In case you’re wondering what Lena Dunham’s been up to after the conclusion of her TV show Girls, for starters she’s directed the new video from her boyfriend Jack Antonoff’s band Bleachers. Don’t Take the Money is a bizarre wedding fantasy and a colourful Eighties-sounding pop song to boot.
Iceland’s biggest new musician, Ásgeir, had a first album that proved so successful that he had to remake it in English. He’s cut out the middleman on the English-from-the-off follow-up, Afterglow, which is out today with its beautiful title track on YouTube.
In the typically slow-motion manner of a shoegaze band, Slowdive release their first album in 22 years today. The self-titled release brings them somewhat up to date, particularly on the single, Sugar for the Pill, which doesn’t sound a million miles away from The xx.
Minor indie band Childhood have made a major left turn and are now effectively a solo project for south Londoner Ben Romans-Hopcraft, with styling by hot designer Grace Wales-Bonner and an unexpected Seventies soul makeover. Brilliant new single Californian Light has a video on YouTube now.
Fall Out Boy are back with a seventh album coming in September and a strange new sound that incorporates chipmunk vocals and Britney Spears quotes on the first single, Young and Menace. Its video is online now.