There aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to all of this week’s new releases, but I managed to sit down with a few of them, including Xiu Xiu’s new cover album, Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1, Sleaford Mods The Demise of Planet X, Sylvia Black Shadowtime and Tigra and SPNCR Black Rice. Scroll down for the reviews.
Xiu Xiu Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1
My first reaction to the tracklisting for Xiu Xiu’s new cover album, Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1 was a baffled, “They covered ‘Hamburger Lady?’” That’s a bold move, in part because “Hamburger Lady” isn’t so much a song as it is Throbbing Gristle creeping out listeners for four minutes. Before I could get to Xiu Xiu’s take on Throbbing Gristle, though, there were three preceding tracks to hear, including a cover of “Warm Leatherette,” which is absolutely inspired. It’s noisier, tenser and, overall, more fucked up than The Normal’s original. That all seems in line with Crash, the J.G. Ballard novel upon which the song is based. It’s kind of a fucked up book. Fortunately, I have an appreciation for that. But, back to “Hamburger Lady.” It’s basically a horror story wrapped inside a piece of music and Xiu Xiu draws attention to this by keeping the vocals audible. It works so much better as a cover song that I thought was possible.
Honestly, I was surprised at how killer some of these renditions are. For example, I wasn’t expecting much from “Sex Dwarf” because it has been covered plenty, but Xiu Xiu brings out the menace lurking in Soft Cell’s classic. Their version of “Dancing On My Own” is eerie af, closer in line to haunted-sounding oldies like “In Dreams” and “I Put a Spell On You,” both of which are also featured on this album, than Robyn’s original banger. What’s impressive is that Xiu Xiu maintains this unsettling, almost nightmarish, quality throughout the album whether they’re reworking Throbbing Gristle or Robyn. I love that.
Get Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu Vol. 1 by Xiu Xiu
Sylvia Black Shadowtime
Sylvia Black has a long and eclectic list of credits, from fronting the band Kudu to playing bass in Maya Rudolph’s Prince cover band, Princess to co-writing the only Black Eyed Peas song I like, “Meet Me Halfway.” On her new solo album, though, the L.A.-based singer and musician goes goth. Shadowtime sounds like an album made by someone who grew up steeped in the Siouxsie and the Banshees discography. For one, the album shares a title with a Banshee’s song. For another, the fonts on the album and “Long Gone Gardens” are reminiscent of the band’s art deco A Kiss in the Dreamhouse vibe. I don’t think this is coincidental at all; it feels more like a secret handshake amongst the former teenage Siouxsie obsessives. Musically, Black keeps the sound varied. There are some bass-driven, post-punk tunes (“Talking in Tongues,” “Long Gone Gardens”), a few dramatic, percussion-heavy tracks (“Begin Again,” “Forever”) and some synthpop heaters (“Happy in Hell,” “Soft Power”). My pick for the standout Shadowtime track, though, is “Hey You,” a straight-up new wave-style jam in the vein of Vicious Pink and SSQ. It’s a solid album from start to finish and one that, in particular, has a lot of appeal for the L.A. darkwave and indie club crews. In fact, Black is playing her album release show on Saturday, January 24, at The Monty with Magic Wands and Blone Noble.
Get Shadowtime by Sylvia Black
Sleaford Mods The Demise of Planet X
IDK what Jason Williamson is ranting about throughout most of The Demise of Planet X, but it probably doesn’t really matter. Tone can say more than words do and, on the latest album from Sleaford Mods, Williamson’s raspy vocals and crotchety delivery says a lot about the state of humanity. It’s this mix of anger and frustration and just complete annoyance with the world that none of us can shake. You can hear it in “Double Diamond” when Williamson spits out lines so furiously that it sounds like he might choke on his saliva. “Why don’t you tell him I’m a sex worker?” he growls. “He’ll come over then…” It’s like one of those random snippets of conversation that you overhear on the bus that make you perk up your ears as you pretend to continue scrolling through your phone. Is this dude talking to himself or is he on a call? What’s the context? I have no idea and I’m not even sure that I want to know.
In terms of production and song structure, there are some really interesting tracks here. “Good Life,” previously released as a single, is certainly the standout. With Williamson, Big Special and Gwendoline Christie trading off vocals throughout the song, there’s a good emotional range in it and Christie herself channels some serious rage in her verse. “No Touch,” with an off-kilter dance beat and guest vocals from Sue Tompkins (Life Without Buildings) is another winner. Dubby “Flood the Zone,” which is clearly about the MAGA shitshow, and the Taylor Dayne-referencing rock song “Gina Was” stand out too.
Get The Demise of Planet X by Sleaford Mods
Tigra and SPNCR Black Rice EP
“Cars with the Boom,” the Miami bass jam from L’Trimm, is one of earworms that has been with me since grade school. To this day— seemingly out of nowhere— I’ll bust out with, “we’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.” So, it was more than a pleasant surprise to hear the Lady Tigra and Bunny D. reunited on “Guillotine,” from Tigra and SPNCR’s new EP, Black Rice. The new song brings party vibes with its modern twist on Miami bass and an old school hip-hop sensibility. But, then again, the party goes strong throughout Black Rice. Tigra and SPNCR are The Lady Tigra and Spencer Nezey (Jupiter Rising) and, on their latest collection, they bust out bangers that cross genres, from the discofied “Gimme” to the bass-heavy “Do It Like This” to the Big Beat throwback “I’m Gonna.” Closing out this five-track collection is new single “Shoot Your Shot,” filled with big beats, whistles and Lady Tigra’s ferocious delivery.
Get Black Rice by Tigra and SPNCR
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Follow on Instagram or sign up for the weekly, Beatique newsletter for updates on new stories and gigs.
Listen to the January, 2026 Beatique Mix.
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