UKNY for August 27

Since the release of their single "R&B" in 2021, the Leeds quartet English Teacher has dropped a steady stream of singles (including the brilliant "Wallace") and an excellent debut EP, 2022's Polyawkward, sealing their reputation as one of Britain's most provocative and compelling young bands. They've swiftly segued labels, from Nice Swan to Speedy Wunderground and now, in 2023, have signed a major label deal with Island.

I've been smitten with English Teacher from the start, drawn to their jagged post-punk grace and lyrical circling of both the political and the mundane. On "UKNY" at 11 p.m. tonight, another play of their latest single. The band — vocalist and lyricist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, bassist Nicholas Eden, and drummer Douglas Frost — played the Reading and Leeds festivals this weekend and they will embark on their biggest headlining tour to date in the UK in October.

Along with English Teacher, the Hastings trio HotWax is absolutely another band to keep your eye on—and the trio of teenagers played a ferocious set at Friday night's All Points East in London, opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Strokes. HotWax has a new single too, a quick followup from their EP of earlier this summer, A Thousand Times. 

Also, more new releases from Barry Can't Swim, The Chemical Brothers, Maya Jane Coles, Hinako Omori, Human Interest, and a particularly gorgeous new solo release from Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene.

That's "UKNY," Sundays from 11p.m.-midnight, on 90.7FM, streaming online, and in the Archives after broadcast.

Songs played:

1. Teleman, “String Theory,” Good Time/Hard Time deluxe edition
2. English Teacher, “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab,” single
3. HotWax, “Drop,” single
4. The Chemical Brothers feat. Beck, “Skipping Like a Stone,” For That Beautiful Feeling
5. Maya Jane Coles feat. Chelou, “Never Asked for Much,” In2U EP
6. Barry Can’t Swim, “How It Feels,” When Will We Land
7. (IT-UK) Luca Averna and Chris Coco, “Walearic Dub,” Sueño Mediterráneo
8. Colouring, “Lune,” single
9. (Yokohama, JP-London, UK) Hinako Omori, “cyanotype memories,” stillness, softness …
10. Poppy Ackroyd, “Pause (Hinako Omori remix),” Pause Reimagined EP
11. (Toronto, CA) Kevin Drew, “Out in the Fields,” Aging
12. Human Interest, “Step On,” single
13. Yard Act, “The Trench Coat Museum (radio edit),” single