New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 5

Summary

All Songs Considered – New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out Sept. 5

Host: Stephen Thompson (NPR), with guest Alisa Ali (WFUV, The Bronx)
Date: September 5, 2025

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Episode Overview

Stephen Thompson and Alisa Ali dive into New Music Friday by highlighting standout album releases for September 5th, 2025. The episode shifts from summer jams into the fresh sounds of fall, offering engaging discussion and first listens of key tracks. The hosts explore albums from Big Thief, El Michels Affair, Curtis Harding, Lucrecia Dalt, David Byrne, and more, blending personal insights, standout lyrics, and memorable moments to guide listeners through this week’s must-hear music.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflecting on the Summer of 2025

• Opening Banter: Stephen and Alisa reminisce about past music festivals, signifying their long friendship and musical camaraderie.
  • Quote: “If anything, I’m kind of Benjamin buttoning back to infancy.” – Stephen Thompson [00:45]
• Alisa’s Song of the Summer:
  • “Sally when the Wine runs out” by Role Model.
    • Alisa: “Every time I play it on the radio, I have to say that was Saleh Sally.” [01:07]
  • Stephen: Acknowledges the season’s lingering, “Love it. And as you noted, summer not technically over…” [01:45]

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2. Album Spotlights

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Big Thief – Double Infinity

• Context: Sixth studio album; their first as a trio after bassist Max Olearchik’s departure.
  • Initial aim was to make a hard rock album, but it evolved into something subtler.
• Musical Direction:
  • Stephen: “It’s a little bit more of a sleeper. Kind of gets its hooks into you over time, getting better with each listen.” [03:19]
  • “Scaled back … subtler album as a result.”
• Collaboration & Texture:
  • Alisa: Highlights new vocal collaborators (Alaina Spangler, Hannah Cohen, June McDoom), bringing “so many different textures.”
  • “Her [Adrianne Lenker’s] voice sounding so beautiful with others.” [04:01]
  • Features ambient musician Laraaji on “Grandmother.”
    • Stephen: “That kind of speaks to the vibe here a little bit…working with Laraaji, who is like the farthest thing from heavy.” [05:00]
• Lyric Highlights:
  • Alisa, quoting “Grandmother” [06:16]:
    • “We are made of love we are made of pain Gonna turn it all into rock and roll.”
    • “That’s a good use for love and pain. Am I right or am I right?”
• Themes:
  • Aging, transformation, and philosophical musings.
    • Stephen: “Instrumentally…it still has that stormy swirl of guitars…polyrhythms…Adrianne Lenker’s words are just so on point about kind of aging and trying to keep your life in perspective.” [06:35]
    • Alisa: “It’s not only about aging. It’s also about turning into a different person.” [07:30]

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El Michels Affair – 24 Hour Sports

• Overview:
  • Leon Michels, known for cross-genre production, channels vintage sports broadcasts, MF Doom, and gospel.
  • Album showcases wide-ranging vocal collaborations but remains cohesive.
• Collaborators:
  • Guests include Brazil’s Joga, Ghanaian singer Florence Adouni, Norah Jones, Clairo, Kali Uchis.
    • Alisa: “There’s so many people on this record…yet the album is still cohesive sounding.” [09:56]
  • Stephen: “He’s finding ways to combine them in really charming ways… Clairo… pops up in a song called ‘Anticipate’ …really match her low key freak, you know, perfectly.” [10:23]
• Notable Tracks:
  • Alisa: “Leon’s using his own voice too on ‘Shining’…it’s such a warm and sunny song. That could be the song of the summer.” [11:36]
• Theme & Visuals:
  • Inspired by ’80s Sports Illustrated covers.
    • Alisa: “I know that colorful and bright sound. And I do hear that here on this record. It’s a knockout. It’s a home run. I’m mixing sports metaphors, but I think he gets a trophy for it.” [12:59]

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Curtis Harding – Departures and Adventures of Captain Kurt

• Overview: Soul singer-songwriter’s fourth album is a concept work, exploring themes of alienation and the longing for home, using space and science fiction metaphors.
• Musicianship:
  • Harding’s lush arrangements feature strings and a touch of disco.
    • Stephen: “Gorgeous, expansive, lush soul arrangements…conjured memories of Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield.” [19:14]
  • Disco influence appears in “The Power.”
    • Alisa: “That was the first one that really, I was like, oh, yeah, this does have the power.” [20:04]
• Vocals & Emotional Tone:
  • Alisa: “He goes high and low on this song and it is just, you know, you’re melting, you’re melting in his hands…hopefulness.” [21:17]
• Lyric/Moment:
  • Harding, from “I’m with You”: “But I love, you know, the positivity that he has there. I’m with you. It’s really reassuring.” [21:30]

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Lucrecia Dalt – A Danger to Ourselves

• Context:
  • Colombian-born composer and recording artist, mixes experimental, multilingual, and deeply personal elements.
• Collaborators:
  • Album produced with David Sylvian (Japan), includes his spoken-word; Wenona Molina features on “The Common Reader.”
    • Alisa: “That second part comes in with David Sylvian, who in this song plays Tom Waits…with this creepy blood stained monologue. It’s just, it’s so good.” [24:49]
    • Sylvian (monologue, from "Cosaarara"): “We are out of favor. A danger to ourselves.” [25:44]
• Personal Narrative:
  • Stephen: “She has talked about wanting to find ways…to kind of strip away artifice and distraction and experience universal grounding truths. And the ways to do that is by kind of telling your own story…” [26:12]
• Emotional Landscape:
  • Love’s complexity, vulnerability, and even danger.
    • Alisa: “Love is scary and it almost feels like you’re being attacked at times or that you are so in love with someone that you want to like, bite them…” [27:23]

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David Byrne – Who is the Sky?

• Overview:
  • The legendary Talking Heads frontman returns with a collection inspired by personal observations and the mundanity of everyday life, featuring an array of collaborators.
• Songwriting Approach:
  • Stephen: “Taking down kind of sketches and notes for future songs…fragmented perspective of place…gives this sense of what his home means to him.” [30:55]
• Themes:
  • Finding meaning in small things, unapologetic optimism.
    • Alisa: “He takes these little fragments of his life…they seem kind of silly at first, but then there’s a message in there… slices of wisdom.” [31:53]
• Collaborators:
  • Features St. Vincent, Hayley Williams (Paramore), Ghost Train Orchestra.
  • Orchestral embellishments evoke various genres, including tango and sweeping harmonies.
    • Stephen: “They come in and give this song and a number of other songs in this record this really jaunty, freewheeling vibe…clippity clop, gallop to it…” [32:56]

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3. Lightning Round: Other Notable Releases

• Saint Etienne – International
  • Stephen: “Their new 12th record will be their last, and they go out on a high note.” [35:50]
• James K – Friend
  • Alisa: “Wonderful companion for late night grooves. Her vocals are mesmerizing as she creates ghostly trip hoppy soundscapes.” [36:26]
• Ivy – Traces of You
  • Features demos by the late Adam Schlesinger.
    • Stephen: “Gorgeous, stylish, deeply sweet little song.” [41:30]
• Anais and the Hoops – Growing Pains
  • Alisa: “Jazzy indie pop music that goes down real smooth…debut EP out today.” [38:08]
• I Will Swim To You: A Tribute to Jason Molina
  • Features contributions from M.J. Lenderman, Horse Jumper of Love, Hand Habits, and more.
    • Stephen: “Jason Molina…an incredible singer and songwriter whose cult following has only grown since his death in 2013.” [39:13]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On concept albums:
  “When you say someone is putting out a concept album, it’s like someone just offering you a sandwich, but an ice cream sandwich. Like the very best kind of album.” – Alisa [18:15]
• On collaboration:
  “He’s finding ways to combine them in really charming ways.” – Stephen (about Leon Michels) [10:23]
• On finding meaning in the mundane:
  “He takes these little fragments of his life…they seem kind of silly at first, but then there’s a message in there.” – Alisa (on David Byrne) [31:53]

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Favorite Songs of the Week

• Alisa: “Words” by Big Thief
  “It’s just such a sonically moving song. It’s got this great galloping pace. It feels so freeing. I feel like I could swim in this song all day.” [40:45]
• Stephen: “Say You Will” by Ivy
  “It’s hard to separate my fondness for ‘Say You Will’ from how much I miss Adam Schlesinger … But it’s also just a gorgeous, stylish, deeply sweet little song.” [41:30]

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Notable Song Segment Timestamps

• 00:23 – Hosts’ intro banter
• 01:07 – Alisa’s Song of the Summer: “Sally when the Wine runs out”
• 02:42 – Big Thief "Double Infinity" first impressions
• 06:16 – Big Thief lyric highlight: “Grandmother”
• 09:56 – El Michels Affair discussion
• 11:36 – “Shining” by Leon Michels
• 17:13 – Curtis Harding “Departures and Adventures of Captain Kurt” first listen
• 19:14 – “Gorgeous, expansive, lush soul arrangements” by Harding
• 24:49 – Lucretia Dalt and the monologue from “Cosaarara”
• 30:55 – David Byrne’s “My Apartment is My Friend”
• 35:50 – Lightning Round: Saint Etienne "International"
• 40:45 – Favorite Songs of the Week discussion

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Tone & Style

The conversation is breezy, insightful, and often playful, capturing the hosts’ enthusiasm for discovery and honest discussion about new music and what it means to be a music fan in 2025.

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This summary encapsulates the key music, moments, and insights from NPR’s All Songs Considered “New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 5” — a perfect primer for anyone seeking the essential sounds of early fall 2025.

Transcript

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[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

Well, I miss Sally Ellie Night dive bar. She don't dance, but she downs her drinks.

[Stephen Thompson]

Happy Friday, everyone, from NPR Music. It's NEW Music Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx, New York. You and I used to hang out back at the Newport Folk Festival probably a decade ago. It is a pleasure to see you. You and I have not aged a day.

[Alisa Ali]

No, not at all. As far as you can tell from the podcast, we're really supple.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. If anything, I'm kind of Benjamin buttoning back to infancy. Yeah, that's, that's my goal. So, Alisa, you know, we're recording this show. This is the first Friday after Labor Day. So we're no longer talking about summer music. We're talking about fall music. And I thought it might be a nice way to kick off the show if you give us your song of the summer. What song are you taking with you from the summer of 2025?

[Alisa Ali]

Well, first of all, summer is not technically over yet, and I am going to hang on to every last scrap of it that I can. I believe, I firmly believe that the song of the summer is Sally when the Wine runs out from Role model. It is just so much fun. And every time I play it on the radio, I have to say that was Saleh Sally.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

That feeling's coming around.

[Guest Vocalist or Collaborator]

Please don't go falling in love.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

And.

[Guest Vocalist or Collaborator]

Disappear in your mind.

[Stephen Thompson]

Love it. And as you noted, summer not technically over. That's a good reminder. All right, first album we're going to talk about that's out today, September 5th. Big Thief has a new record. It's called Double Infinity.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Ever have lovely smile Subconscious mind, subconscious takes so much time to find daylight.

[Alisa Ali]

Big Thief and their new album, Double Infinity is such a wonderful record. This is their sixth studio album, their first as a trio since the departure of their bassist, Max Olearchik. So we've got Adrian Lenker, Buck Meek and James Krivchenya, and they have been making music for quite some time now. And interestingly, when they first started working on this album, they were intending for it to be a hard rock album. That is not the case, but it is still quite a beautiful record, isn't it?

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, absolutely. And I appreciate it. Not only is it a Little bit of a quieter album. It's a little bit more of a sleeper. Kind of gets its hooks into you over time, getting better with each listen. It's also scaled back from their last record, Big Thief put out a record in 2022 called New Warm Mountain, I Believe in youn. That is like a super sized album. And I sometimes feel like artists will fall into this trap where each record has to be bigger and kind of grander than the one that came before it, and appreciate the fact that they kind of do a little bit of a reset here and you get, I think, a subtler album as a result.

[Alisa Ali]

It's a really sunny record too. I mean, it's very upbeat and hopeful, in my opinion. And interesting that you say that they scaled it back because they also brought in a bunch of new collaborators, a bunch of new singers too, who are singing with Adrian. Interestingly, you know, Adrienne, we're just used to. To her voice alone that carries Big Thief and also Adrienne solo releases. So it's really nice to put in songs where she's singing with other people. She's singing with Alaina Spangler, Hannah Cohen and June McDoom, and they sound so lovely together. And it's a new way of bringing out her voice and for her to be harmoniz.

