Album of the Week – Page 10 – New Zealand Net Radio

Album of the Week: Omar Apollo – Ivory

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Omar Apollo has been releasing music for a couple of years, but this album should be his breakthrough. The Apple Music Up Next artist has an incredible voice, crooning his way through a diverse album, a “collection of gorgeous, sultry songs that content with the angst of feeling like you’re the only person who is truly awake and alive in an otherwise sleepy world” (NME‘s pretty portentious review!). We look forward to listening to these silky numbers this week.

Album of the Week: Maren Morris – Humble Quest

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. Listen in @tunein at https://tunein.com/radio/New-Zealand-Net-Radio-s305138/

Maren Morris is adept at blending pop and country elements, her ultimate example being the now-classic single “The Middle”. Her third album has met with acclaim, a solid set of songs exploring her life in a relatable way. She reflects on some tough times (postnatal depression, the loss of her collaborator Busbee and COVID19 isolation) but pleasingly doesn’t let these overwhelm the album. AllMusic described it as “openhearted and reflective”. We look forward to exploring the album this week.

Album of the Week: Elton John – Diamonds

We usually highlight new music in our Album of the Week slot, but Elton John just turned 75, and he’s an absolute legend! So this week we’ll enjoy some selections from his latest greatest hits package, Diamonds (the 3CD Deluxe edition). The first CD I bought back in 1994 was “The Very Best of Elton John” but this latest package was worth getting with a really comprehensive selection of great music.

Album of the Week: Yumi Zouma – Present Tense

Great to have two Kiwi albums in a row in our Album of the Week slot. This week one of our long term favs return. Yumi Zouma have expanded their sound by adding some new instrumentation, while still keeping with their chill melodic sound. We’ve been playing a couple of the singles which are really solid for a while (“Where the Light Used to Lay” and Ïn the Eyes of Our Love”) but each track is a little treasure.

Album of the Week: BENEE – Lychee

We’ve been enjoying BENEE’s distinctive music for a couple of years, every track sounding very Kiwi, as though made for a Saturday afternoon at the beach. Her new EP is no exception – our highlight is “Never Ending” with its delicious buildup.

Album of the Week: JP Cooper – SHE

Its hard not to like JP Cooper. The British singer-songwriter did the hard yards for a number of years before ‘making it’ back in around 2016 with “September Song”. This is a polished collection of songs, his second album. It consists of multiple discs, the main album proper accompanied by a ‘Gospel’ set and an acoustic set on the third disc. All are beautiful, with “Holy Water”, “Radio” and “We Cry” standouts for us. Look forward to listening to these this week.

Album of the Week: Metronomy – Small World

The British electronic group have released their seventh album. This is a well written collection of songs that exudes positivity but also authenticity. As AllMusic described it as some of the most engaging songs of leader Joseph Mount’s career

Album of the Week: AURORA – The Gods We Can Touch

We’ve loved the singles, and the album lives up to expectations. Scandi pop with a delightful dance beat, this album is more ‘fun’ than previous efforts with a great sounds and melodies. An interesting underlying theme is of mythology as a metaphor for personal issues. “Cure For Me” is a particularly delightful song about taking pride in who you are.

Album of the Week: The Lumineers – BRIGHTSIDE

The Lumineers are back with another great record, one where in the words of AllMusic they let their “raw creative spark” shine. Recorded quickly in a couple of sessions the songs still contain the great melodies they’re known for while also still possessing some rough edges.

Album of the Week: Valerie June – The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers

This exquisite album from March 2021 sees the Memphis singer-songwriter in fine form. An album of love and loss, her “organic moonshine roots music” as she calls it is both simple and meaningful, accomplished and slightly experimenting in this her fifth full length album.