UKNY for May 25
Loyle Carner (photo by Felicity Ingram, PR)
Fatherhood led Loyle Carner down the path to his fourth album, hopefully!, released on June 20. The rapper, nominated for two Mercury Awards for his debut, 2017's Yesterday's Gone, and his third album, 2022's Hugo, has never shied from revealing himself via his languid, thoughtful lyricism, from parental estrangement to ADHD. But the striking beauty of the new singles tumbling from Carner's hopefully! signal another extension of his music, reflecting not only his love for his small children, but a deep affection for indie rock. On "UKNY" tonight at 11 p.m., a recent release from Carner's soon-to-arrive, striking album.
Wolf Alice is also back — with ferocious panache and a nod to Bob Fosse — and on Friday, Stereolab released their first album in 15 years called Instant Holograms on Metal Film. Dutch singer and songwriter Robin Kester inches towards her second album, Dark Sky Reserve, released September 12. And Seattle-New York musician Nina Nastasia has released her first new solo single since the passing of her friend and longtime producer Steve Albini— with a forthcoming, Bandcamp-only EP, Song for a World of Trouble due out on June 6.
Also in tonight's mix: Model/Actriz, Self Esteem, Shura, Allo Darlin' and Underworld, the latter whose dazzling Kings Theatre show on May 15 was two volcanic sets of sheer euphoria.
That's "UKNY," Sundays 11 p.m.-midnight, on 90.7FM, streaming online, and in the Archives after broadcast.
Songs played:
1. Wolf Alice, “Bloom Baby Bloom,” The Clearing
2. (NL) Robin Kester, “Happy Sad (It’s a Party),” Dark Sky Reserve
3. Loyle Carner, “about time,” hopefully!
4. (Somerville, US) Ezra Furman, “Power of the Moon,” Goodbye Small Head
5. (Paris, FR-US) Pearl & the Oysters, “Sous la lune mandarine,” single
6. Emma-Jean Thackray, “Thank You for the Day,” Weirdo
7. Stereolab, “Transmuted Matter,” Instant Holograms on Metal Film
8. Shura, “World’s Worst Girlfriend,” I Got Too Sad for My Friends
9. Underworld, “and the colour red,” Strawberry Hotel
10. (New York, US) Model/Actriz, “Cinderella,” Pirouette
11. Self Esteem, “Mother,” A Complicated Woman
12. (Seattle-NYC, US) Nina Nastasia, “No Communication,” Song for a World of Trouble
13. Allo Darlin’, “My Love Will Bring You Home,” Bright Nights
14. Everything is Recorded feat. Sampha, Laura Groves, Ricky Washington and Alabaster DePlume, “My and Me,” Temporary