[Stephen Thompson]

So you hear those collaborations on that song incomprehensible. But there are also occasionally you get a little bit more unexpected guest. There's a track on the album called Grandmother, you know, which has got these, you know, this kind of woozy feel over the course of, like six minutes. And then the great ambient musician Laraji comes in and like, provides this guest vocal. You know, Laraji's kind of had this renaissance in recent years. You can watch a tiny desk concert he did a few years ago. You know, he's a pioneering ambient musician, and I think that kind of speaks to the vibe here a little bit. It's so funny, Elisa, that as you said, they intended this to be a heavier album. And by the. By the time they were done, they were working with Laraji, who is like the farthest thing from heavy.

[Alisa Ali]

It's quite a turn, right? And he sounds so wonderful on there as well. I mean, this is what I'm saying about the band working so well with others and her voice sounding so beautiful with others. And there's so many different textures, I think, on that song in particular. And I love. There's a great line in that song. Grandmother. We are made of love we are made of pain Gonna turn it all into rock and roll. I mean, that's a good use for love and pain. Am I right or am I right?

[Stephen Thompson]

You know, Alisa, I love a mission statement. You know, anytime you can pull. Anytime you can pull out a lyric and be like, this lyric defines what this artist is all about. That makes our jobs so much easier. I also just think at the same time, instrumentally speaking, even though there has been a little bit of contraction in the band as they've gone from a quartet to a. You still get these kind of wiry, spindly arrangements, and you have that, like, stormy swirl of guitars that Big Thief does so well. Polyrhythms. Another kind of trademark of a lot of Big Thief songs is that they have this layered percussion to them. But then, as you say, like, lyrically, Adrian Lenker's words are just so on point about kind of aging and trying to keep your life in perspective. And I love, you know, for, you know, for a band of people in their early 30s to be singing about aging, I'm always like, that's adorable. But it's really thoughtful and beautiful.

[Alisa Ali]

Yeah, it's a philosophical album. I mean, I think the centerpiece of the album, Double Infinity, really speaks to this as well. And it's not only about aging. It's also about turning into a different person. You know, you're thinking about what's forming while at the same time, what's fading. You know, it's that the music is kind of a bridge between those two worlds. And it just feels so, so thoughtful and moving. I mean, time moves like the waterfalls Unrelenting, cascading I mean, it's just gorgeous.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Trees are fair the rivers flood all the banks are soaked in blood A mirror makes a portrait Draws the shadow and the shading the butterflies and the summer bees the wildflowers sway with me at the bridge of two infinities what's been lost and what lies waiting.

[Stephen Thompson]

That'S Big Thief. Their new album is called Double Infinity. Next up, a new album by L. Michaels Affair. It is called 24 Hour Sports. So Leon Michaels has become a go to producer. You know, he put out a great collaboration with Black Thought a few years ago. He's made records with Norah Jones and Claro and Cali Uchi. This is kind of his opportunity to work with his own canvas again. And it is a collection of songs with influences ranging from vintage sports broadcasts, which is part of what gives this album its title to, like, MF Doom to gospel. He typically records instrumental records, but the first thing that jumps out about this One is the collaboration, just the sheer variety of voices that pop up here.

[Alisa Ali]

Yeah, there's so many people on this record and it just shows what great style this guy has. I mean, he's got everyone on there from like Brazil's jog. He's got Ghanaian musician Florence Adouni on here, Nor Jones. Claro's on here. There's so many great musicians of so many different backgrounds, and yet the album is still cohesive sounding.

[Stephen Thompson]

Totally. And he's able to kind of deploy those voices in ways that work with their style and with his. And so I think that's a big part of where that cohesiveness comes from, is it doesn't feel like he's retrofitting these songs around someone else's style. He's finding ways to combine them in really charming ways. You know, Claro. You know, when we think of Claro, we think of kind of that quote, cool bedroom pop vibe. And she pops up in a song called Anticipate and the. The kind of swirly psychedelic pop vibes that he concocts for. Her voice really match her low key freak, you know, perfectly.

