Online Roulette is a popular casino game that relies on chance, and understanding the basics before playing can help you make informed choices.
With this in mind, we have created a practical guide on what you should know before placing your bet and spinning the iconic online Roulette wheel.
Understanding the basics
The Roulette wheel is divided into numbered pockets ranging from 0 to 36. The objective is to predict where the ball will land after the wheel spins.
In European Roulette, there is a single zero (0), while American Roulette features an additional double zero (00), which slightly alters the odds.
To participate, you place bets on the table layout, which corresponds to the numbers and sections of the wheel. Bets can be made on specific numbers, groups of numbers, or categories such as odd or even.
Types of Roulette
Roulette has several variations, and it’s worth understanding their differences before starting.
European Roulette
This version includes 37 pockets, with numbers one to 36 and a single zero. The single zero offers better odds compared to other versions.
American Roulette
This version features 38 pockets and adds a double zero (00) to the standard numbers. The extra pocket slightly increases the house edge.
French Roulette
Like European Roulette, French Roulette includes additional rules like La Partage and En Prison, which may reduce losses on certain bets.
How to place bets
Roulette offers a variety of betting options, which are typically divided into two categories:
Inside bets
These involve specific numbers or small groups of numbers and tend to have higher payouts but lower chances of success. Examples include straight-up bets (a single number) and split bets (two adjacent numbers).
Outside bets
These cover broader categories, such as red/black or odd/even, and offer a higher probability of success but lower payouts.
Consider your bankroll
Before you start playing, set a budget and stick to it. Determine how much you’re willing to spend and avoid exceeding this limit. Referring to your balance as a bankroll can help you approach the game responsibly.
Rules and features
It’s important to familiarise yourself with the specific rules and features of the game you choose to play. For example:
Betting limits
Different tables may have minimum and maximum bet requirements. Make sure these align with your budget.
Probabilities and outcomes
Roulette is a game of chance, with online versions’ outcomes determined by a random number generator (RNG). Each spin is independent, and past results do not influence future outcomes.
The probabilities of various bets are consistent across games of the same type. For instance, a red/black bet in European Roulette has just under a 50% chance of success, considering the single zero pocket.
Responsible play
While Roulette is classed as a casino classic with its iconic wheel, it’s essential to approach it with caution. Avoid chasing losses and take regular breaks. Most online platforms offer tools to help you manage your time and spending.
As temperatures continue to drop this winter, layering becomes an essential and often tiresome part of our daily routine. However, there is an added challenge for fans of retro, vintage, and Mod fashion—that of staying warm without sacrificing the aesthetic of the look. But this shouldn’t be the case. From the sharp lines of 1960s Mod silhouettes to the choice of patterns and the right fit, layering can be just as much about style as it is about practicality.
This guide will explore how to embrace layered outfits without adding bulk or sacrificing your bold style and personality.
So here are some tips and tricks to keep your look comfortable, warm and authentically retro all winter.
Always Start with a Well-Fitted Base Layer
The foundation of any well-layered outfit is a solid base layer, and nothing fits better than a fitted turtleneck or slim top. These pieces create a smooth, streamlined silhouette that prevents unnecessary bulk. At the same time, they will provide extra warmth throughout the day. If you want to add a touch of personality, we suggest you opt for timeless vintage prints like polka dots or stripes to add that retro flair. But you can also always stick to neutral tones for versatility. A turtleneck in soft jersey or ribbed knit can seamlessly pair with blazers, cardigans, or mod jumpers, making it a quintessential element of retro-inspired layering.
So, don’t underestimate the importance of starting with the right base. It will set the stage for the rest of your outfit.
Don’t be Afraid to Play With Proportions
Playing with proportions is a key trick for achieving a stylish, layered look that stays true to vintage and mod fashion. Pair fitted layers with slightly oversized pieces (like jumpers, jackets or cardigans), and you will create a balanced silhouette that emphasises the look. For example, a snug jumper tucked into high-waisted trousers can pair seamlessly with a vintage oversized blazer, offering a nod to 1940s power dressing or 1980s revival styles.
Such contrast between tailored and relaxed elements will add visual interest and allow for comfortable layering without adding bulk. Don’t be afraid to experiment with proportions, as it will let you highlight your shape while embracing the charm of retro fashion.
Think Lightweight Fabrics
If you want to avoid the bulk of layering, you need to trust lightweight fabrics like silk, cashmere, and jersey as your best friends. These materials will provide warmth and dimension while maintaining a sleek silhouette, perfect for retro-inspired outfits. For an authentic vintage vibe, try layering a slim-fitting, mod-style sweater over a lightweight button-down shirt with a neat collar—this classic combination channels the sharp, stylish vibe of the 1960s. The key is to stack thin, breathable layers that add texture and depth without overwhelming your frame.
