Written by Audrey Keelin
Every Friday, a staff member at the ugly hug curates a list of their five favorite new(ish) releases to share with us all. Starting us off is our co-editor and graphic designer, Audrey Keelin and this variety filled list.
Blue Ranger – Close Your Eyes
This entire record has me delighted, but the last song on the album, “Stoned Reply,” blew me away. With the anthemic qualities of an indie heater but sitting at eight minutes and 30 seconds, Blue Ranger establishes their place in contemporaries like Fust, Sluice, and Hovvdy. If you like any of these artists you’ll be sure to lose yourself in the slow-burn artistry of a constant rise like “Stoned Reply.”
mary in the junkyard – “marble arch”
The whimsical mary in the junkyard, another incredible act to make its way up and out through south London’s iconic Windmill Brixton scene, delivers magnetic, whispery vocals, stank-face percussion, and punctuated melismas. With a fascinating set of music videos, mary in the junkyard have been consistently providing a mysterious, fascinating image for listeners, releasing small bits of music leaving us begging for a full album. Listen if you like Fiona Apple melodies, post-rock rhythm, and the lyrical visceral imagery of bands like Black Country, New Road.
The Last Whole Earth Catalog – “Have You Ever?”
Dan of LWEC blesses us with yet another act of prolific music making with his new song, “Have You Ever?”. Since catching a LWEC set in North London in 2021, I’ve been sitting on the edge of my seat, with awe at Dan’s constant craft and flowing, stream-of-consciousness creativity. His act of rhythmic surprise, his tendency to layer vocals like a sweet sandwich, and his mastery of warm, almost visual, acoustics create a dynamic scene unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. Please listen for a journey of surprise and sincere genre-defying magic that somehow manages to resolve quite comfortably.
Ugly (UK) – “Icy Windy Sky”
Ugly has consistently made me feel validated in the face of the beauty of grief. This new tune, “Icy Windy Sky,” carries the energy of a bossa standard I’d hear at a weekly dive-bar jazz jam but manages to compile influence from traditional English folk, ultimately carrying the familiarity of a song I thought I always had the chance to listen to but never knew I needed. Listen if you like the Dirty Projectors, Fairport Convention, dissonant harmonies, beautiful cover art, and a driving bassist.
Masakatsu Takagi – “Marginalia #151”
I’ve recently become really obsessed with new releases from Masakatsu Takagi, namely works from his “Marginalia” series. Known for writing scores, namely making music for the Studio Ghibli documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013), Takagi’s music instantly makes your life into an animated film, slows down your heart rate, and adds romantic vibrancy to the world around you.
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