#NewMusicFriday: UMO, U2, Flyying Colours and more!

New Zealand outfit, Unknown Mortal Orchestra release their fifth studio album V. The record was created between Palm Springs, California and Hawai’i. On this Ruban commented; “In Hawaii, everything shifted off of me and my music, ...Suddenly, I was spending more time figuring out what others need and what my role is within my family. I also learned that things I thought were true of myself are bigger than I thought. My way of making mischief - that’s not just me - that’s my whole Polynesian side. I thought I was walking away from music to focus on family, but the two ended up connecting.” 

Irish rock band U2 released Songs of Surrender, a collection of re-recorded U2 songs, produced by guitarist the Edge. The outfit have an impressive ARIA repertoire with eleven #1charting albums and five #1 charting singles under their belt already.  In 2005, U2 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

French, LA based electronic music group M83 are back with their ninth studio album, Fantasy. The record features previously released single Oceans Niagra on which M83’s Anthony Gonzalez states; “I just want to talk about forgotten worlds, dreams and magic potions, and try to keep my teenage years alive”. In 2016 the band saw a #12 debut for their album Junk on the ARIA Albums Chart while hit single Midnight City debuted at peaked at #37 on Singles Charts in 2012.

Melbourne shoegaze band release their third studio album, You Never Know. The record features previous tracks Fantasy Country and Goodbye to Music which according to the band “is about hearing loss…  Writing this song was a way for me to accept that what is done is done, and to manage my own guilt spiral." Flyying Colours are set to embark on an album tour, visiting Sydney’s The Lansdowne on March 31st and Melbourne’s The Bergy Bandroom on April 1st.

British four-piece Black Honey are back with their third studio album, A Fistful of Peaches. The body features previously released single, Heavy. The track was accompanied by a music video, starring Dakota Schiffer from Drag Race UK. The record also features tracks, Up Against It and OK, on which front person Izzy Baxter Phillips' calls; "...a love story I wrote for my friend who was getting high all the time to dull anxiety. I didn't want them to be struggling anymore…"

Moniker of Laura Les and Dylan Brady, 100 gecs, release their long-awaited follow-up to 1000 gecs which is aptly titled 10,000 gecs. The record features previously released single Hollywood Baby of which the music video was impressively self-directed. The record was written, produced, and performed by the duo themselves and features performance contributions from Josh Freese (Devo, The Vandals, A Perfect Circle).