Choosing such functional fabrics will help you achieve a polished look that stays true to vintage aesthetics while keeping you comfortable in cooler weather.
Consider Versatile Sleeveless Options
Sleeveless options like vests and sleeveless jackets are ideal for layering without adding bulk to the arms. These versatile pieces can be paired with button-down shirts or slim-fitting turtlenecks to create a more stylish look. A classic tailored vest worn over a crisp shirt adds a touch of vintage sophistication, while a sleeveless jacket layered over a fitted knit brings a sleek, mod-inspired edge to your look. Sleeveless styles are a choice that will offer endless possibilities for creating dimension and interest in your outfit while keeping the layers light and comfortable. They’re the perfect way to stay cosy and true to your style in the cold winter months.
Statement Outwear
Statement outerwear is the finishing touch that ties a layered outfit together while staying true to retro aesthetics. Tailored coats, trench coats, and capes with vintage-inspired details are excellent choices that won’t overshadow your carefully crafted layers. Look for clean lines and structured silhouettes, such as a classic double-breasted trench, parkas, or overcoats, to maintain balance and avoid a bulky appearance. The vintage overcoat has a timeless appeal and will keep you warm while also adding a refined, retro edge to your outfit.
Remember to always choose outerwear that complements rather than competes with your layers, and you’ll be sure to achieve a polished and cohesive look.
Retro Cardigans and Jumpers
One of the most essential layering pieces that effortlessly combine comfort and retro charm are men’s vintage cardigans and jumpers that can offer you endless possibilities in winter. Opt for slim-fitting or cropped styles to avoid unnecessary bulk, and look for vintage-inspired details like cable knits, geometric shape patterns, or embellished buttons. A vintage cardigan worn over high-waisted trousers adds a 1950s-inspired flair, while a classic jumper layered over a collared blouse captures the academic vibes of the 1970s. For a more relaxed look, a slightly oversized cardigan can be belted at the waist to maintain structure. Trust these classic, versatile pieces. They won’t let you down this winter.
Invest In Thermal Layers
In the winter months, we simply cannot escape layering. But if you start with thermals, you can get a sleek, insulating base that is meant not to add bulk. Choose long-sleeve-based layers made of wool or heat-retaining shirts with moisture-wicking properties. For the legs, slim-fit leggings are an excellent choice for a thin, warm layer.
Another good idea is to add an extra layer of warmth with a thin, lightweight puffer jacket tucked beneath a vintage coat or blazer. It will keep you cosy and, at the same time, maintain the tailored silhouette that is so essential for the retro look. Slim, functional layers transform thermals from a dreaded necessity into a practical highlight, perfectly complementing your vintage-inspired wardrobe.
In the end, mastering the art of layering without any bulk is all about balance, learning to mix fitted pieces with slightly oversized garments, and choosing lightweight fabrics. Carefully select your base layers, experiment with patterns and proportions, and add a statement outerwear or a cosy cardigan, and you can have that comfortable, warm outfit that retains the edge and charm of retro fashion.
So whether you’re opting for bold contrasts and patterns or a more subtle look, with these tips, you can be sure to layer with confidence, showcasing your unique personal vintage style throughout the cooler months.
The gaming landscape continues to evolve, blurring creativity, innovation, and competition. As we start 2025, the world waits with bated breath for new titles, remastered classics, and new up-and-coming eSports prospects.
From next-generation RPGs to nostalgic card games like Spades, here are the top online games to watch in 2025.
Spades: A classic game turned eSports favorite
For decades, the Spades card game has been popular as a casual game played among friends and family. However, in 2025, it has emerged as a serious contender in the eSports arena, captivating competitive gaming enthusiasts worldwide.
Transformation from the erstwhile leisurely pastime to a strategically played, high-stakes spades’ game has indeed been remarkable. Platforms like MPL bring an online version of this game and offer opportunities for players to participate in tournaments, challenge global competitors, and hone their skills with strategic card play.
The game’s competitive nature is based on its strategic bidding system and trick-taking gameplay, requiring players to outwit their opponents while coordinating with their partners. This blend of intellect and intuition has made it a favorite for players seeking an engaging challenge.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
The Assassin’s Creed franchise remains pretty strong, and the new one, Shadows, is already generating so much hype. It’s set in feudal Japan and has all of that stealth, strategy, and fantastic combat.
