New Music Friday: Stream projects from Amen Dunes, Valee & Surf Gang, Whispers, and more

What is the ultimate Death Joke? Perhaps its that, after a lifetime of striving to be the best version of ourselves, it’s unlikely we’ll ever feel truly secure that the path we chose was the best one. For the first Death Jokes, released this year, Damon McMahon detonated his singer-songwriter project into something closer to sound art than any of his previous, acclaimed releases. Fuelled by a love of J Dilla and a passion for sampling, McMahon made his first album in six years sound like a debut album. Which is why Death Jokes II, released by surprise this week, comes as a shock for two reasons: it’s a remix album billed as the final Amen Dunes project, and its sound feels more like a natural progression from albums like Freedom and Love. Grammy-winning producer Craig Silvey takes the helm, retaining contributions from Death Jokes guests like Kwake Bass, Christoffer Berg, and Robbie Lee. But unlike most remix projects, Death Jokes II feels intended to fit comfortably within an existing universe rather than seeking to transplant the music somewhere else — by stripping down the songs to their bare forms, Silvey reveals an entirely new timeline for Amen Dunes, one that could just as easily be the actualized version of McMahon’s longtime alias. — Jordan Darville

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Like most of his releases, Valee’s new EP Grey Sky London, featuring production from S-tier Surf Gang DJs Evilgiane and Eera, is a subtle evolution for the criminally slept-on MC. Ironically, the album was recorded not in the UK’s rainy capital but in the frozen tundra of Chicago, Valee’s hometown. “Most producers just send beats now, so it was dope to actually sit down with EvilGiane and work on this project together,” the unsung flow god. “It’s a whole new sound and style for me.” Valee’s stoned, mostly monotoned delivery hasn’t changed all that much since the world got a taste of it in 2017, but his flexibility has increased 10-fold, Here, he rides sleek, stripped-down synth beats; behind his apparent imperviousness, though, are sparkling, fragmentary turns of phrase and a scratchy vocal style that make all the bars about drug dealing, buying, and using sound surprisingly urgent, like they’re the last words he’ll ever say. — Raphael Helfand

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Bangkok-based band Whispers make a late play for the best hardcore project of the year with their new EP. Yom-Ma-Lok is relentlessly heavy (the band describes its sound as “evilcore”) and packed full of pounding riffs, muscular drums, and chaotic breakdowns. The project arrives 10 years into Whispers time together as a band, though it is only their third EP. It also marks something of a breakout moment, with the band releasing it through hardcore tastemaker label Flatspot for the first time.That global approach is reflected in the guest vocalists on the EP, which includes Shaun Alexander of Glasgow’s Demonstration Of Power plus Jem Siow, frontman of Sydney crossover band Speed, who appears on “A Choice To Survive,” It is Whispers’ Nitisart “Mike” Chaiburi who drives the EP forwards, though, his ferocious and gruff vocals sounding equally imposing whether he is painting nihilistic visions of the world or belligerently shouting “I’ve got nothing to prove!” — David Renshaw

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For a number of reasons — it being bone-chillingly cold in New York City and general end-of-year busyness — I haven’t been able to make it out out of my house in a few weeks. Thankfully, a few dance albums have been keeping my limbs occupied, including this one, the latest EP by Swedish producer and DJ Megra. This year, his muscle-y dance drops have appeared in sets by Four Tet, Jamie xx, and Caribou, which should give you a clue about his promise in the club scene, but you should also hear them for yourself. There’s nothing delicate about the five-songs on 2:M, which twist robust threads of U.K. garage, dubstep, and jungle into towers of energy. “Sthlm In My 3” might float into the melodic, and “Look Into My Eyes,” may get sentimental, but otherwise, it’s no-frills, low-distraction bursts mean pure business. —Steffanee Wang

Hear it: Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp