Suffering Jukebox

This morning's episode features an interview with Swans' front man (and founder) Michael Gira. Swans have just released their latest album, the monstrous, 2hr epic Birthing, through Young God Records. Find out more about (and purchase) Swans' music here; https://swans.bandcamp.com/music and discover more about Michael Gira's other projects here; https://younggodrecords.bandcamp.com/

Nick's Pick for this week is a little different to usual. Instead of reviewing a single album that has been recently released, I am doing a half-year recap of some of my favourite albums from the first half of 2025 - and December 2024. Read the recap below.

The Year In Review — So Far.

June - Alan Sparhawk: With Trampled By Turtles (Sub Pop) https://alansparhawk.bandcamp.com/album/with-trampled-by-turtles

On his second post-Low record, Alan Sparhawk delivers a far more conventional album than its loop-heavy, pitch-shifted predecessor, White Roses, My God. With Trampled My Turtles, however, is still no ordinary album, for it is far more visceral in its portrayal of grief and contains all the raw, heartfelt lyricism and sonic extremity that one expects from Sparhawk’s music. Essential track: Screaming Song.

May - I’m Being Good: Shapeshitter (Infinite Chug) https://imbeinggood.bandcamp.com/album/shapeshitter

I’m Being Good’s ninth album is a masterclass of uneasy, discordant alternative rock. Easily the band’s best and most experimental record to date, Shapeshitter may possess an awful title, but it is (without a doubt) a contender for the year’s best album. Essential Track: Red Boy.

April - SUMAC & Moor Mother: The Film (Thrill Jockey) https://sumac.bandcamp.com/album/the-film

A mammoth, double-album collaboration between two of experimental music’s most unique acts. A match made in heaven —or hell— the crushing heaviness of SUMAC provides the perfect foil for Moor Mother’s spitfire vocals that address the truly dire state of our current human condition. Essential Track: Scene 5: Breathing Fire.

March - Hesse Kassel: La Brea (Self-Released) https://hessekassel.bandcamp.com/album/la-brea

An astonishing, expansive debut from a group of young Chilean musicians with elements of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Black Country, New Road and Swans. La Brea —and Hesse Kassel’s music in general— is riddled with emotion and wise beyond its years, but also deeply engaging and constantly surprising. Essential Track: Yo La Tengo.

February - Moundabout: Goat Skull Table (Rocket Recordings) https://moundabout.bandcamp.com/album/goat-skull-table

Esoteric freak-folk from Gnod’s Paddy Shine and Phil Langero. Moundabout’s music is haunting, hypnotic and deeply strange, but also oddly alluring and in possession of —dare I say it— an utterly unique kind of groove. Essential Track: Blood On My Blanket.

January - NIDA, Block Dog and African Diplomat: Black Label EP (Psyhope) https://psyhope.bandcamp.com/album/black-label-ep

Experimental hip-hop from three of the Ivory Coast’s finest. Black Label EP is a short, but powerful document of a small —and relatively unknown— scene responsible for creating a wobbly, woozy and completely mesmerising brand of hip-hop that deserves far more attention. Essential Track: La Compagnie.

December (Bonus Round) - Advance Base: Horrible Occurrences (Run For Cover) https://advancebase.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-occurrences

As the title suggests, Owen Ashworth’s latest release as Advance Base is a litany of unfortunate events that befall an interlinked cast of characters in a fictional town called Richmond. Horrible Occurrences may be his best record yet, a deeply moving fusion of affecting synth compositions and empathetic lyricism —it won’t fix your bad mood, but it will make you feel less alone. Essential Track: Brian’s Golden Hour.

Nick Stephan