New release:

DMA’S

Live At Brixton

The Aussie three-piece mark the one-year anniversary of their sold-out headlining show at the famous London venue by putting out this live recording of the night.

It also came just before the country went into lockdown and ’normal’ live shows ceased to be a thing for now, giving this release an added poignancy.

Tracks released so far (’Lay Down’ and ’Silver’) indicate a powerful performance by a band who are full of confidence and at the top of their game, and revelling in the chance to play in front of their devoted UK fans.

With the raucous crowd belting out DMA’s anthemic, British rock and Britpop-influenced songs it feels like a homecoming gig, despite the Sydney natives being half a world away from home.

The album is coming out digitally and on limited edition coloured vinyl, with the first handful of copies sold also coming with a signed print.

Sound pick

Sigur Ros

Odin’s Raven Magic

Keeping it live for this week’s second recommendation we head to Paris in 2004, when the Icelandic post-rock legends recorded this ambitious piece.

Released just last year, this is the first time this musical adaptation of a medieval poem from their homeland has been put out by the band.

It details a banquet attended by Odin and some of his fellow Norse gods as his two ravens scour the world searching for knowledge.

A full orchestra and a choir are used to tell the story, instead of the group’s usual bowed guitar and effects-laden soundscapes, and there is an operatic feel to many of the pieces.

A distinctive sound heard throughout comes courtesy of a stone marimba which was custom-made for the performance.