Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

Top of the Drop is our monthly installment by Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN), where “Danno” picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may have missed, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar.

L’IMPERATRICE & CUCO – “HEARTQUAKE”

There are few groups that can even approach the elegant touch of Flore Benguigui and company’s absolute mastery of synthcentered dance funk over the past several years, and with this particular one-off single, it seems they are just getting better and better. This tune was inspired by The Empress and her latest foray to Coachella, where they met Mexican-American indie riser Cuco and decided to go ahead with a collab. No big deal, really… aside from literally everything about this bilingual duet and its hip-shaking deepness, the former of which Benguigui and Cuco’s Omar Banos delivers perfectly.

SHARON VAN ETTEN – “QUIET EYES”

This is a beautiful closer to the (semi-)recently released soundtrack to the new film Past Lives, which was scored by Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear. Of course, this tune would be a very notable exception, as Van Etten teamed up with Lana Del Rey collaborator Zachary Dawes to write this string-laden accoutrement to the credits in the movie. For those wondering what it might feel like to watch a massive but elegant caravan of royalty pass by on parade, this might be your perfect four-minute mental substitute.

TERRACE MARTIN FEAT KEYON HARROLD, JUSTIN TYSON & DOMINIQUE SANDERS – “DEGNAN DREAMS”

For anyone into soul, R&B, funk, hip-hop, or anything else in that realm of the audioverse, Terrace Martin has become a name. Of course, since getting a couple Grammy nominations, Martin has become known the world over working with other titans like Robert Glasper, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and Quincy Jones just to name a few biggies. June 29 saw the release of Martin’s latest project, Fine Tune. This is the first in a series of jazz-inspired records to be released by the artist announcing his new label called Sounds of Crenshaw, which will be releasing bops inspired by the inner city of L.A.

MONSTER RALLY – “SWIMMING IN THE LOTUS GARDEN”

Ted Feighan is the man behind this act and is based in Cleveland. While the moniker is something that sounds like the thrash metal band performing on a stage during a local Friday night demolition derby, Monster Rally is in fact some of the most innovative and relaxing lo-fi beats you can find anywhere. Inspired by exotica and tropical sounds, Monster Rally is set to release a new EP on July 28 called Flower Shower, of which this is an exquisite early taste.

NEAL FRANCIS – “SAY YOUR PRAYERS (LIVE)”

A child prodigy on the keys who lost his way later in life via the familiar villainy of drugs and alcohol, Neal Francis has really gotten his act together since going sober and getting back to music. Initially signed with Ohio’s Colemine Records, 2021 saw Francis move onto the big time with ATO Records. This tune appeared on the artist’s In Plain Sight LP from that same year and is a brilliant live jam performed to perfection in front of the hometown crowd at Chicago’s Thalia Hall.

FAR CASPIAN – “PET ARCHITECT”

This band is the brainchild of Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joel Johnston, and after years as a trio then a duo, Far Caspian is now seeing Mr. Johnston as the solo proprietor. None of these ins and outs have stopped Far Caspian from becoming an exceedingly popular name in modern dream pop sounds, and this past July saw their latest record, The Last Remaining Light, drop July 14.

SAMPHA – “SPIRIT 2.0”

This is the UK-based artist’s first new music in six years’ time, and for those of you wondering what the hell happened, be assured you are not alone. This standalone single encapsulates the signature sound that gained Sampha so many fans previously, with “Spirit 2.0” being a tender, borderline anguished experience to get through, with the rewards of patience through listening being very tangible by the end.

ADEEM THE ARTIST – “FERVENT FOR THE HUNGER”

As the seven dedicated readers of this space will know (not counting proofers in that number, but they will probably be aware as well), we are huge fans of this nonbinary country artist, even though that genre is generally not our thing. Last year saw Adeem put out their seventh studio album White Trash Revelry, and with their first new tune of the calendar year, they decided to go back an album before that with a tune from 2021’s Cast Iron Pansexual and do an updated version.

BENEE – “DO IT AGAIN”

For the past several years now, Benee has been going from strength to strength with indie dance earworms that have gone viral all over the world, and now it seems that the artist from Auckland has truly arrived. This is the tournament theme song for the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, capturing the urgency and tension of the event itself perfectly while keeping the happy vibes flowing for those of us just in it for the afterparty.

NEW JEANS – “SUPER SHY”

Far be it from me to recommend something from possibly the most shameful sellout shills in modern K-pop, which for any of you who know the business is most certainly making a very bold statement, but this track was released in the lead up to the group’s new album Get Up, and it is pretty good. Two aspects make it particularly refreshing, as the UKG beat in the arrangement has some serious heft to it and is produced to a tee. Also, the young ladies are not explicitly singing about the latest Pepsi product or how awesome (insert payor name here) is, or whatever. It is win-win, but not in the usual slippery slimeball way.

July Releases

Little Dragon – Slugs of Love (July 7)

Dominc Fike – Sunburn (July 7)

Local Natives – Time Will Wait for No One (July 7)

PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying (July 7)

Mahalia – IRL (July 14)

Claud – Supermodels (July 14)

Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher (July 21)

Blur – The Ballad of Darren (July 21)

Oscar Lang – Look Now (July 21)

Post Malone – Austin (July 28)

Georgia – Euphoric (July 28)

Sevendust – Truth Killer (July 28)

Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, producer, troublemaker, and Mr. Fix It of “The Drop with Danno,” broadcasting weeknights on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu from 8–10 p.m. Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and co-host of “Spacious” and “White Label Radio” on WNUR in Chicago.

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @gfnthedrop

Show RSS Feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/thedrop-with-danno

August Incoming (Watch Out!)

Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II (August 4)

Art School Girlfriend – Soft Landing (August 4)

Les Imprimés – Rêverie (August 11)

Jungle – Volcano (August 11)

The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons (August 11)

Cautious Clay – Karpeh (August 18)

Osees – Intercepted Message (August 18)

Genesis Owusu – Struggler (August 18)

Hozier – Unreal Unearth (August 18)

Pale Jay – Bewilderment (August 18)

The Armed – Perfect Saviors (August 25)

Buck Meek – Haunted Mountain (August 25)

The Author

Yun Hyoju was born and raised in Gwangju and somehow ended up married to an Irish guy named Alan. She has been working on her short comic, “Alan and Me,” which is about their daily life. She publishes a new comic every week on Instagram. It can be found here: @alan_andme.