Next Is Now

Next Is Now marks the first full-length solo album from Vivien Goldman, released over forty years after her seminal 'Launderette' single. Despite the decades-long gap, the album remains remarkably consistent with her established aesthetic: a blend of post-punk attitude and dub-reggae structuralism. Produced in collaboration with Youth (Martin Glover), the record avoids modern polish in favor of a warm, analog-leaning sound that emphasizes the rhythmic interplay between bass and percussion. Goldman's background as a music journalist and historian informs the lyrical depth, touching on themes of displacement, friendship, and personal agency. Critics, including those at Pitchfork and The Guardian, noted the album's ability to sound both timely and timeless, praising Goldman for maintaining her 'punk professor' persona while exploring more expansive sonic territories. It stands as a rare example of a late-career debut that feels like a vital continuation rather than a nostalgic look back.