10 Brilliant January Releases You Might Have Missed

From surprise releases from Aphex Twin and Björk to big-league returns from Sleater-Kinney and Belle & Sebastian, January 2015 has been a busy month for music. But stuff always gets released outside schedule and sometimes music just falls through the cracks. Here’s 10 great albums you should check out if they passed you by this month…

1
Zun Zun Egui – Shackles’ Gift

Zun Zun Egui – Shackles’ Gift

Zun Zun Egui – Shackles’ Gift

Produced by Fuck Buttons’ Andy Hung, the Bristol sonic adventurers’ second album is a riotous coming together of psych, dub, post-punk and more. A record that matches the band’s revered live shows for energy and spirit, it’s one to get completely lost in.

2
The Living Eyes – ‘Living Large’

The Living Eyes – 'Living Large'

The Living Eyes – ‘Living Large’

Aussie quartet The Living Eyes are slowly making their way into the UK from their native town of Geelong with their second album, ‘Living Large’. It boasts huge pop melodies woven between thrashy punk riffs – highly infectious and heaps of hip-shaking fun.

3
Taman Shud – ‘Viper Control’

Taman Shud – 'Viper Control'

Taman Shud – ‘Viper Control’

The nightmarish Londoners’ debut album oozes ominous post-punk and hellish psychedelia, backing up the band’s claim to be all about “blood, sex and evil”. Good for unleashing any pent up rage with a barrage of jagged, gloomy guitars, or for soundtracking your next cult meeting.

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4
Sunflower Bean – ‘Show Me Your Seven Secrets’ EP

Sunflower Bean – ‘Show Me Your Seven Secrets’ EP

New York trio Sunflower Bean has been slowly gathering pace since the back end of last year, following furious live sets at CMJ and in support of the likes of Fat White Family and The Wytches. Their debut EP collects that energy for the likes of us who can’t get across to NYC and it’s on their Bandcamp now.

5
Pinkshinyultrablast – ‘Everything Else Matters’

Pinkshinyultrablast – 'Everything Else Matters'

Pinkshinyultrablast – ‘Everything Else Matters’

St Petersburg quintet Pinkshinyultrablast have clearly been making notes on the resurgence of shoegaze over the past couple of years. But, instead of just handing back carbon copies of Slowdive and Ride, the Russian band push the boundaries, adding more electronic elements to their sea of fuzz.

6
Petite Noir – ‘The King Of Anxiety’

Petite Noir – 'The King Of Anxiety'

Petite Noir – ‘The King Of Anxiety’

‘The King Of Anxiety’ is the debut EP from South African musician Yannick Illunga (aka Petite Noir). As such, it’s not entirely flawless but the likes of the oriental-esque ‘Till We Ghosts’ and SBTRKT-like ‘Shadows’ are more than enough to make up for any minor pitfalls along the way.

7
Milk Teeth – ‘Sad Sack’ EP

Milk Teeth – 'Sad Sack' EP

Milk Teeth – ‘Sad Sack’ EP

Stroud quartet Milk Teeth have only been together for just over one year and their ‘Sad Sack’ EP is the fruits of those early days together. Full of grunge bite and punk snarl, it’s an impressive and exhilarating first release.

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8
Meat Wave – ‘Brother’ EP

Meat Wave – 'Brother' EP

Meat Wave – ‘Brother’ EP

Chicagoans Meat Wave make their UK debut with the ‘Brother’ EP, a short, snarling collection of six songs that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and makes damn sure you know what they’re all about. That’s powerful blasts of sludgy grunge that rumble through a wide spectrum of emotions.

9
Hanni El Khatib – ‘Moonlight’

Hanni El Khatib – 'Moonlight'

Hanni El Khatib – ‘Moonlight’

Los Angeles musician Hanni El Khatib has branched out from just making thrumming blues-rock, as evidenced by this third full-length offering. Give it a spin and you’ll find El Khatib exploring new avenues in soul, disco and soft rock with tight, louche results.

10
Emmy The Great – ‘S’ EP

Emmy The Great – 'S' EP

Emmy The Great – ‘S’ EP

Writing on singer-songwriter Emmy The Great’s travels through Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo and London, her latest release is a much worldlier affair than past work. ‘S’ takes in the personal and the political and wraps it up in surprisingly varied sonics – from disco to minimal electro.

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