Here’s a welcome progression from Canada’s Austra, adding the exotic rhythms and funk-infused basslines -a distinct ‘organic house and disco’ element -to their sound. Where their 2011 debut Feel It Break profited from the Zola Jesus-led trend toward gothic dance, ‘Home’, the lead-single to their forthcoming album, Olympia, out on Domino, June 17, is a more melodic affair.
That said, the lyrical theme is equally emotional, if not more explicit, than old tracks like ‘Beat And The Pulse’. But having worked with UK rave maximalist-cum-new-aged-trip-hopper Hervé, vocalist Katie Stelmanis appears to be expanding on her influences as well as her range and tracks like ‘Home’ have turned out all the better for it.**
Austra’s Olympia is out in the UK on Domino June 17.
Like what you see? AQNB continues to exist only through the dedication and generosity of the community it promotes. You can help us keep going by way of a monthly subscription to our Patreon.
All funds raised will go directly to editorial commissioning and support our contributors in their excellent work.
Art, play & a perpetual seat at the kids’ table in the tongue-in-cheek installations of Ellen Schafer
Evita Manji unleashes the cavernous club of ‘Oil/Too Much’ along with a message for its listeners
Kai Whiston shares the lethargic & broken-down soundscapes of ‘Playtime’ for Mutants Mixtape’s next compilation
Agazero joins Lisa Lotion & JLZ in a dreamy exploration of friendship on the tender club rhythms of ‘Air’
Psychic phenomena, revelatory experiences & their aesthetics in the work of Peat Szilagyi
Ian Cheng for New Mystics: exploring weird worlds, animal companions & technology with a text blurring writer, artist & AI
Celes shares mix & a series of videos in response to her recent ambient mixtape Limit Break
Ange Halliwell & rxvi bring out memories & never-ending affection on their melodic edit of Charli XCX’s ‘Forever’
Space to Breathe: Adham Faramawy discusses ecology, migration & body horror in the latest episode of AQNB’s Artist Statement podcast
Getting to history & examining the exploitative criminal justice system through the monumental sculptures of Onyedika Chuke
Kilbourne delivers hardcore euphoria on the pummeling beats & transcendental electronics of ‘Gore Tex’
Diana Azzuz shares video for ‘Recursive Gesture’ with a few thoughts on cross-virtual worlds & pursuing self-determination
Examining pedagogy & transmission with ‘how-to’ clips from over 30 artists for PANE project & Like A Little Disaster’s #videotutorials 02
Mapping a neo-baroque fantasy space with the ornate installation & sculptures of Anastasia Sosunova
Rắn Cạp Đuôi meditate on death & cybernetic futures with an absurdist perspective on the shifting club composition ‘Aztec Glue’
