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First Listen Enjoy select, upcoming albums, in their entirety.
First Listen

First Listen

Hear upcoming albums in their entirety

Sunday

First Listen: 'The Pedrito Martinez Group'

The Pedrito Martinez Group's self-titled album comes out Oct. 8. Petra Richterova/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Petra Richterova/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: 'The Pedrito Martinez Group'

A cosmopolitan entertainer and authentic folklorist, the singing Cuban percussionist has lined up a program where timba, four-part harmony and The Jackson 5 butt heads. The result is a dance party as accomplished as it is hard to resist.

'The Pedrito Martinez Group'

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First Listen: 'Red Hot + Fela'

Kronos Quartet performs with Sahr Ngaujah (front) and Abena Koomson (center) at New York's Lincoln Center. Red Hot + Fela, a compilation album, comes out Oct. 8. David Andrako/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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David Andrako/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: 'Red Hot + Fela'

Nigerian bandleader Fela Kuti was a potent, prolific composer, so it makes sense that the not-for-profit Red Hot organization has followed its 2002 multi-artist Fela tribute, Red Hot + Riot, with this second volume.

'Red Hot + Fela'

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Wednesday

First Listen: HAIM, 'Days Are Gone'

HAIM's new album, Days Are Gone, comes out Sept. 30. Bella Howard/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Bella Howard/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: HAIM, 'Days Are Gone'

On their debut album, three sisters channel influences most listeners will recognize within a fresh, personal sound. In front of the microphone, Danielle, Alana and Este Haim retell pop's central stories in a language that's true to young women like themselves.

HAIM, 'Days Are Gone'

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Tuesday

First Listen: Moby, 'Innocents'

Moby's new album, Innocents, comes out Oct. 1. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Moby, 'Innocents'

More than 30 years into a try-it-all career that began in punk and has since worked its way through countless iterations of dance music — Innocents feels like the work of an artist who's been liberated to pursue beauty and emotion in as many forms as he can muster.

First Listen: Moby, 'Innocents'

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Sunday

First Listen: Elf Power, 'Sunlight On The Moon'

Elf Power's new album, Sunlight on the Moon, comes out Oct. 1. Jason Thrasher/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jason Thrasher/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Elf Power, 'Sunlight On The Moon'

Elf Power has long been known for its idiosyncratic psych-pop and rock songs about mythical worlds. But for its latest album, the band takes a surprisingly dark turn into personal, introspective territory. It's Elf Power's best new album in a decade.

Elf Power, 'Sunlight On The Moon'

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Saturday

First Listen: Jeremy Denk, 'J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations'

Jeremy Denk's new recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations comes out Sept. 30. Michael Wilson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Michael Wilson/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Jeremy Denk, 'J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations'

The famously smart and fearless pianist (and newly minted MacArthur Genius Grant recipient) explores Bach's masterful harnessing of "infinite possibility from a single piece of code." There's grace and humor to spare in Bach's work, but also a fair amount of wild-eyed, mad-scientist machinations, and none of these elements escape Denk's attention.

Jeremy Denk, 'J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations'

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Sunday

Review: Claude VonStroke, 'Urban Animal'

Claude VonStroke's new album, Urban Animal, comes out Sept. 24. Tim Jones/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Tim Jones/Courtesy of the artist

Review: Claude VonStroke, 'Urban Animal'

The ever-smiling DJ's bass-heavy productions conjure images of dimly lit dance floors and sweaty basement parties.

Claude VonStroke, 'Urban Animal'

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First Listen: Au Revoir Simone, 'Move In Spectrums'

Au Revoir Simone's new album, Move in Spectrums, comes out Sept. 24. Sebastian Kim/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sebastian Kim/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Au Revoir Simone, 'Move In Spectrums'

Au Revoir Simone stands out because its members offset their lush keyboard melodies and faultless vocal harmonies with serrated melancholy. But the Brooklyn band also knows well enough to inject its songs with sass and snap.

Au Revoir Simone, 'Move In Spectrums'

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First Listen: Chvrches, 'The Bones Of What You Believe'

Chvrches' new album, The Bones of What You Believe, comes out Sept. 24. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Chvrches, 'The Bones Of What You Believe'

The Glaswegians' debut showcases a band that bridges styles and eras on the strength of its own charisma. Though it can be ominous, even aggressive, Chvrches' electro-pop songs maintain a disarming fizziness.

Chvrches, 'The Bones Of What You Believe'

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Sunday

First Listen: Gregory Porter, 'Liquid Spirit'

Gregory Porter's new album, Liquid Spirit, comes out Sept. 17. Shawn Peters/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shawn Peters/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Gregory Porter, 'Liquid Spirit'

There's an element of Porter's singing that feels like a welcome throwback, though he doesn't spell it out precisely. On his third album, he only seeks the soulful spirit of griots gone by. And all he asks you to do is clap your hands now.

Gregory Porter, 'Liquid Spirit'

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First Listen: San Fermin, 'San Fermin'

San Fermin's self-titled debut comes out Sept. 17. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: San Fermin, 'San Fermin'

Three singers' voices swap out and intertwine throughout the Brooklyn band's ambitious, evocative debut. The album sets their contributions against orchestral arrangements that sweep and swell with a pitch-perfect mix of forcefulness and delicacy.

San Fermin, 'San Fermin'

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