[Alisa Ali]

And Leon's using his own voice too on Shining, and his voice is swirling all around that track too. And it's just such a. Of course, as the title suggests, it's such a warm and sunny song. It just. That could be the song of the summer.

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, and you know, it could be the song of your NFL season, which kicks off this weekend. What better soundtrack as you're. As you're preparing for NFL games? I know, Alisa, you obviously are going to.

[Alisa Ali]

I'm definitely not going to since I don't watch football. However, I feel like, you know, he starts off okay, so let's talk about the sports thing and how ignorant I am of sports in general. However, I do think it's so interesting. This is one thing that I can relate to and understand about the sports analogy is that he took inspiration from Sports Illustrated magazines from the 80s. Just the look of that is what he was trying to replicate as sound. I mean, I'm familiar with those magazines. I'm familiar with the 80s. I know that colorful and bright sound. And I do hear that here on this record. It's a knockout. It's a home run. I'm mixing sports metaphors, but I think he gets a trophy for it.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is El Michaels affair. Their new album is called 24 Hour Sports. We've got some more records we're going to talk about in depth. First, we're going to take a Quick break.

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[Stephen Thompson]

From NPR Music, it's New Music Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx. Alisa, tell me about the station. Tell me about what you're working on.

[Alisa Ali]

Well, the station is, you know, like a lot of stations freaking out because of our public funding right now. But we have been hearing from a lot of our listeners that they really value public radio, and that means so much to us and it is so wonderful. One thing that I've been working on for a few years now is a local music feature on my show called New York Slice. And it has been such a bright spot for me in creating a community of people here in New York City, and that is including the musicians who make the music, the recording artists, the venues where the bands play at, and the record stores where their music is sold. So it's really been just such a wonderful way to bring us all together. And I recently did a New York Slice Showcase for New York Music Month, which was really wonderful. And I got to showcase some great New York acts that I adore. It's every weekday from around noon is when I play these artists. And you can find out more about [e-mail] NYSlice and we actually will take tri state area musicians. It's not only for New York slice. We appreciate our Jersey brothers and we'll even accept our Connecticut brothers as well.

[Stephen Thompson]

Nice. All right, well, let's carry on. We've got more great music to get to that's out today, September 5th. Next up, Curtis Harding. Curtis Harding's new album is called Departures and Arrivals. Adventures of Captain Kurt.

[Curtis Harding]

I'm thankful for the things you do? Cause right outside they put a curse on you? Oh, Lord, and I can see it when the skies are great. It might be dark, but God, it's okay. Oh, Lord, and I knew it. I could read the stars. But right outside. God, you kept my heart, oh, Lord, and I never thought I would get so low. You picked me up off that killing flow. Let's go.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

You know what?

[Curtis Harding]

All you got to do is believe.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Stand up and say again?

[Curtis Harding]

Long as you got the ability.

[Alisa Ali]

So this is his fourth full length album, and he is just a brilliant soul singer, songwriter with a lot of different elements thrown into the mix. I mean, he's a great guitarist, too. He's a multi instrumentalist, and this new album is a concept album. Oh, hello. Okay. A concept album. Yes. When you say someone is putting out a concept album, it's like someone just offering you a sandwich, but an ice cream sandwich. Like the very best kind of album. You know what I mean? So, yes, I'll take a ride with you. Where are you going with this concept album? It's a Space the Adventures of Captain Kurt. Hello, Star Trek nod. But the concept is really about missing home and feeling alienated from your friends and from your people and just feeling lost. And I think that that's something that we can all relate to.

[Stephen Thompson]

Absolutely. I think he uses that space metaphor really aptly and uses it in ways that are that feel really relatable at the same time as he is cooking up these gorgeous, expansive, lush soul arrangements that are, to me, conjured memories of Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield where there's this cinematic sweep to it. You get strings coming in. It's this almost orchestral quality, while it still, at the same time, feels grounded in something personal.

[Alisa Ali]

Yeah, the strings, like you say, add so much to it, and I love all of those flourishes. It just takes it to Another level, actually. You know, what is another flavor that he puts in here? There's a little bit of a disco.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

And I was just gonna mention the song the Power.

