After the unusually large amount of great new music that’s blessed our ears over the last couple of months, some kind of slow-down was inevitable sooner rather than later, and so it’s been in May 2019. That is, there’s just been a lot of it, not an absolute gold-rush. So here’s the highlights, so far.

Six years after the graceful Dream River album, former Smog frontman and songwriter Bill Callahan finally announced a comeback, with a double LP titled Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest. No new tracks cut from it as yet, but stay tuned! The same goes for the very long-awaited new album from the legendary Tool, who last released a record back in 2006. There’s no new music as yet, or even a title for the album, but it definitely (i.e. probably, or maybe) will be out on August 30^th.

The roll-out for new albums from The National – whose short film I Am Easy To Find is now available to stream ahead of the release of the LP of the same name on Friday 17^th – and Flying Lotus continued apace. IDLES released a brand new track titled ‘Mercedes Marxist’, a song left over from the sessions for last year’s instant-classic album Joy As An Act Of Resistance and which is soon coming via 7” vinyl single.

In the crusty stakes, there’s also the first proper single from Sunderland’s much-loved The Futureheads in nine years, titled ‘Jekyll’ and hopefully from a brand new album! The Flaming Lips have also announced that their RSD exclusive album King’s Mouth is going to get a proper release later this year, and the first new track from it is available. And the mighty Teenage Fanclub are back once again with a new single of optimistic power-pop, titled ‘Everything Is Falling Apart’.

So, check out our playlist over at Spotify of the best new music released during May 2019 so far!

Happy listening!