Introducing state-of-the-art multiplayer gaming modes where players join forces to carry out assassinations or compete against each other in stealth missions, the game promises an extraordinary online gaming experience. Its rich historical setting and unique gameplay mechanics guarantee a proper hold in 2025.
GTA 6: Pushing the boundaries of open-world gaming
The much-awaited GTA 6 is likely to revolutionize the open-world gaming genre in 2025. With Rockstar Games’ focus on details and engaging storylines, the new game will surely have large cities, dynamic environments, and infinite possibilities for exploration.
Early teasers are suggesting a return to Vice City but with a twist. Players should expect better AI mechanics, an interactive multiplayer mode, and next-gen graphics. Emphasis on realism and player choice will make the game a must-play title for all kinds of gamers.
Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Yōtei promises an action-packed game with exploration and narrative that could be nothing less than spectacular, given the experience Ghost of Tsushima brought forward. The game is an open-world online adventure set in Hokkaido, which presents a beautiful environment full of fantastic creatures and intricately designed combat systems.
The online multiplayer section includes cooperative raids, PvP combat, and community-driven quests. The game’s strong focus on teamwork and immersive storytelling make it one of the most awaited games of the year.
Stardew Valley 2
Fans of simulation and farming games eagerly await Stardew Valley 2 in the year 2025. To build upon the adorableness of the previous version, the sequel promises to bring about improved graphics, multiplayer options, and ranching and wilderness exploration, all these activities that the gamer has been desiring.
Online co-op features will enable players to run farms together, trade resources, and compete in friendly challenges. Its laid-back yet rewarding gameplay ensures it will attract both casual gamers and dedicated fans.
Valorant 2.0
Valorant 2.0, Riot Games’ sequel to its popular tactical shooter, is set to elevate competitive gaming. The game retains its signature blend of precise gunplay and unique agent abilities while introducing new maps, characters, and gameplay modes.
Emphasizing eSports, Valorant 2.0’s ranked matches and tournaments will remain on the top of streaming ones. What’s more, features such as better matchmaking systems and improved spectator mode make it a must-have for any player and fan alike.
Hytale: The sandbox evolution of adventures
Hytale was described as a spiritual successor to Minecraft, but Hytalehad loads more features in a game. With RPG features such as exploration and battle, Hytale is scheduled to be released in 2025 and boasts creative building mechanics.
The game utilizes a multiplayer system with an optional hardcore mode that allows players to have a custom server while creating unique worlds. These various aspects and focus on community engagement make Hytale one of the most exciting games of the year.
Elden Ring: The Forgotten Realms (Expansion)
Following the massive success of Elden Ring, FromSoftware is now releasing a major expansion titled The Forgotten Realms in 2025. It promises to add depth to lore, introduce new bosses, and expand the online multiplayer functionality.
Co-op dungeons, PvP arenas, and world events shared would make the experience of the game’s online phase more exciting and interesting. Due to its stiff gameplay and challenging design, the game will sure remain the bedrock for gamers who are passionate about the tough stuff.
Fortnite: Galactic Chronicles
Fortnite has evolved, and the 2025 update of Galactic Chronicles takes the battle royale experience to a whole new level. A sci-fi season introduces intergalactic settings, alien abilities, and team-based missions.
With such novel elements as zero-gravity areas and space battles within its online multiplayer version, the game stays fresh and engaging for users. Its long-lived presence in the gaming realm also speaks for Fortnite’s malleability and attraction.
League of Legends: Legends Reforged
Riot Games is also rebranding its flagship title, League of Legends, with a new spin-off called Legends Reforged. This online game introduces updated mechanics, new champions, and a simplified learning curve for new players while retaining the depth that longtime fans love.
League’s position as a top-tier MOBA in 2025 is guaranteed by focusing on inclusivity and community-driven updates.
Summing up
The year 2025 promises diversity in the line of video games ranging from quite groundbreaking new titles to classic games reinvented for the modern era, and spades, with its competitive appeal in eSports, only testifies to how even the most traditional games can flourish in today’s new mold of gaming dynamics. With this pack comes such innovative new games as GTA 6, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, and Valorant 2.0. Spades tell the story of an ever-changing online gaming landscape of strategy, competitive engagement, and community beyond the community.
That is why, when we venture into this new wave of gaming with 2025 on board, we know something fantastic awaits every casual, competitive, or nostalgic gamer.
Hui Yu Wang is a prominent fine art photographer, curator, art historian, and entrepreneur whose work bridges the worlds of contemporary and traditional Chinese art. Throughout her career, she has fostered talent and preserved cultural heritage. As the CEO of Yuxuan Art Ltd, a gallery she founded in 2005, Hui Yu Wang specializes in showcasing both contemporary and ancient Chinese and Taiwanese art. Her gallery curates exhibitions of established artists and provides a platform for emerging talent, underscoring her commitment to supporting the arts.
Besides her curator, entrepreneur, and artist work, she also captures the quiet beauty and unexpected joys of everyday life through watercolour, photography, and oil painting. She translates the mundane into a tapestry of nuanced sensitivity to human experience using vibrant, emotional storytelling.
Her artistic accomplishments include exhibitions across prestigious galleries in the UK, the US, and Taiwan, such as The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Fronteer Gallery, and Oxmarket Contemporary. Additionally, she has curated thought-provoking exhibitions in Taipei, including Hold on to Your Pineapple and Electric Shock Under Basaltic Rock. Hui Yu Wang’s intellectual contributions also include her 2022 publication, Calligraphy and Painting Works Collection of Pu Xin-yu, a testament to her dedication to preserving the legacy of Chinese art.
India
The “India” series captures the vibrant essence of life and culture in a deeply evocative and visually arresting manner. Hui Yu Wang adeptly portrays the unique interplay between human emotions, the natural world, and urban settings through candid yet profoundly intimate frames. For example, in Simply Joy the image radiates optimism and innocence, showcasing a young girl in a vivid red dress, exuding warmth and vibrancy through her smile and posture in her natural self.
Credit: Simple Joy
This is juxtaposed against the silhouette of a monkey in Monkey With an Apple against a golden sunset, symbolizing serenity and the timeless bond between nature and spirituality in Indian culture.
Among many other pieces within the series, the Catch of the Day photo stands out, which is a fleeting moment that blurs the boundary between foreground and background, evoking a sense of motion and spontaneity. The blurred seagull in flight dominates the frame, its wings slicing through the stillness of a distant boat and serene water. This layered composition recalls the work of photographers like Saul Leiter, who embraced abstraction and depth by focusing on subjects obstructed or layered with intentional blur. The contrast between the bird’s energy and the calm tableau in the background symbolizes the coexistence of chaos and tranquillity.
Floating Clouds and Hearts Sutra
“Reflection of the Heart Sutra” is a striking visual interplay between the physical and the metaphysical. The layered composition integrates the reflective qualities of glass, the bold calligraphy of the Heart Sutra, and the surrounding urban and natural elements, creating a harmonious dialogue between spirituality and the material world. The juxtaposition of the timeless Buddhist text with modern architectural lines and palm trees evokes a meditative balance, underscoring the universality of the sutra’s teachings.
The series, Floating Clouds and Heart Sutra, draws on themes of impermanence and interconnectedness, qualities mirrored here in the transient reflections. Simultaneously solid and ephemeral, the calligraphy anchors the viewer’s gaze while inviting deeper contemplation.
Reflection of the Heart Sutra
The Spiritual World, another piece within the Floating Clouds and Heart Sutra series, is a profound meditation on transience and ethereality. This image, dominated by a solitary, rust-coloured cloud suspended against a serene blue backdrop, evokes a sense of quiet introspection. The warm hues of the cloud, glowing as if lit from within, contrast against the cooler sky, creating a visual metaphor for spiritual awakening amidst the expanse of the unknown.
This minimalist composition is reminiscent of the works of photographers like Sugimoto, where simplicity invites more profound reflection. The cloud appears as both a tangible entity and an ephemeral presence, echoing Buddhist principles of impermanence and interconnectedness.
The Spiritual World
Shapes and Shadows
Shapes and Shadows is a visually compelling series that explores the interplay between light, form, and contrast. The images transcend their contexts, creating a narrative that celebrates the geometry and rhythm found in everyday life. From the glowing rays of light framing architectural details to the quiet elegance of moonlit mountains, the series seamlessly combines abstraction and realism. The bold silhouettes and warm illuminations evoke a sense of both dynamism and calm.
Another image featuring rows of oranges that display like golden fruits drying under the sun, demonstrates the series’ emphasis on repetitive patterns and textures. The meticulous arrangement and interplay of shadow and light add a tactile quality to the composition, inviting the viewer to engage with its details. By blending natural and human-made structures, Shapes and Shadows becomes a meditation on how light shapes perception, turning ordinary scenes into moments of wonder and artistic reflection.
Wicked has been one of the most talked about films in 2024. Directed by Jon M. Chu, who also directed Crazy Rich Asians, and In the Heights, even became a nominee for Best Director at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards. The film follows Elphaba, a girl who has been misunderstood for her green complexion, and Galinda, a popular girl, who become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. In the wake of their meeting with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship comes to an impasse.
