Forthcoming Attractions

As if 2007 hadn’t yet proved wonderful enough, take a look at this rather tasty list of what the rest of the year has in store:

Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass (released in the UK today – one of modern hip hop’s great masters)
Dirty Projectors – Rise Above (11th Sep in the US – one of the most innovative and exciting bands I’ve heard in a long while)
Gravenhurst – The Western Lands (10th Sep – no doubt more electronica-tinged folksmithery)
Murcof – Cosmos (17th Sep - atmospheric electronica on the wonderful Leaf label)
Supersilent – 8 (17th Sep - I can’t express how much I’m looking forward to this – more unplanned free improv from Arve Henriksen, Helge Sten et al)
Kevin Drew – Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew’s Spirit If (Sep 17th – ‘solo’ project from Broken Social Scene mainman sounds excellent)
PJ Harvey – White Chalk (Sep 24th – reportedly sees Polly at the piano, sounds very promising)
Manu Katche – Playground (Sep 24th – outstanding percussionist/composer on ECM)
Scott Walker – And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball? (Sep 24th – the results of SW’s recent commission for a ballet project at the Royal Festival Hall)
Iron and Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog (Sep 24th – features more collaborations with Calexico and no doubt another fine album from one of America’s greatest contemporary songwriters, now on Transgressive in the UK).
Steve Earle – Washington Square Serenade (Sep 24th – The politically daring Earle returns with an album inspired by America’s capital)
Bettye Lavette – Scene Of The Crime (Sep 24th – The great overlooked soul singer continues her comeback, this time with an album of songs written by men).
Beirut – The Flying Cup Club (reportedly influenced by chanson music – out in October??)
Bruce Springsteen – Magic (Oct 1st – ‘Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night’ – Bruce returns with his most straight ahead rock record for some time).
Underworld – Oblivion With Bells (Oct 1st – dependable dance pioneers return)
Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin (Oct 1st – 2nd album from excellent My Morning Jacket soundalikes)
Robert Wyatt – Comicopera (Oct 8th – The return of a living genius)
Black Dice – Load Blown (Oct 8th – one of the better set of laptop experimentalists)
Prefuse 73 – Preparations (Oct 23rd – more stuttering, unpredictable hip hop)
Boxcutter – Glyphic (tbc – playful dubstep extraordinaire)
Shortwave Set – Replica Sun Machine (tbc – junkyard pop)
Also tbc – Spiritualized, REM, Portishead (but maybe now delayed until 2008?)