Fränder – Fränder II

Nordic Notes offer a sophomore album by the Swedish/Estonian troupe Fränder.  What separates this album from traditional folk or “World Music” albums is the ease with which the band can mix not only Nordic and Baltic sounds but even music like rock & roll, progressive rock, and modern stylings.  Any Continue Reading

SoRIAH with Metamorphic Mindphase – Black Ceremony ∞Yahualihui∞

Around 25 years ago, I had the privilege of tour-managing the English band Sol Invictus through a tour of the West Coast.  It was a fun experience, and I’ve managed to keep some form of contact with a couple of the lads over the years.  There was one instance where Continue Reading

Helena Espvall / Ernesto Diaz-Infante / Marjorie Sturm – A Shadowed Fulguration

Thanks ever so much to Ernesto Diaz-Infante for alerting me to his latest release with percussionist and Nepalese flute player Marjorie Sturm (his spouse, if I am not mistaken) and cellist Helena Espvall. Musically, there is a gritty, lo-fi feel to the recordings, with the guitar sounding more like a Continue Reading

David Thomas and two pale boys – I’m Alive!

We have sad news to report.  Yesterday, David Thomas, singer of the legendary art-punk band Pere Ubu, passed away.  We honor his memory by sharing a rather brilliant live album with his side project, David Thomas and Two Pale Boys.  From Pere Ubu’s Bandcamp site: “David Thomas, Andy Diagram, and Continue Reading

Mental Health Food Store (Jeff Gburek) – Totemic Encounters, 2025

Stunningly bubbly electronic pop would be the best way to describe this joyful album. From the Mental Health Food Store Bandcamp site: “In early February, while developing and learning to operate this mysterious new modular synthesizer “ecosystem” — these tracks engendered themselves. They are mainly improvised, and since modular synths Continue Reading

Soft Works – Abracadabra In Osaka (Elton Dean, Allan Holdsworth, Hugh Hopper, John Marshall)

MoonJune Records should be given a massive debt of thanks for preserving the Soft Machine legacy.  Some of the core members are in excellent form in a live outing that happened in Osaka, Japan, and the live recording is sublime.

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek – Yarın Yoksa

One of Berlin’s most incredible live acts, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, has a new album out.  From their Bandcamp site: “Big Crown Records is proud to present Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s latest album Yarın Yoksa. The show stopping intensity of Derya backed by the psychedelic soul of Grup Continue Reading