This week’s best new albums: Baker Boy, James Blake and more
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15.10.2021

This week’s best new albums: Baker Boy, James Blake and more

Baker Boy

From Baker Boy to James Blake; rap to emotional ballads, here are some of the hottest new releases this week.

This week, Baker Boy dazzles in his debut album Gela, James Blake continues to produce incredible music on Friends That Break Your Heart and Danika shows her true colours on a raw debut EP When Love Comes.

This week’s top picks:

  • Baker Boy – Gela
  • James Blake – Friends That Break Your Heart
  • Danika – When Love Comes

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Baker Boy – Gela

Gelawhich is Danzel Baker’s skin name (an indigenous name that indicates a persons bloodline) is his identity, which shines true on this debut album. Fresh off performing at the 2021 AFL Grand Final, Baker Boy has unleashed this album to the world in which he floats effortlessly between english and Yolngu Matha, his native tongue.

The album features catchy pop songs with collaborations from G Flip, Yirrmal, Lara Andallo, JessB, Jerome Fatah and even a spoken word verse from Uncle Jack Charles on ‘Survive’, which the accompanying music video has been released that takes cues from ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ with a one take scene behind a white backdrop to draw attention to Danzal’s raw emotion on the politically charged track.

Highlights from the record include ‘Meditjin’ which is possibly the catchiest song on the record that features a large didgeridoo presence in the verses with Baker Boy showcasing some fantastic rhymes and ‘Cool As Hell’ which leans into pop sensibilities with a funky bassline and laid back bars.

Check out the new video to single ‘Survive’ below.

James Blake – Friends That Break Your Heart

James Blake is back and in fine form with an emotional and open new record Friends That Break Your Heart. His unique vocal delivery is still present on a record that features lush and rich compositions that invoke a sense of intense emotion. There’s a few features across the record including SZA, JID, SwaVay and Monica Martin with a few top producers helping out behind the scenes including Metro Boomin and Rick Nowels alongside longtime collaborator Dominic Maker.

Highlights from the new effort include ‘Funeral’ which is Blake at his most raw and approachable with a cool feature from slowthai that appears as a bonus track on the album and opener ‘Famous Last Words’ that features an interesting electronic composition with James Blake’s now inimitable falsetto vocals.

Check out the video for bonus track ‘Funeral’ below.

Danika – When Love Comes

When Love Comes is the first release from Melbourne via Northern Rivers artist Danika. After turning down a record deal at the age of 16, she migrated to Melbourne and ended up singing backing vocals for future jazz collective 30/70. The result of this was a collaboration with Nick Herrera of Hiatus Kaiyote, in which the first single, ‘Suit of Armour’ released in 2019 to praise. This record is an indie folk record that features soul and jazz components which culminate in a beautiful EP.

Across the six track EP, Danika bares all surrounded by stripped back arrangements where her voice is front and centre. Highlights from the new release include the first single ‘Suit of Armour’ that is a cool and groovy downtempo song and ‘Old Man’ which is reminiscent of Julia Jacklin if she opted for a more lo-fi production style.

Check out a live rendition of ‘If You Call My Name’ which is the first track off the EP below.

Check out all the week’s biggest music industry news here.