From Saba Alizadeh’s Bandcamp site: “With “Nafir (Clamour)”, Tehran-based composer, kamancheh virtuoso and electronic musician Saba Alizadeh releases a strong artistic statement: a heavy emotional new piece and touching video which depict metaphorically life in Iran after 5 months of uprising. “In the dark times Will there also be singing? Continue Reading
Pefkin – Unfurling
Pefkin have released an ethereal masterpiece. From their Bandcamp site: “On her fourth full-length for Morc, Gayle Brogan raises the bar once more. The familiar Pefkin elements are present: melodies that unfold patiently and graciously, with textures so vivid they feel almost tangible. Across six tracks, around forty minutes in Continue Reading
Nkwitchoua – Love Tones
First, an introduction to this YouTube channel. African Grooves has long been a favorite of mine, as the curators have introduced their audience to some fine, funky releases from the African continent. This particular release comes from Cameroon, and the funk/disco vibe from Nkwitchoua is wild.
Bethnal Greener – Πεδίο
Bethnal Greener is a band from Greece who do an admirable job of blending a mid-70’s-era Pink Floyd sound with vocals that would fit better in the post-punk/Bauhaus medium. Relaxed music meant to trip out to.
Mujician – The Journey
Mujician was perhaps one of the greatest improvisational groups to come out of England, and this album shows them in peak form. The band consisted of clarinetist and saxophonist Paul Dunmall, backed by drummer Tony Levin (not the King Crimson bassist), bassist Paul Rogers (not the hard rocker), and Keith Continue Reading
Dou Wei; Chao Jian (竇唯;朝簡) – 安神符
Instrumentalists Dou Wei and Chao Jian are names I came across last year thanks to my former student Ben, who did me the honor of pointing me to their new album. The record features two long instrumental pieces that sound like ethno-ambient music and like what you would have found Continue Reading
Layla Murad (ليلى مراد) – If My Heart Has Known Humiliation: Cairo Baidaphon Recordings ca. 1936-49
Canary Records continues its incredible run of reissues with Egyptian Jewish chanteuse Lalya Murad, whose music has been lovingly cleaned up by Ian Nagoski—sublime recordings from another era.
M. John Henry – Early Songs, Of Late
Somewhere on the borders of indie rock and folk music sits Scottish singer M. John Henry. From his Bandcamp site: “…founder of the band De Rosa. Between 2006-2016 De Rosa released three critically acclaimed albums on the Chemikal Underground and Rock Action labels. Henry released his first solo LP in 2011, Continue Reading
Dormance – II
Mahorka Records has added another unique gem to their 2026 collection with the release from the band Dormance. Their sound blends mechanical influences that evoke the early works of Frontline Assembly, early Depeche Mode, and artists from the respected Wax Trax! Records label.
Emmylou Harris – Stumble Into Grace
I rarely share a country album, but because it’s Emmylou Harris, I’m happy to make an exception. She was the most remarkable (and stunningly beautiful) singer of the 1970s in my humble opinion, and though her black locks have gone silver over the years, both the voice and the face Continue Reading