[Alisa Ali]

I think that might be like one of my favorite. Okay. You know, we talk about this a lot. Like, what's your favorite track from the album? And it's always changing. But that was the first one that really, I was like, oh, yeah, this does have the power. I like this.

[Curtis Harding]

Just be your life and don't you give up now they'll be strong.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's got that kind of disco throb, that beat, that bass line. The strings come in in a way that evokes disco and it arrives about halfway through the record and gives it this kind of jolt of energy that I think is really welcome because, you know, he has such a. A flair for atmosphere. You know, there's a song here called I'm with youh that feels like it could have fit like on an indie soundtrack in the 70s. It's got this really moody arrangement. It's using the strings in kind of a more low key way.

[Alisa Ali]

Totally, totally. It's just so yearning. And I have to talk about his vocals on this track. This guy has got some serious range. I mean, he goes high and low on this song and it is just, you know, you're melting, you're melting in his hands. And you know, what I like about it too is that it's really hopeful, you know, I mean, this is the guy who's really positive and you can feel that positivity flow through him. He acknowledges, you know, he's not where he needs to be. I think on this song, I guess he's talking about la, which feels like galaxies away from home. But I love, you know, the positivity that he has there. I'm with you. It's really reassuring.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is Curtis Harding. Curtis Harding's new album is called Departures and Adventures of Captain Kurt. Next up, the singer Lucretia Dault is back with a new album called A Danger to Ourselves.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

Super sa.

[Stephen Thompson]

So Lucretia Dalt is a Colombian born artist who's made a string of adventurous albums when she's not busy scoring movies. Like she did the score for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. She did the score for HBO's the Baby. So she's kind of been delving into movie and TV scoring in recent years. Her own work is very arty and expansive, very daring, multilingual. She manages to be extremely artistically open and really explore a lot of different sounds on her records. And one thing that jumped out at me about this one and kind of a, a theme for several of the records that we're talking about this week. Her collaborators really give you a sense of what she's trying to do here. You know, David Sylvian from the band Japan, you know, pops up and you know, he co produces the record and he gives this kind of spoken word contribution to the song Kosarara that opens the record. Wanna Molina pops up in the song the Common Reader. And they are just such a natural pairing.

[Alisa Ali]

I love the way they sound together. And I actually, the first time I heard Lucretia I was like, oh, this, this sounds very much like Wanna Molina. And I loved and I was more familiar with Waunamalina, so that's what drew me in. And you mentioned the song Cosaarara and I adore that song. It is so good. It's like reading a book and you know, you wish you could read it again for the first time because it's, it's so intriguing and surprising when that second part comes in with David Sylvian, who in this song plays Tom Waits. Right, right. He plays the part of Tom Waits and he comes in with this creepy blood stained monologue. It's just, it's so good. And by the way, that's, I think the monologue, that's where you get the title of this album. He says we are out of favor A danger to ourselves.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

We're out of favor a danger to ourselves. It's not unfair to me it's something else My body's smeared and bloody red she said she loved me but I don't trust her yet.

[Stephen Thompson]

You know, she's been open about the fact that this is kind of her most personal album that she's in the past been drawn to, kind of using, you know, fictional characters and kind of putting words in other people's mouths as a way of, you know, kind of telling other people's stories, kind of using fiction as a mask. And here, you know, she has talked about wanting to find ways, you know, to kind of strip away artifice and distraction and experience universal grounding truths. And the ways to do that is by kind of telling your own story. And so like a lot of the life experiences that inform this record are kind of like the rush of a new relationship. And kind of a lot of the material that we talk about a lot is informing a lot of people's records. And it's so funny to me that like she took this kind of more basic approach of telling her own story, but it still manages to come out in this fragmented, very nonlinear, experimental and extremely expressive Lucretia Dalt way.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

What the hell am I supposed to do?

[Alisa Ali]

And that's her personality coming out where it's like, it's not gonna be a sugar coated, everything is great situation. She's gonna show you that, you know, love is scary and it almost feels like you're being attacked at times or that you are so in love with someone that you want to like, bite them or like, you know what I mean? When you love something, you just want to grab it so hard. It's, you know, you feel that she really expresses that so well. And I think that's the emotion.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

They are trying to do away with each other while holding one another tightly, but the truth is their insides melded into golden outlines. A numerous blood leading act of analog thought.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is a danger to ourselves. By Lucretia Dalt We've got one more album we're going to talk about in depth, as well as a lightning round of some of our other favorite albums out today, September 5th. But first, let's take a quick break.

