown. The album culminates with the tuneful Dip (an earlier single) and the final tune featuring clinky piano, wistful guitar and an appeal for us all to love one another more, simply titled ‘People’
A marvellous record that will draw you back for multiple listens.
2. The Flaming Lips - American Head
3. Jens Kuross - The Man Nobody Can Touch
4. The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers
5. Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter
6. The Phoenix Foundation - Friend Ship
7. BC Camplight - Shortly After Takeoff
8. Earth - EOB
9. Happyness - Floatr
10. The Strokes - The New Abnormal
Si
