Essential Tracks This Week: Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, Automatic, and more

Nick Walker

We don’t generally like to have too much overlap between our Best New Releases and Essential Tracks, but when one of the best albums of the week also has one of the best singles of the week, what choice do we have? Get an extra dose of Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist, plus our favorite L.A. dancepunks, a song of the summer candidate for sure, and some hazy psychedelia.

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist – “1995”

“Had to come back for the sequel, ain’t no equal,” Freddie Gibbs raps at the beginning of the second verse of “1995,” ushering in the follow-up to 2020’s excellent Alchemist with a single that keeps a great thing going. If you’ve heard that record, you almost certainly know what this one sounds like—a soulful, jazzy production laden with gorgeously rich guitar licks, Gibbs referencing Lethal Weapon and The Wire that essentially summarizes how dope he and The Alchemist are (though, mostly him) at what they do. And you know how right he is. – Jeff Terich

from Alfredo 2, out now

Automatic – “Mercury”

Still cruising at L.A. cool, with metallics and wonky synths in the program, three‑piece Automatic—Izzy Glaudini (synths, vocals), Halle Saxon (bass, vocals), and Lola Dompé (drums, vocals)—named after a Go-Go’s song, still operate with thump and dunk bounce. (Who needs a guitar?) “Mercury,” a statement, a modicum of laissez-breakbeat fonk, spelled with an O, finds our trio getting closer to the rhythmic truth with eerie audioverse in the butter sauce. Automatic’s out here, Jack. – John-Paul Shiver

From Is It Now?, out September 26

Sudan Archives – “My Type”

Candidates for song of the summer are coming in hot, and Sudan Archives has three offerings that could qualify so far, with “My Type” a good distance out front. Pulsing with beat-heavy house and disco grooves, “My Type” is the kind of infectious dance anthem that gets under your skin immediately, all fluid basslines and four-on-the-floor thump, with Sudan Archives delivering a breathless lyrical flow that seems to mimic the rhythm itself. Dance music that bumps this hard? Yeah, that’s my type. – Jeff Terich

From The BPM, out October 17

pôt-pot – “Sextape”

Earlier this week we premiered the new single from upcoming Irish/Portuguese psych outfit pôt-pot, and damned if it hasn’t had me under its spell ever since. Shimmery and mysterious with just enough groove to add some seduction to its mysticism, “Sextape” isn’t nearly as lascivious as its name suggests but certainly has sex appeal, intoxicating in its druggy, maraca-shaking rhythms and hazy guitar drift. It’s hard to tell if it’s smoke billowing or steam rising off of this song, but it’s vaporous either way, numbing the senses just enough to draw you in a little further. – Jeff Terich