11 Albums To Check Out This Friday, June 6

What a ridiculously varied week! This week seems especially eclectic, even by modern standards; more evidence the monoculture is collapsing into an event horizon singularity. The big pop releases are going to make the biggest splashes, no doubt, particularly Addison Rae’s long-awaited debut, Addison, which more than delivers on its hype. Marina outdoes herself, as well, even without the diamonds, with the honeyed disco revival of Princess of Power.

It’s not all pop spectacle this week, of course. There are a number of outstanding techno releases, from the streamlined dancefloor arsenal of Rodhad and Inox Traxx to the personal malevolence of Death In Vegas’ Death Mask. There’s even plenty of experimentation, from the artful ambient of Brian Eno’s collaboration with Beatie Wolfe to the minimalist beat sculptures of Al Wooten to the dubby trance of Civilistjävel!’s reworking of Lebanese singer Mayssa Jallad. There’s a lot to keep you busy while you’re out enjoying the early summer sun or hibernating in a sunless cave.

11 Albums To Check Out This Friday, June 6

Civilistjävel! x Mayssa Jallad – Marjaa: The Battle of the Hotels (Versions)

Swedish dub alchemist Civilistjävel! reworks Lebanese singer Mayssa Jallad into six tracks of gorgeous gossamer dub abstraction for Six of Swords. Discovered via Boomkat.

CV313 – Our Life With the Wave EP

CV313, Federsen, and Intrusion pay tribute to the late Mike Huckaby with a dub techno deconstruction of his Waldorf Wave wavetable samples.

Death In Vegas – Death Mask

Four years after Future Rave Memories, Richard Fearless returns with an album of personal raw, menacing techno.

Brian Eno, Beatie Wolfe – Lateral

Glistening ambient for Big Empty Country

Inox Traxx, Rodhad – Silvene EP

Inox Traxx and Rodhad collab on four tracks of cruise missile techno – pristine, driving, and relentless.

Marina – Princess of Power

Marina goes for Gaga’s crown with an album of sugary sweet disco chic!

Mother Mother – Nostalgia

Glammy yet earthy, retro yet still somehow current, Mother Mother’s Nostalgia defies all easy categorization with strong performances, rich production, imagination, and heart.

Purelink – Faith

Brooklyn’s Purelink deliver an album of dreamy, emotive drones that burn and shine with an opalescent human heart.

Addison Rae – Addison

Addison Rae’s self-titled debut is a collection of satiny smooth luxe hyperpop that’s perfect for the early summer.

Ilpo Vaisanen – Asuma

Reissue of 2001’s Asuma on Editions Mego from Pan Sonic’s Ilpo Vaisanen offers a chance to appreciate the beautiful, minimal austerity Pan Sonic were churning out around the turn of the century. Relics and remnants of ancient times.

Al Wooten – Rhythm Archives

Al Wooten summons eight tracks of particularly skeletal beat sculptures out of antiquated drum machines on this deliriously hypnotic LP for his Trule label.

A prolific academic writer, journalist, and cultural critic, J. Simpson idealistically believes that Great Art makes the better place to live. Obsessed with all things “dark,” experimental, and avant-garde, he believes there’s more to life than chasing the bottom line. He is the author of Forestpunk, a website investigating the intersection of horror, music, and spirituality, as well as the Hauntology Now! substack. He also makes music and DJs as dessicant.

Follow J on BlueSky, Instagram, Threads, Letterboxd, Goodreads, or support him via via ko-fi.