What’s Hot On The Kaleidiscope Turntables - October ‘26
After highlighting their lead singles on the September edition of our monthly series “What’s Hot On The Kaleidiscope Turntables”, The Tubs truly delivered on their latest record Hard Life. An undeniable tour de force by the Welsh outfit has skyrocketed them onto each of our respective album of the year shortlists. Go check it out, let us know what you think and what you have been listening to in the past month in the comments below!
Now onto our highlights of the past month.
Billy: Blossoms - Songs From The Wedding Cake
Just in time for this month’s edition of “What’s Hot”, Blossoms have blessed us with their sixth studio album, Songs From The Wedding Cake. Layered guitars, pulsating basslines and Tom Ogden’s typically tongue-in-cheek lyrical musings deliver the classic Blossoms sound, while the band’s feel-good indie pop feels especially vibrant here.
Reflecting on five years of marriage, Ogden is feeling lovey dovey on sweet love songs such as seems “The Kardashians” and album closer “The Deep End”. Even the pleasures of domestic life with someone you love, explored on “Guts”, have not dulled his creative spark. And once again, his bandmates provide the perfect musical backdrop for his vocals.
This may well be the Stockport quintet’s finest record since Foolish Loving Spaces first brought them to my attention in 2020. If you’re after 45 minutes of irresistible hooks and expertly crafted indie pop, Songs From The Wedding Cake is tailor-made for you.
Rich: Allison Russell - In the Hour of Chaos
It was only in 2021 with the release of her debut solo album Outside Child that the staff at Kaleidiscope became aware of the existence of Allison Russell. So it was with a certain amount of embarrassment that research revealed the Montreal born artist had been making music for over twenty years in a variety of set-ups, notably Po’ Girl with former Be Good Tanya Trish Klein and later joining the star studded collective Our Native Daughters with Rhiannon Giddens and Amythyst Kiah among their number.
That debut album was a powerful tour de force detailing the abuse she had received as a child from her stepfather before escaping the family home. It is at times a tough listen. But one that introduced her to a wider audience as award nominations and appearances on TV and venues like the Grand Ole Oprey piled up.
What a joy it is then to discover that her third solo album, despite the dark times we live in, showcases the joyful, optimistic side of Russell, a world away from her debut. A galaxy of supporting artists helps her through a dazzling array of songs. The opening tracks from the uplifting “Rainbows”, the beautiful smoochie “No Springtime” aided by the wonderful Joy Oladokun and the kids choir accompaniment in album highlight “Cold April” introduces us to the sunniest of rides as Russell encourages us to clap and sing along like its Sunday morning at the local church gospel gathering. What predominates throughout is Russell’s wonderful vocal. ‘Let me get my arms around you’ she sings on Black Lavender, and it is in this spirit of hugging and dancing that the joyful ride continues. Norah Jones and Kashus Culpepper are other Americana soul folk dignitaries that join in as we are left to contemplate Allison Russell some twenty-five years on establishing herself as a leading light in American music. Recommended.