Here are the most memorable quotes from Wicked.
Wizard: The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.
Elphaba: [singing] So if you care to find me, look to the western sky! As someone told me lately: “Everyone deserves a chance to fly!”
Fiyero: Why is it you’re always causing some sort of commotion? Elphaba: I don’t cause commotions, I am one.
Glinda: Let’s tell each other a secret that we’ve never told anyone else before. Okay, fine. I’ll go first: Fiyero and I are getting married. Elphaba: He asked you already? Glinda: Oh, he doesn’t know yet.
Elphaba: Fine, let’s get this over with: no, I am not seasick; no, I did not eat grass as a child; and yes, I’ve always been green.
Madame Morrible: Citizens of Oz! There is an enemy who must be found and captured. Believe nothing she says. She has stolen our Grimmerie. She is evil, responsible for the mutilation of these poor innocent monkeys! Her green skin is but an outward manifestorium of her twisted nature. This distortion! This repulsion! This wicked witch! Glinda: Don’t be afraid. Elphaba: I’m not afraid. It’s the Wizard who should be afraid of me.
Glinda: Something is very wrong, I didn’t get my way… I need to lay down.
Elphaba: You have no real power! Wizard: Exactly. That’s why I need you.
Glinda: Elphaba Thropp, listen to me. You can do this. You can do anything.
Glinda: [mocking Elphaba] It seems the artichoke is steamed.
Glinda: Elphie, now that we’re friends, I’ve decided to make you my new project. Elphaba: Oh, you really don’t have to do that. Glinda: I know! That’s what makes me so nice.
Wizard: Follow the road. It’s gonna lead you right… to me.
A new round of playtests has now been conducted for skate., the latest installment in the popular Skate franchise. These tests have been ongoing for skate for some time. The first Skate game in 15 years is now available for Xbox and PlayStation players, who have been limited to just the PC version since mid-2022.
In 2010, Skate 3 was the last game in the Skate franchise. Even though the franchise had a devoted fan base, EA seemed to have indefinitely put it on hold in favor of more FPS, Battle Royale, and live service games. Skate continued to be supported throughout the years, with #Skate4 becoming a hashtag that EA couldn’t ignore, ultimately leading to the announcement of a dedicated development studio.
This past fall, skate was announced as an early access game in 2025. Console testing is certainly a positive step towards the launch of skate in 2025.
There’s so much music coming out all the time that it’s hard to keep track. On those days when the influx of new tracks is particularly overwhelming, we sift through the noise to bring you a curated list of the most interesting new releases (the best of which will be added to our Best New Songs playlist). Below, check out our track roundup for Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
Samia – ‘Bovine Excision’
“I was drawn to the phenomenon of bloodless cattle mutilation as a metaphor for self-extraction – this clinical pursuit of emptiness,” Samia said of ‘Bovine Excision’, which leads her upcoming album Bloodless. “It’s easier to be what someone wants you to be if you give as little as possible.” It’s a grueling metaphor, but it’s no wonder Samia works it into a punchy, emotive indie rock song.
Bartees Strange – ‘Wants Needs’
The latest single from Bartees Strange’s upcoming LP Horror channels career frustration through nervy, soul-baring indie rock. “I realized a couple years ago that if music is really going to work out long-term, I want/need more fans,” Strange said of ‘Wants Needs’ in a press release. “Of course, it’s a timing and numbers game, but race is a powerful component, too. I don’t see a lot of people like me in the indie space making long term livings on their records. I worry people may have a hard time connecting to me because I don’t look/sound like them — that I’m fun to root for, but not actually supported. This song is about how much that worries me, fully understanding that a lot of these neurosis are of my own making.”
Jason Isbell – ‘Bury Me’
Jason Isbell used an all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar to record every song on Foxes in the Snow, his new solo LP arriving in March. Naturally, the stripped-back production is a great fit for Isbell’s songwriting, and lead single ‘Bury Me’ is a fantastic introduction.
Rusty Williams – ‘Knocking (At Your Door)’
Rusty Williams, the 78-year-old grandfather of Paramore’s Hayley Williams, is releasing his debut album, Grand Man, via Zac Farro’s Congrats Records. It’s an interesting story: Williams recorded the album in the ’70s, but it never saw the light of day, and his granddaugher hadn’t heard it – or realized it actually existed – until recently. It’s set to come out on Valentine’s Day, and the appropriately lovestruck lead single ‘Knocking (At Your Door)’ is out now.