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[Stephen Thompson]

From NPR Music, it's New Music Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx. Before we get to our lightning round of some of our other favorite albums out today, we got one more that we want to talk about in depth. It's David Byrne. David Byrne is back with a new album called who Is the Sky?

[Guest Vocalist or Collaborator]

I know every part of you. We've been together for so long, you've seen Me at my very worst but we always get along. You have witnessed my confusion, My triumphs and my shame the things that no one knows? The moments that we shared so forgive me if I hesitate if a tear comes now and then. You stood by me when darkness fell. My apartment is my friend. My apartment is my friend.

[Stephen Thompson]

Think about how busy David Byrne has kept in recent years. Right. You know, he had the production American Utopia on Broadway, which was enormously acclaimed. Spike Lee made a David Byrne movie for hbo. He's been really busy with a lot of theater and film projects, and while he was working on those, and those kind of somewhat overlap with the Pandemic, he was also taking down kind of sketches and notes for future songs, and that kind of of formed the skeleton that became this album. And it's really interesting to hear where he kind of is at this point in his career where he's kind of reached a phase, a little bit like the phase that like Neil Young has been in for a number of years, where if an idea strikes his fancy, David Byrne writes a song called My Apartment is My Friend, where he is writing about giving you this sense of place and kind of what his home means to him.

[Alisa Ali]

Yeah, he takes these little fragments of his life, like my apartment is my friend moisturizing thing.

[Stephen Thompson]

Right.

[Alisa Ali]

You know, just these little things that happen to him and they seem kind of silly at first, but then there's a message in there, you know what I mean? Don't judge people or, you know, you can't really tell what love is going to be. You know, there's all these really wonderful little slices of wisdom. And that is his style. He is looking at life through this like, I don't want to say totally sunny, you know, through like Pollyanna vision, you know, through rose tinted glasses. However, if there's something good to be found, he will see it and bring it to your attention.

[Guest Vocalist or Collaborator]

That lotion is magic. I look like I'm free. So smooth and so soft.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I think that upbeat quality comes through quite a bit on this record. I mean, it's pretty undeniable. You know, it kicks off with a track called Everybody Laughs. That's a very optimistic and hopeful perspective to take. And then you've also got a track called what Is the Reason for It? And that's where I really noticed his collaborators here. Not just the guests like St. Vin, Haley Williams from Paramore, but the Ghost Train Orchestra, which is this chamber music ensemble that he works with on this record. And it's kind of a large scale chamber music group. And they kind of come in and give this song and a number of other songs in this record this really jaunty, freewheeling vibe. There's this like clippity clop, gallop to it. That again, like, I come back to the word childlike. And maybe that's the. Maybe that's my reaction to the optimistic. Optimism is to think that it's childlike, which really says more about me than it does about him.

[Guest Vocalist or Collaborator]

What is the reason for it?

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Why is it there?

[Guest Vocalist or Collaborator]

Is it my body or my brain? Nobody understands it they all believe.

[Alisa Ali]

I love the little tango kind of vibe of that song. And it is. It's interesting how the different songs bring so many different styles because he's got this huge, you know, orchestra that he's working with. He's got so many instruments to pull out of this bag and they're able to, you know, bring in a tango song or like a sweeping harmonies song. There's so many different textures on this album.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, that is David Byrne. His new album is called who Is the Sky? Now, we couldn't possibly get to every great record out today, September 5th, so we're going to close this week's show with a lightning round with some more recommendations. I'm going to kick us off with the English band Saint Etienne, which has been a global treasure for 35 years. They made some of the most charming, timeless, catchy pop music of the early 90s, then just kept churning out terrific albums for more than three decades. They've said their new 12th record will be their last, and they go out on a high note. St Etienne's lovely new swan song is called International.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Don't it make you sad when you are lonely? Don't it make you sad when you're alone? But don't it make you glad.

