ICYMI is a series featuring new and notable releases you (and we) may have missed
Art by Enne Goldstein, you can find more of their work here
Allah Las – “In The Air”
The sun soaked sound you’d usually associate with Allah Las gets just a touch darker with their new single “In The Air”. While still playful, the video features a Kirin J. Callinan cameo and spoofs Weekend at Bernie’s, showing the group dragging their drugged out/comatose/potentially dead(?) friend via car to helicopter to air balloon.
Djo – “Roddy”
I feel like if HOMESHAKE and Childish Gambino collaborated on a track it might sound something like this. The debut single from Joe Keery’s solo project, Djo, is dreamy, synthy, and gets a little funky at the end with glimpses of that “Redbone” influence.
Kills Birds – “Jesus Did”
Kills Birds debut LP “Kills Birds” is out on September 19th, but they’ve put out a video for “Jesus Did” to tease you with what’s coming. It’s noisy and punk rock and crawling with goats. Not sure if the adorable baby farm animals are a gesture to Satan or not, but with badass frontwoman Nina Ljeti panting “I do that thing that Jesus did” over and over again, you’ve got to at least assume a little. It only helps the argument that the song was written about all the fake people out in LA who’ve known nothing but the indulgence of privilege their whole life… cute, but kinda evil.
–Grace Eire
DIIV – “Skin Game”
DIIV’s first track back after the group’s break speaks to frontman Zachary Cole Smith’s experience with addiction in a more honest way than he has previously addressed it. Listening to this, I feel like Elliot Smith is celebrating in his grave. The mix of the guitar hook and vocals on this gives me heavy 90s nostalgia in the best way.