Hifi Sean & David McAlmont "Twilight" (2025)

Twilight

release date: Feb 14, 2025

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,90]

producer: Hifi Sean

label: Plastique Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Comedown" - 2. "Twilight" - 3. "Uptown / Downtown" - 4. "Driftaway" - 5. "Sorry I Made You Cry" - 6. "Goodbye Drama Queen" - 7. "Equinox's Children" - 8. "High with You" - 10. "Star"

3rd consecutive collaboration album from this duo lands only 6 months after Daylight (Aug. 2024) and as the two former releases this has been produced by Hifi Sean (aka Sean Dickson) and released on Dickson's own label Plastique Recordings.

Twilight is not surprisingly a follow-up, or perhaps more so the second chapter to what was initiated with the duo's 2024 album From the duo's bandcamp-site: "Twilight’ is a twelve-track night drive from dusk ‘til dawn, with all the moments in-between."

David McAlmont has many times proved his vocal skills in various collaboration projects - e.g. two fine albums as McAlmont & Butler (with Bernard Butler), David McAlmont & Michael Nyman, Fingersnap (with Guy Davies), McAlmont & Webb (with Alex Webb), and his solo album McAlmont was basically reworks from the disfunct duo-project of Thieves with Saul Freeman, and now working with Hifi Sean says a lot - and then never before has McAlmont stayed with any other artist for this long, and it's defintely coming through as a livestrong project. Three full-length albums in three years is something rare these days and Happy Ending (Sep. 2022), Daylight and now Twilight are three different outings, although, they're siblings. Where the predecessor was uptempo and happy-go-lucky danceable, this one comes out as its dark twin-companion. It's still neo-soul and house as the solid foundation, but the presence of jazzy blue-notes and melancholy are now fully undisclosed, and the synthpop-inspiration has transformed into something more suited for the hours after midnight. Hifi Sean makes sure to produce nocturnal sceneries that make a perfect soundscape for McAlmont's delicate phrasings.

I really hope, McAlmont has finally found his musical partner for many years to come 'cause these two seems only to know how to create great music together. Twilight is the opposite / the dark side of the coin where Daylight shines on the face side. They're distictively different but equally good. This is another highly recommended album by this strong duo.

[ Mojo, Record Collector, The Arts Desk 4 / 5, 👎Uncut 3 / 5 stars ]

Bob Mould "Here We Go Crazy" (2025)

Here We Go Crazy

release date: Mar. 7, 2025

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]

producer: Bob Mould

label: BMG - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Here We Go Crazy" - 2. "Neanderthal" - 3. "Breathing Room" - 4. "Hard to Get" - 9. "You Need to Shine" - 11. "Your Side"

14th studio album by grunge rock-forefather Bob Mould following 4½ years after Blue Hearts (Sep. 2020) is not surprisingly an album filled with much energy. The album is Mould's first on BMG after having released a long series of albums on Merge Records but with Mould himself in his usual roles as songwriter, composer, and producer, this new album shouldn't result in many raised eyebrows regarding style or themes. In the past, Mould has experimented with his soundscape and the use of instrumentation, however, since Silver Age from 2012, he has been quite consistently on an energetic alt. rock platform, boldly shaped via his preference for power pop and with hints to his more distant past in Sugar and Hüsker Dü in a more traditional guitar-rock setting. Comparing with his most recent album Blue Hearts, this is a wee bit harsher, slightly more direct, less politically oriented, and instead it's filled to the brim with sheer emotions. This both fits nicely with the applied amount of energy and a melodic drive, and then at times you could argue that it tends to touch on repetitiveness but we're talking about freak*** Bob Mould here!, and that guy should forever be granted every right and permission there is to go ahead and plug his electric guitar into his amplifier and have his fun at shouting and confronting whatever he feels like - be it the world, himself, his relationships, himself growing older, or the country's intolerable leader! Bob Mould is a sort of valve of modern times. Let the steam come out!

I have followed his work since the final two albums with Hüsker Dü, and he has always been an artist whose work I've shared a particular soft spot for, and most of the time he has been able to enrich my life, which is why I remain a stable fan. He's not an artist who invent music any longer but he's a guarantee of quality and a voice that speaks up for humanity as well as being someone who takes a stand against stupidity, which is another good reason to follow this great artist.

Here We Go Crazy is basically what we have come to expect from Mr. Mould, and once again it's relevant and recommended!

[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars]