Every Friday, the Relix team surveys the week’s most compelling new music releases to curate our latest Staff Picks playlist. This week’s selection highlights a diverse range of artists, presented in partnership with Qobuz, the platform dedicated to high-quality streaming and human-curated discovery.
Leading the charge is The Black Keys, who have returned to their roots with their 14th studio album, Peaches!. Described by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney as their “most natural record” since their 2002 debut, the album captures the visceral, garage-rock energy that defined their early career. The project emerged during a period of personal hardship for Auerbach, following his father’s cancer diagnosis. Seeking a creative outlet for their collective dread, the duo turned to the studio for a series of fevered, improvisational sessions.
“We weren’t making a record,” Auerbach explained. “We were just jamming, like this is for us. Really primal, in a moment when all the nerves were raw, just kinda screaming.”
The resulting tracks were recorded with minimal isolation and few overdubs, allowing the musicians to capture a unified, raw sound. By mixing the record themselves—a first since 2006’s Magic Potion—Auerbach and Carney ensured the final product retained its “filthy” and authentic edge. As Carney noted, “It was a nightmare to mix but we got it sounding raw and filthy.”
The latest Relix Staff Picks playlist also features notable contributions from Taj Mahal, Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Pigeon, BLARF, American Football, Hiss Golden Messenger, The Nth Power, and Karl Hector & The Malcouns. You can tune in to the full collection here.