UKNY for November 5
Gretel Hänlyn (photo courtesy of Toast, PR)
Back from some time spent in London and on tonight's "UKNY," new music from Gretel Hänlyn, a fast-rising West London rock musician (real name Maddy Haenlein), just 21, who cites Nick Cave and Wolf Alice as among her many influences. Gretel, who has a pair of EPs so far, Slugeye and Head of the Love Club, plays New York's Mercury Lounge this Tuesday night, November 7, and her latest single examines the impending tide of depression (which neatly correlates with the return of Eastern Standard Time today and way-too-early sunset).
Also, the new single from Underworld, a galvanizing eight-minute epic of undulating unease that highlights singer and lyricist Karl Hyde's ferocious wordplay and Rick Smith's propulsive production chops. Manchester's Porij have a new record label (PIAS) and release and Berlin-based Peruvian producer Sofia Kourtesis has finally released her magnificent debut album Madres, one of the very best albums of 2023.
I'll also dig deeper into Corinne Bailey Rae's powerful fourth album, Black Rainbows; I had the chance to see one of Corinne's three sold-out London shows at Ladbroke Hall late last month in which she performed every song from the album, explaining in detail the images and stories gleaned from Chicago's Stony Island Arts Bank that informed her lyrics.
Also, new releases from Sampha (he'll be here in New York this week for three sold-out shows at Webster Hall, November 7-9), the Leeds collective Fold, Nottingham's Divorce, and beabadoobee and Laufey, whose friendship evolved into a sultry collaboration.
British and international releases on "UKNY," Sundays 11p.m.-midnight, on 90.7FM, streaming online and in the Archives after broadcast.
Songs played:
1. Porij, “You Should Know Me,” single
2. Antony Szmierek, “How Did You Get Here,” single
3. Gretel Hänlyn, “Cry Me a River,” single
4. Tenderhost, “Plod Along Phenomenon (radio edit),” single
5. (UK-IS) beabadoobee & Laufey, “A Night to Remember,” single
6. (Lima, PE-Berlin, DE) Sofia Kourtesis, “Habla Con Ella,” Madres
7. Underworld, “Denver Luna,” single
8. Divorce, “Scratch Your Metal,” Heady Metal EP
9. Corinne Bailey Rae, “Red Horse (radio edit),” Black Rainbows
10. Fold, “To Be Hated and Thus Corrected,” single
11. (Paris, FR) Mademoiselle Caro and Franck Garcia, “Soldiers,” Left
12. TSHA feat. Ellie Goulding and Gregory Porter, “Somebody,” single
13. Sampha, “Only,” Lahai
14. (Dordrecht, NL) Benny Sings, “Sailing (Christopher Cross cover),” single
