savak

SAVAK released new 7" (listen), list their favorite LPs of 2017, touring

SAVAK released their second album, Cut-Ups, back in October which betters and expands upon the sonics and ideas found on their excellent 2016 debut album. Gelling further as a band, the songwriting of Sohrab Habibion and Michael Jaworski also melded more into a cohesive sound that goes, at times, escapes beyond their punk/post-punk roots. (Penultimate song “Keys to the City” owes more to Roger McGuinn than Roger Miller [of Mission of Burma, not “King of the Road” Miller]). If you haven’t given it a listen yet, you can do so below.

The band have already followed the LP up with a new 7″ featuring two great songs — motorik ripper “Where Should I Start?” and the anthemic “Expensive Things.” It’s out via French label Modern City Records and limited to 300 copies and there aren’t many left. Order yours now. We’ve got a stream of both songs below.

There should be copies of that single at SAVAK’s merch table when they head out on a short tour in January with The Effects — which features members of Faraquet and Beauty Pill (and who have a new album — and North Carolina’s fierce, nervy Patois Counselors whose 2015 debut 7″ is definitely worth checking out. Dates include a NYC show at Alphaville on January 18 with Big Quiet also on the bill (more info), and they’ll also play Baltimore and Washington, DC. Dates are listed below.

Last but not least, SAVAK have given us a list of their favorite records of the year, which include Sleaford Mods, Kevin Morby, Wire, Kelley Stoltz, Heron Oblivion, Baxter Dury, Robyn Hitchock, A Savage, Ikebe Shakedown, and more. They actually picked a whopping 33 records, but also made us a Spotify playlist for easy perusal. Check out SAVAK’s full 2017 list (and playlist) below.

SAVAK – 2018 Tour Dates
Jan. 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Alphaville w/ The Effects, Patois Counselors
& Big Quiet
Jan. 19 – Baltimore, MD – Downsquares w/ The Effects & Patois Counselors
Jan. 20 – Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong w/ The Effects & Patois Counselors

SAVAK’s Best of 2017 (in alphabetical order)…
Yazz Ahmed ‎– La Saboteuse (Naim Jazz)
Tony Allen ‎– The Source (Blue Note)
Anxiety – Anxiety (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Alvarius B. ‎– With A Beaker In The Burner And An Otter In The Oven (Abduction)
Binker And Moses ‎– Journey To The Mountain Of Forever (Gearbox Records)
Brokeback ‎– Illinois River Valley Blues (Thrill Jockey)
Group Doueh & Cheveu ‎– Dakhla Sahara Session (Born Bad Records)
Colleen ‎– A Flame My Love, A Frequency (Thrill Jockey)
DUDS – Of A Nature Or Degree (Castle Face Records)
Baxter Dury ‎ – Prince Of Tears (Le Label, Heavenly Recordings)
Gunn-Truscinski Duo ‎– Bay Head (Three Lobed Recordings)
Heron Oblivion ‎– The Chapel (self-released)
Robyn Hitchcock ‎– Robyn Hitchcock (Yep Roc Records)
Ikebe Shakedown ‎– The Way Home (Colemine Records)
Institute – Subordination (Sacred Bones Records)
Kaleidoscope – Volume 3 (Feel It Records)
Les Filles De Illighadad ‎– Eghass Malan (Sahel Sounds)
Kevin Morby – City Music (Dead Oceans)
Fabiano Do Nascimento – Tempo Dos Mestres (Now-Again Records)
Awa Poulo ‎– Poulo Warali (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
Pye Corner Audio, Silent Servant, Not Waving – Limited Edition EP (Ecstatic)
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever ‎– The French Press (Sub Pop)
Oumou Sangare ‎– Mogoya (No Format)
A. Savage – Thawing Dawn (Dull Tools)
Saz’iso ‎– At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me (The Joys And Sorrows
Of Southern Albanian Song) (Glitterbeat)
Sleaford Mods – English Tapas (Rough Trade)
Josiah Steinbrick – Meeting of Waters (Leaving Records)
Kelley Stoltz – Que Aura (Castle Face)
Sun Ra – Discipline 27-II (Strut)
Tamikrest ‎– Kidal (Glitterbeat)
Träd, Gräs Och Stenar ‎– Tack För Kaffet (So Long) (Subliminal Sounds)
Trio Da Kali And Kronos Quartet ‎ – Ladilikan (World Circuit)
Wire – Silver / Lead (Pinkflag)
Msafiri Zawose ‎– Uhamiaji (Soundway)