Miki Berenyi Trio – ‘8th Deadly Sin’
Miki Berenyi Trio, the new project helmed by Lush singer Miki Berenyi, has announced its first album, Tripla, with the entrancing ‘8th Deadly Sin’. “Simon Raymonde instantly picked this out as a single and it immediately went down a storm when we played it live,” Berenyi explained in a statement. “I can’t pretend that I am in a position to lecture others over their green credentials but there’s a broader philosophy in the song that I can relate to — humanity hurtling toward its own destruction, which (to me) applies as much to wars and social intolerance as it does environmental issues.”
Kathryn Mohr – ‘Take It’
Ahead of the release of her debut LP this Friday, Oakland musician Kathryn Mohr has released the intricate, free-associative ‘Take It’. “I rarely know what I’m talking about until way after a song is done,” Mohr explained. “Lyrics are the result of emotional vomit and blind scribblings, understanding comes when I get as close as I can to being a listener rather than a creator. ‘Take It,’ now that it’s in the rear view mirror, is about abusive relationships, dream logic, dehumanization, superstition, power imbalances, and paradoxes. It’s about getting dragged through ruble while holding on to a thread of hope and finally letting go of your own will because of your own growth. It’s one of my favorite songs on the record.”
The Weather Station – ‘Mirror’
The Weather Station’s new LP Humanhood arrives on Friday, and final single ‘Mirror’ is a groovy and luminous highlight. “The confrontation is gentle, because I’ve been there too,” Tamara Lindeman explained in a statement. “But life and nature is a giant biofeedback machine. What you put out there responds. And you respond; you can’t help it. That’s what is always happening. That’s one of the many things I meant when I said ‘god is a Mirror.’” She continued, “I wanted the song to warp and disintegrate; to come in and out of being like the imaginary scaffold that holds up a fantasy or cognitive dissonance. In the end, the band grows garbled and comes apart, giving way to a suspension of synth and string textures. I wanted it to feel like being bathed in light; maybe the light I was talking about in the song.”
Richard Dawson – ‘Gondola’
‘Gondola’, the latest single from Richard Dawson’s upcoming album End Of The Middle, is sung from the perspective of a grandma reflecting on her life. The point of view is richly rendered and affecting, especially when paired with the CLUMP Collective-directed video.
Swervedriver – ‘Volume Control’
Swervedriver are returning with their first new music in five years, The World’s Fair EP, on March 7 via Outer Battery Records. The shoegaze greats recorded it with Ride’s Mark Gardener, TJ Doherty, and Rick Beato, with contributions from Will Foster, Calina De La Mare, and Sarah Willson. Lead single ‘Volume Control’, premiered via Brooklyn Vegan, is fiery and intoxicating.
Patterson Hood – ‘The Pool House’
Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood has offered another taste of his upcoming LP Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams with the ominous ‘The Pool House’, which features Nate Query (The Decemberists) on upright bass, Dan Hunt (Neko Case) on drums, Kyleen King on viola and strings, and Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) on flute. “The Pool House” was originally inspired by a night I spent at a creepy rental,” Hood said. “A literal pool house for an apartment complex that I rented cheap for the night during a solo tour. It was off-season and the pool was dark green and filled with algae. The whole thing was creepy and as I’d had a couple of drinks, my mind was definitely wandering, conjuring up some macabre shit. I wrote most of it during lockdown and demoed it then on my home rig.”
lots of hands – ‘barnyard’
UK duo lots of hands are releasing their latest album into a pretty room on Friday, and latest offering ‘barnyard’ sounds idyllic yet punctured by grief. “I’ll brush your hair through a nightmare, breathing in the country air,” goes the mesmerizing refrain.
Immersion & SUSS – ‘State of Motion’
Immersion, the electronic duo of Colin Newman from Wire and Malka Spigel from Minimal Compact, have teamed up with ambient country trio SUSS for the new single ‘State of Motion. Taken from their upcoming collaborative LP Nanocluster Vol. 3, the track is wide-eyed and propulsive. “The title reflects the piece as it matches Immersion’s hypnotic propulsion to SUSS’ open-skies atmospherics, and the video renders a visual interpretation of the stop/start nature of the music and life itself,” Immersion commented.
Whatever the Weather – ’12°C’
On Loraine James’ first album as Whatever the Weather, the London producer’s ambient-focused project, every track was named after temperatures. The same is true of its just-announced follow-up, Whatever the Weather II, which is due March 14 and is described as “a warmer outing than its predecessor.” The lead single is titled ’12°C’, and I wish it were that warm where I am right now.