[Alisa Ali]

When.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

The sun shines in your eyes? Don't it make you glad.

[Guest Musician or Vocalist]

To be alive?

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Don't let it make you sad.

[Alisa Ali]

I would like to put forth a great New York City musician producer named James K, who just released her third album called Friend, and it is a wonderful companion for late night grooves. Her vocals are mesmerizing as she creates ghostly trip hoppy soundscapes. It's called Friend from James K. I.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

See you when I'm gone They know you face down even inside.

[Stephen Thompson]

A moment ago, I mentioned the final album of the indie pop band Saint Etienne. Another wonderful 90s pop band is back with a bit of bittersweet closure. Ivy made six records in the span of nearly 20 years, with the last coming out in 2011. One of Ivy's members was the great Adam Schlesinger, who played in Fountains of Wayne, among many other projects. Schlesinger died in 2020 and the surviving members of Ivy got together with some of their favorite collaborators to record another album with every song containing something Schlesinger recorded as a demo for Ivy between 1995 and 2012. It's a sweet, charming, understandably melancholy collection called Traces of you.

[Alisa Ali]

Another artist that I want to call attention to is New York Slice alum. As I mentioned before, New York Slice is a local music feature that I have on my show on WFUV and I've previously played Anais and the Hoops. They make jazzy indie pop music that goes down real smooth. Anais Lund is the mastermind behind this project and she's got her debut EP out today. It's called Growing Pains.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Hey Jade, do you remember when we'd wait for life to begin with Sit along the shoreline I'm thankful you are by my side oh God I miss the grown things the endless summer days and you were just a drive away But I know when things have to change Now I miss the growing pain.

[Stephen Thompson]

I mentioned Ivy and Adam Schlesinger a moment ago. He was one of my all time favorite songwriters and a musical presence I miss deeply. Another much missed all time favorite of mine is Jason Molina, who recorded a long string of brilliant records as Songs Ohio and later Magnolia Electric Company. He was an incredible singer and songwriter whose cult following has only grown since his death in 2013. Now he's inspired a new tribute album with contributions from M.J. lenderman, horse jumper of Love, Hand Habits, and many others. It's called I Will swim to you a tribute to Jason Molina.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

If you can't get here fast enough, you can't get here fast enough. You can't get here fast enough. If you can't get here fast enough, you can't get here fast enough. You can, you can get here fast enough I will swim to you I will swim to you.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, Alisa, you and I have listened to a lot of new music to prepare for this episode. This is the part of the show where we put each other on the spot. I'm going to ask you, what is your favorite song that you heard this week in preparing for this episode?

[Alisa Ali]

I think the one that I will go back to as soon as we're done talking immediately is the Big Thief song Words. It's just such a sonically moving song. It's got this great galloping pace. It feels so freeing. I feel like I could swim in this song all day. Speaking of summer and the last dips in the pool.

[Stephen Thompson]

So, as always, after much agonizing, I'm gonna go with the song say youy Will from Ivy's final album, Traces of You. It's hard to separate my fondness for say youy Will from how much I miss Adam Schlessinger, not to mention the deep well of nostalgia that Ivy's breezy, melancholy pop conjures for me. But it's also just a gorgeous, stylish, deeply sweet little song. So that is say youy Will by Ivy.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Dance with the Unknown It's a shame what we become Till we're nothing yet what I'm feeling I don't know but it's turning me to stone in the shade of eureka I was not.

[Stephen Thompson]

Guess I better and that is our show for this week. Thank you so much, Elisa Ali, for taking time out of your week at WFUV in the Bronx.

[Alisa Ali]

Stephen Thompson I cannot wait to hang with you again.

[Stephen Thompson]

I know it has been way, way too long. If you enjoyed this week's show, we always appreciate a positive review on Apple or Spotify or whatever app you're listening to right now. This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. The executive producer of N Music is Soraya Muhammad. We'll be back next week to discuss new music with Raina Doris, host of World Cafe at WXPN in Philadelphia. Until then, take a moment to be well, moisturize and treat yourself to lots of great music.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

But it chills me to the bone it's the same as years ago I was nothing yet Guess I better start again say you will, say you won't Guess I better try again say you.

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