Exploring this week’s new albums is a stronger romantic gesture than even the biggest heart-shaped box of gluey chocolates. Released on Valentine’s Day, Caroline Polachek‘s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You is a jolt of bold, career-making ambition from the former Chairlift singer. Returning after a short break that included a rarities comp and a solo album from Marissa Paternoster, Screaming Females incorporate new songs into their signature ragged rock on Desire Pathway. Working with producer Mike Lindsay (Tunng, LUMP), London singer Anna B Savage‘s second album, in|FLUX, is a sonically captivating step away from her stark, nocturnal debut.

For their second post-hiatus album, Texas-rooted psych rockers Secret Machines revisit material intended for a shelved 2010 release on the abstract The Moth, The Lizard, and the Secret Machines. Chicago singer-songwriter Sofia Jensen makes her campfire-lit debut as Free Range, the easygoing Practice. Jointly based in Philadelphia and Baltimore, experimental duo @ (as in, ‘At’) craft an electro-acoustic wonderland on their own debut, Mind Palace Music.

PRESS PLAY on these new releases below. Listen for spotlights on new records like these (and more) every Friday on the XPN Morning Show and Indie Rock Hit Parade.

Caroline PolachekDesire, I Want to Turn Into You
CHECK OUT: “Welcome to My Island” “Billions”

Screaming FemalesDesire Pathway
CHECK OUT: “Brass Bell” “Mourning Dove”

Anna B Savagein|FLUX
CHECK OUT: “Crown Shyness” “Pavlov’s Dog”

Secret MachinesThe Moth, The Lizard, and the Secret Machines
CHECK OUT: “There’s No Starting Over” “You Want it Worse”

Free RangePractice
CHECK OUT: “All My Thoughts” “Growing Away”

@Mind Palace Music
CHECK OUT: “Friendship is Frequency” “Letters”

FURTHER LISTENING…
A Flock of SeagullsA Flock of Seagulls (40th Anniversary Edition),
Avey Tare7s, DeerhoofApple O’ (20th Anniversary Edition), FellwalkerRedeemable EP, Girl ScoutReal Life Human Garbage EP, GlümeMain Character, Indy Yelich O’ConnorThreads EP, Jesse MalinThe Fine Art of Self Destruction (20th Anniversary Edition), Joe Louis WalkerWeight of the World, Marshall CrenshawMarshall Crenshaw (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition), OrbitalOptical Delusion, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs PigsLand of Sleeper, PileAll Fiction, P!NKTRUSTFALL, POSH SWATPOSH SWAT, Shonen KnifeOur Best Place, SkrillexQuest for Fire