Sinead O’Connor — Irish singer-songwriter, and cultural icon known for her fierce political stances and searing insights into the human condition — has died at the age of 56. No cause of death has been disclosed. Process along with us in real time as we share several of O’Connor’s signature tracks, including her definitional cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” We’re also exploring her influences, and the subsequent generations of artists that she’s inspired.
On the other end of the sonic spectrum, we have the privilege of welcoming a new song into the world. Australian multi-instrumentalist GUM (aka Jay Watson) has just announced his new full length album Saturnia, out September 15 via Spinning Top. We have the global premiere of the album’s phantasmagorical first single, “Would It Pain You To See.” It’s a stunning slow burn of a song that owes as much of a debt to the AM-gold of peak Steely Dan as it does to the fuzzed out contributions of fellow countryman (and frequent collaborator) Tame Impala.