Califone – ‘every amnesia movie’
Califone have announced a new album, The Villagers Companion, a companion to 2023’s Villagers, arriving February 21. It’s led by the single ‘every amnesia movie’, which finds Tim Rutili asking, “When have I ever given anyone what they want?”
The Tubs – ‘Narcissist’
The Tubs vocalist Owen “O” Williams wrote ‘Freak Mode’, the previous single from the band’s new album Cotton Crown, “about dating while grieving the death of my mother.” The subject matter of new single ‘Narcissist’ is similar, but the tune, which is excellent, strikes a different tone altogether. “It’s about hearing someone’s a sociopathic nightmare and wanting to be manipulated or abused as a distraction from the larger nightmare of death,” Williams explained. “It’s also about noticing a kind of sociopathic aspect of yourself in which you see your life as an interesting plot rather than something real and emotionally consequential. So it’s fitting that Nicholls does some of his most Marr-like guitar work, but we also wanted to create a kind of sad crooner atmosphere.”
The Mayflies USA – ‘Calling the Bad Ones Home’
Chapel Hill indie rockers The Mayflies USA are back with ‘Calling the Bad Ones Home’, their first new song in 23 years. “‘Calling the Bad Ones Home’ is about a night in my teenage years when I may have consumed a little bit too much of a certain substance, and I found myself on the phone — an old school landline with a curly cord, to paint the picture — with a girl I did not know,” bassist Adam Price explained. “Maybe the sister of a friend I’d called, then forgotten who I was calling? But I vividly remember, decades later, the feeling of being trapped on the line for eternity with this person, who started to warn me about the Bad Ones, who were coming. ‘The Bad Ones are coming home,’ she said. A terrible experience, but it provided inspiration for this song, which we approached with a somewhat counterintuitive upbeat ’70s Steely Dan/Stones feel, including slap bass and a funk clavinet.”
lilo – ‘It’s Not the Same in Winter’
Following a pair of EPs, London indie folk duo lilo are beginning to roll out their debut album, Blood Ties, which is out March 28. Of the achingly delicate lead single, Helen Dixon said, “‘It’s Not The Same In Winter’ comes from being in the full throes of a breakup. I’d gone away to do some writing, hoping to channel my woes into something brilliant. The trip was terrible, I didn’t write a thing and actually started to feel like whole sections of my brain had gone missing.” She added, “I phoned Christie. I said: it’s so weird, I can’t remember a single thing about my ex. I can’t picture what he looked like, and all the memories I have feel like they belong to someone else. I tried looking at photos to trigger something and nothing happened, I felt like I was looking at a stranger.”
Canty – ‘St Marks’
East London artist Canty has previewed their forthcoming mixtape Dim Binge. with a mesmerizing new song called St Marks’. “The track describes a feeling of impending inevitability, a situation you can’t turn away from,” they explained. “Patience and perseverance through hardship whether external or internal, pushing forward, ‘coming through the pouring rain.’ The title could be just the street name of a doomed love affair or some oblique reference to the biblical figure led through the streets with a rope around its neck.”
Drone music, in all its timeless forms, can be a great comfort. It would be natural to view Perverts, the daring follow-up to Ethel Cain’s 2022 breakout Preacher’s Daughter, as a response to, and rejection of, everything about success that might register as noise, not least because it was accompanied by a Tumblr post entitled ‘The Consequence of Audience’. Preacher’s Daughter amassed a fervent following, and Perverts no doubt poses a challenge to the segment of Cain’s audience that has trouble engaging with the artist’s persona in the absence of unambiguous lore and soaring melodies. Yet the 90-minute project – promotional materials variously refer to it as a “body of work” or even an “EP,” so yes, technically not an album – does not feel like a departure so much as an opportunity for Hayden Anhedönia to home in on the esoteric darkness she holds a deep reverence for, the eerie dissonance and muffled silences that were seen tangential rather than core to her songwriting. More than just provocative, it is an ode to the drone music that reverberates and thrives everywhere and every day, that has naturally followed her down the side of the highway, her favorite field, her home studio: “I love you, sound, you have always been there for me,” she wrote in another post.
Like its predecessor, Perverts digs into religious shame, sexual violence, and irrepressible desire, but it remains thematically impenetrable in part because it requires you, in turn, to be there for it. If Preacher’s Daughter was the first in a planned trilogy about three generations of a family, this is a wilful diversion from the “Ethel Cain universe,” a record where the narrative is inconsequential and the music secondary to sound – one reason why it probably disqualifies as an album. (“But I will not tell you the visceral details, as you already know them,” Cain’s short story reads, “You all do. It’s happening to every-body.”) That’s not to say the music it collects is discountable – from the dark ambient pieces to the more conventional, by Cain’s standards, songs, it is towering both in its claustrophobia and gravitational pull. Originally conceived as a record about different kinds of deviants, some of those perspectives have made it through, but sink into the background. Without the cast of characters Preacher’s Daughter was eager to properly introduce, the horror Cain drawls out gradually blurs into your own.
