What did music be doing in February?

February is over. Two months of the year have ceased. It is nearly Christmas. It feels like stuff has started to ramp up in the music world this month. A lot of cool moments and announcements to look forward to and single releases. Here is my best documentation of the stuff I think it was worth paying attention to this month.

Angine de Poitrine KEXP Show

I like KEXP. It’s like tiny desk. Only without the desk and not necessarily tiny. It also has the occasional viral moment where some unknown band suddenly gets a lot of attention (think Black MIDI’s appearance in 2018) and that’s exactly what’s happened here. I have no idea what is happening in this video but it sounds so fucking good. Angine de Poitrine are now firmly on my release radar with a new album dropping in April. Please go watch this video and then check out their debut - unbelievable stuff.

AMERICANFOOTBALLAMERICANFOOTBALL

The first American Football album is one of the all time greats IMO and was a pivotal moment for the midwest emo genre. Since it’s release, the group have disbanded and then reunited for two further albums which while they didn’t have the impact of LP1, are still real stunners. Bad Moons is the lead single for the new album and sees the group exploring some post-rock stuff - it sounds fucking great. American Football’s fourth album American Football arrives on May 1st American Football.

February Album Highlights

This month had some solid releases and is hopefully the catalyst for the rest of the year. If you have the time, I’d check out:

• Mandy, Indiana | URGH

• Charli XCX | Wuthering Heights

• Ratboys | Singin’ to an Empty Chair

• Hen Ogledd | DISCOMBOBULATED

MUNA are back

Since the release of MUNA’s new single, I’ve been drawn back into their catalogue and I realised they are probably one of the most underrated pop bands going at the moment. Across their three albums are back-to-back slick hooks, euphoric choruses and some really grounded themes of love, life and growing up. Dancing on the Wall is the lead single off their upcoming album (released 8th May) of the same name and is a certified hood classic.

Cameron Picton has a new band. You better believe it!

Black MIDI were at the forefront of London’s Windmill Scene and were a catalyst for the post-punk resurgence that dominated the early 2020s. Since their disbandment, frontman Geordie Green released one of the best albums of 2024, drummer Morgan Simpson has worked with Nala Sinephro, Little Simz and Injury Reserve while former guitarist Matt Kwasnievski-Kelvin sadly passed away earlier this month. Cameron Picton has now announced his post-Black MIDI pursuits in the form of My New Band Believe whose self-titled debut arrives on April 10th. Check out the single Numerology for a taste.