Release Radar: July 2021
At the end of each month, Afterglow presents a staff-picked list of new albums and singles that left an impression on our ears.
Written by Afterglow Staffers
Photos courtesy of Kristin Cofer, Orin Fleurmont, and Alex Harper
Here are our favorite albums and singles released during July 2021. For more reviews of recent releases, check out our album review page.
SHINY SINGLES WE LOVED THIS MONTH
“No Soy Para Ti” by María Isabel
Spanish songstress María Isabel makes her debut as a Warner Records signee with her latest single, “No Soy Para Ti.” The track pairs her angelic vocals with shimmery bells, spacey synths, and a reggaetón beat as she sings about letting go of an unsuitable relationship.
“MAFIOSA” by Nathy Peluso
The Argentine trapero princess conquers new sonic territory with this salsa bop. Accompanied by trombones and a saucy piano line, she calls herself a “mafiosa” in this women empowerment anthem.
“I Love You, I Hate You” by Little Simz
The U.K.’s foremost conscious rapper delivers yet another bop from her forthcoming album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. Over a ‘70s throwback instrumental (complete with harps, strings, and a groovy bass line), Little Simz flaunts her lyrical prowess with heart-wrenching verses about her absent father.
“Mistress Violet” by Violet Chachki and Allie X
This month, one of the shadiest queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race released a sassy ‘80s-inspired single with a fashion-forward music video. “I'm somewhat addicted to being depicted / The b-tch with a whip and Dior tights,” Chachki sings with her trademark confidence. Just like the season seven winner, this single is a “one-of-a-kind collectible,” and it has us all gagged.
NOBODY KNOWS BY MUNI LONG
Image courtesy of Supergiant Records
After a prolific career songwriting for the likes of Rihanna and Mariah Carey, Muni Long is ready to be the star of her own show. The opener of her EP Nobody Knows kicks things off with a hard-hitting beat and attention-grabbing cultural references. “You so essential / Bae need you / Like some PPE,” she raps over jangly guitars. She flaunts her vocal versatility in follow-up track “Thot Thoughts,” reaching a sultry falsetto as she sings, “Ding dong / Waiting with my panties off.” A collaboration with rapper Sukihana, the song feels perfect for a night at the club, with a heavy bass and witty lyrics drenched in Long’s sensual charm. “Offended” carries a similar tone, with atmospheric synths and a playful, bouncy bass. Long teases a suitor with confident nonchalance: “This booty ain’t up for grabs.” The ballad “Sneaky Link” cools down the steaminess as the singer-songwriter expresses her more vulnerable side. Over a catchy blend of 808s and acoustic guitars, she reveals her romantic feelings for her eponymous lover. “Baby I done fell for my sneaky link,” she belts and harmonizes throughout the track. In the jazzy closer “Just Beginning,” Long sheds her hot girl persona and laments a breakup. “This is the sound a heart makes when it breaks,” she sings in a delicate vibrato. Although Nobody Knows ends on a solemn note, Muni Long’s captivating energy never ceases to shine throughout the EP’s runtime. In just seven tracks, the singer-songwriter shows potential to become R&B’s next superstar. — C.S. Harper
Support Muni Long on Spotify.
MADAME GOLD BY GAVIN TUREK
Image courtesy of Madame Gold Records
Gavin Turek is bringing disco to the 21st century with debut album MADAME GOLD. With killer aesthetics and impeccable production from Childish Gambino collaborator Chris Hartz, the record feels like an authentic ‘70s release from an established disco diva. Throughout the album, Turek takes on the persona of Madame Gold to tell what she calls “a story of a woman in flux, vulnerable and full of fear who found the courage to get back up and fight, ultimately saving herself” — and it has a killer soundtrack to go with it. The funky instrumentals in opener “CRASH LANDING (Overture)” elevate the singer’s sugar-sweet soprano. Like the opening track, the rest of the album is retro perfection, from the percussive funk of “ELEVATOR” to the sultry soul sounds of “ILLUSIONS.” But even amid the show-stopping production, the singer shines in every moment on the album with her vocal gymnastics. In the standout “2AM,” she reaches an elegantly high vibrato reminiscent of FKA twigs, which beautifully complements the song’s deep bass and electric guitar fuzz. She reaches her lowest notes in “PRESSURE”: “Pressure keeps pulling me down,” she sings huskily as thick guitars envelop her voice. Another gem, the aptly-titled “SO WHAT,” delivers a delightful “I couldn’t care less” energy with a tight, Prince-inspired instrumental. “You know I love you / So what?” Turek croons with tongue-in-cheek flair over a flurry of guitar riffs. But the singer also steps out of her sonic comfort zone, incorporating more eclectic sounds into her vintage charm. “THANK YOU” shifts between Latin jazz and ‘90s R&B, and the experimental cut “SAD ICE CREAM (Interlude)” features distorted guitars and wonky synths. Turek also collaborates with fellow genre-bender bLAck pARty in “WHISPER” and “SLIDE,” bringing avant-garde soundscapes to her throwback production. By weaving between genres with her dynamic vocals and retro sound, Turek creates a lavish and memorable record that’s equally a testament to female excellence and glittery disco fun. — C.S. Harper
SUN GOES OUT BY COMMUNICANT
Psychedelia will never, ever die, and the truest testament to that fact is Communicant’s most recent release, Sun Goes Out. The album sits somewhere between The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band and Tame Impala’s latest addition to the psychedelic tapestry, Lonerism, with each of the eleven tracks bringing a new experience to your ears as you take a trip with the music as your soundtrack. The album starts out incredibly solid before bringing you to the standout tracks, “Prisoner Cloud,” a garage-band-psychedelia fusion with beautiful drum fills sprinkled in throughout and a super fun guitar solo drizzled on top, and “Plastic People,” a dreamy, far out song that embodies the adventurous spirit of psychedelia. “Waiting To Be Born” starts out with a familiar but unique distortion, remnant of “A Day In The Life” by The Beatles, with jazzy drums that carry the song to finish. Third to last on the album is “The Wheel,” a single that was promoted on Instagram and resulted in Communicant’s increased listenership. It’s the album closer, though, that really speaks the loudest to the soul. “Feels Like I’m Dying” is visceral from beginning to end. It’s not just a song, it’s an emotion; a mood; a story — so colorful and ubiquitous, but melancholy and mellifluous at the same time. There could have been no greater end to the 43-minute long experience of Sun Goes Out. Communicant is a band for the modern day hippie. For the soul-searchers. For the psychonauts tripping to their next sonic breakthrough. — Micaela Garza