Stream: New albums from Rostam, Red Ribbon, Bizou and Willa Amai

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From left: Rostam (photo by Jason Stone); Red Ribbon (photo by Kelsey Hart); Bizou (detail of photo by Kristin Cofer); Willa Amai

Catching up with recent album releases from Rostam, Red Ribbon, Bizou and Willa Amai


ROSTAM, “Changephobia”

“Is it just changephobia / that makes us scared / of doing what we should,” Rostam Batmanglij asks on the title track of his second solo album. “Changephobia” is roughly about finding calm amid chaos, and not worrying if the search does not bear immediate fruit. The singer-songwriter, producer and founding member of Vampire Weekend isn’t shy about sonic experimentation (Henry Solomon’s sax gives everything a distinctly jazz tint) or lyrical directness, making the album full of surprises. Start with “4Runner,” enjoy the “From the Back of the Cab” ride and be rested and ready for the title track and “These Kids We Knew.”


RED RIBBON, “Planet X”

Led by the singles “Renegade,” “High” and the title track, “Planet X” is singer-songwriter Emma Danner’s second album as Red Ribbon (and first for Danger Collective Records). Her dreamy and frequently spellbinding folk music shapes vignettes about how “every little mortality check brings more meaning to life,” she says. “Planet X” will, at the very least, soften its blows.


BIZOU, “Tragic Lover”

The ’80s and ’90s were “Days of Honey” for bands like Bizou, and the L.A. quintet — veterans of bands such as Wax Idols, Glaare, Light FM, The Cold and Lovely, Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt — make it all sound pretty sweet on their debut full-length. Fans of post-punk, darkwave, shoegaze and MTV’s “120 Minutes” will be on “Fascination” street here.


WILLA AMAI, “I Can Go to Bed Whenever”

Seventeen-year-old Linda Perry mentee Willa Amai is “Not a Soldier,” but she is a battler. Her debut album of pop confessionals tackles, among other things, mental health, and pop fans hungry for fresh, young voices won’t want to sleep on this one.