VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:
The Best Tunes On Current Release

So much fantastic music out there at the moment that I couldn't possibly just choose one video of the week for this post so I'm more than happy to regale my readership with a whole bunch of stupendous clips to ease you into the Autumn now that summer has waved us goodbye. Most of these artists will no doubt be jostling for position at the sharp end of No Static At All's Top 50 Albums Of The Year list in a few short months time. Once again, this year has been a tremendously fruitful and exciting one for new music. Long may this state of affairs continue. 

We start with the return to the fray of Justin Vernon and his Bon Iver collective. Fourth album "i,i" - again with those weird titles - is another sparkling collection of electronica-infused, harmony-laden and folk-tinged Americana that soothes, caresses and embraces the listener right from the top. Lead track Hey, Ma could have found a home quite easily on Vernon's second Bon Iver opus from 2011 which means it's one of his finest tracks. Glorious, as ever.

Lionel and Marie Liminana have taken some time out from their day job as the main thrust behind terrifically exciting garage-rock crew The Liminanas and have hooked up with frequent collaborators Anton Newcombe from The Brian Jonestown Massacre and actress/singer Emmanuelle Seigner to produce a wonderful set of driving indie-rock, jangly surf-pop and psych-drenched Gallic cool. If you have even the smallest slice of love for any of the protagonists other work, then you're absolutely going to adore this.

The reunion a few years ago of Oxfordian shoegaze titans Ride was a real thing of wonder for your faithful scribe. Hugely popular with the indie kids in the early 90's - and the architects of the classic albums 'Nowhere' and 'Going Blank Again' - the floppy-fringed quartet called it a day in 94, just missing out on the Britpop explosion that they had arguably been instrumental in forming. The comeback 5 years ago started with the usual greatest hits and albums in full performances before 2017's brand new 'Weather Diaries' opus upped the stakes and sent Ride into new territory, leading to chart success and sold out worldwide tours - all of which was thoroughly deserved. They're back again with the reliably excellent 'This Is Not A Safe Place' and it's wonderful to see them gaining the critical respect and kudos that eluded them back in the day.

Mid-90's Washington State bred riot-grrrl trio Sleater-Kinney have been through many ups and downs during their career, culminating in an 8 year sabbatical before returning refreshed and full of vigour for 2015's magnificently in your face slab of alt-rock that was 'No Cities To Love'. Far and away their most successful album, the big question of how to follow it up has been answered in spades with the stupendous 'The Center Won't Hold'. Produced by art-rock doyenne St. Vincent, the record sees principal duo Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker embrace huge swathes of synth-pop and thumping glam-based rock and roll for a real volte-face that sadly has seen long-serving drummer Janet Weiss leave the band under something of a cloud. Despite this setback though, the music shines through quite brilliantly.

And finally, and even though I've already previously posted a new Angel Olsen track, I make no apologies for posting her latest single. Taken from next week's long-awaited fourth Olsen opus 'All Mirrors', this quite astonishing meld of orchestral strings, brain-caressing synths and powerhouse production could well be her finest hour. It's a tough listen certainly - the end of a relationship has never sounded more intensely heartbreaking - but, as usual with Olsen, her lyrics and the incredible way she sings them sweep over you in such an all-encompassing way that you're right there in the dark with her, desperate to take her hand and bring her out into the light. On this evidence, the new album could well bag my top spot at the end of December. Watch this space....