Catharsis, previously a touchstone of Cain’s music, offers no path out here. Instead, Perverts often treasures (self-)disintegration. ‘Houseofpyschoticwomn’, which takes its name from Kier-La Janisse’s seminal book examining the portrayal of mentally ill women in horror films, beats the refrain of “I love you” into the ground, distorting its purity as Cain does her own voice; ‘Pulldrone’, the longest track on the record at 15:14, delivers its treatise over an actual hurdy gurdy, which continues its ominous hum for ten full minutes after the language runs dry. The atmosphere does shift on the last two instrumental tracks, the first of which, ‘Etienne’, lets air, dust, and melody into its wide expanse of acoustic guitar and lo-fi piano. ‘Thatorchia’, whose title alludes to the album’s twin themes of death and masturbation – as part of her NTS Radio show, she defined the word as “the bitter acceptance of the knowledge that god will let you near but he won’t let you stay” – ushers in a wall of electric guitar that’s the closest Perverts comes to a kind of apotheosis.
Save for ‘Punish’, the harrowing lead single that remains a standout as the second track on the album, the rest of the tracks that feature Cain’s singing voice seem, at first, to offer solace. But the pillowy vocals and Matthew Tomasi’s minimal drumming on ‘Vacillator’ suggest not freedom but a glistening numbness, curiously contradicting the exasperating love that precedes it: “If you love me, keep it to yourself.” The softness, the shame it beckons, is more punishing than anything. But closer ‘Amber Waves’, which features Midwife’s Madeline Johnston on guitar and Vyva Melinkolya’s Angel Diaz on lap steel and electric piano, coasts on the melancholy of succumbing to a love marked by toxic cycles, but also absence, an empty space the narrator can comfortably, even ecstatically, dissolve into. It is the most delicately beautiful song on the album, even if it provides no real escape. “I will dislocate my jaw to fit it all in,” Cain intones on ‘Pulldrone’ – the torture, the beauty, the darkness, all of it. If you’re scared to let so much as a shiver crawl through your body, that’s your loss.
Jason Isbell has announced a new album, Foxes in the Snow, arriving March 7 via his own Southeastern Records. Following 2023’s Weathervanes, the 10-track effort marks his first solo acoustic album. Check out ‘Bury Me’, the lead single and opening track, below.
Isbell laid down Foxes in the Snow during a five-day recording stint at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios in October of last year. He exclusively used an all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar for each of the tracks.
Foxes in the Snow Cover Artwork:
Foxes in the Snow Tracklist:
1. Bury Me
2. Ride to Roberts
3. Eileen
4. Gravelweed
5. Don’t Be Tough
6. Open and Close
7. Foxes in the Snow
8. Good While It Lasted
9. True Believer
10. Wind Behind the Rain
Samia has announced her third album, Bloodless, which will be out on April 25 via Grand Jury. The follow-up to 2022’s Honey is led by the gritty country-rock song ‘Bovine Excision’, of which the singer-songwriter said, “I was drawn to the phenomenon of bloodless cattle mutilation as a metaphor for self-extraction—this clinical pursuit of emptiness.” Below, check out its Sarah Ritter-directed music video, and scroll down for the album cover and tracklist below.
Samia made the new album with co-producers Caleb Wright and Jake Luppen, as well as frequent songwriting partners Christian Lee Hutson and Raffaela. “It’s easier to be what someone wants you to be if you give as little as possible,” she reflected. “I noticed a pattern in my life of wanting to live up to the person I became in someone’s head; you become a lot bigger with distance.”
“I’ve spent the past two decades unintentionally conflating an abstract idea of men with my understanding of God,” Samia added. “The person I became in order to impress this imagined figure is inseparable from who I am today. A significant part of my personality was built around traits and behaviors I believed — whether through observation or hearsay — men would like. With this album, I’ve tried to confront that head-on.”
Bloodless Cover Artwork:
Bloodless Tracklist:
1. Biscuits Intro
2. Bovine Excision
3. Hole In A Frame
4. Lizard
5. Dare
6. Fair Game
7. Spine Oil
8. Craziest Person
9. Sacred
10. Carousel
11. Proof
12. North Poles
13. Pants
