Dean Blunt drops a shock EP, Evita Manji shares their debut album, and Yung Lean unveils a new release under his Jonatan Leandoer96 alias
The term spandrel refers to the features of an organism that are byproducts of evolution, and seemingly possess no obvious purpose. On Spandrel?, the debut album by Greek artist Evita Manji, they take a similar approach, asking: what elements of ourselves are essential to our survival and which ones are simply decorative? Weaving together elements of contemporary club music, baroque pop and experimental soundscapes, Manji explores themes of loss and rebirth on both a personal and macro level, from the untimely death of their partner, to their relationship with the natural world and its most urgent concerns.
The debut follows on from a 2021 compilation PLASMODIUM released on Manji’s own label MYXOXYM, which featured the likes of Rainy Miller, Palmistry and Cecile Believe. It also raised money towards Greek wildlife fund ANIMA, which works to rehabilitate animals and return them to their natural habitat. This sensitivity to a world beyond just humanity extends into the album with “Oil/Too Much”, which explores the impact of the oil industry on the natural world, with Manji asserting: “I’m drowning in oil/ I can’t get out”. But it’s on “Body/Prison” that Manji is most raw, confessing their darkest moments over trancey synths and grotesque percussion. “A body that's not mine / and I can't escape,” they sing in cyborgian tones, creating a devastating sonic atmosphere that feels caged-in yet immense.
Elsewhere, Paris duo Acid Arab share their third album ٣ (thalátha, three in Arabic), Dean Blunt drops a short five-track EP for free on WeTransfer, Yung Lean unveils a new release under his Jonatan Leandoer96 alias, and Raye launches a DIY debut.