June 2021 – Page 3 – Music You Need To Hear

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021

The Utopia Strong – The Utopia Strong

The Utopia Strong are a band out of the United Kingdom which blew me away. Praise to Chris Morley for alerting me to the band’s existence. It sounds something like Krautrock or psychedelic rock which goes funky. It’s almost as if you can dance to some of this material. The musicianship is excellent, reminding me of Gong or groovier elements of bands like Embryo or even Neu! It turns out that I was right to think this, as the pedigree of the band is impressive.

Personnel:

Kavus Torabi (Gong/Cardiacs/Knifeworld/Guapo)
Steve Davis and Michael J. York (Coil/Teleplasmiste/Guapo)

The Quietus Magazine also do a tremendous writeup on their latest release. You can check that out here.

June 8, 2021

Gadi Sassoon – Multiverse

Gadi Sassoon is an Italian sound designer and composer whose latest release comes from the venerable Los Angeles-based record label A Strangely Isolated Place. I had only heard one track of his work before, this coming from ASIP’s 2020 Compilation. Though impressive, it didn’t prepare me for one of the bleakest experiences I’ve had listening to ambient music I’ve had since, perhaps, mid-period Lustmord. If you listen to this album on headphones, be forewarned: the sounds will reverberate in your bones for a while afterward, and I say this as a compliment. The tracks swell and disperse in a way that reminded me of the final sequence in Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris.

If this is Gadi’s first album, I’m definitely planning on following up with future releases and reviewing them here.

June 7, 2021

Zacharivna Pisnya Ensemble – Petropavlovka: Songs of Ukrainians from Kyrgyzstan

The Zacharivna Pisnya Ensemble are made up of ethnic Ukrainians who reside in the republic of Kyrgyzstan, and have existed as a group since 1902. Though some of their names have been Russified, they maintain their cultural ties to Ukraine via song.

Antonovka Records have done astounding work documenting such ensembles throughout Russia and Central Asia, and they should be commended for maintaining such high quality throughout each release.

June 6, 2021

稷廬 / jì lú – 山與客聽 / Mountain, Traveler, Listener

The Sichuan, China-based Jì Lú (稷廬) are a new project that has connections with one of China’s most innovated bands, Raflum. The instrumentation on this album is sparse, but it makes for good listening, as bamboo flute and guitar seem to blend pleasantly.

Some notes regarding the release:

When talking about landscapes in the traditional context, it’s mostly about reclusion. Although true recluses are rare, the mountains and rivers are always there. Ironically, the real landscapes are actually “horrible nature” instead of some leisure place. The traditional landscape paintings are a kind of “tame nature,” which were described as “To observe with meditation, and lie down to experience” and “Sitting in the forest and spring instead of go to banquet” by ancient Chinese poets. It emerge at North and South Dynasty, then become a game of finding the essence during the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty, and finally stuck in the static self-development after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The development of landscape paintings are just like how people detach with the nature and entering urban life. This album is the continuation of this thesis. In a time when the virtual reality are replacing urban life, we attempt to reinterpret this cliche with improvisation that based on the topic of “landscape.” We also naming the songs by minutes and seconds instead of the traditional way of titling the songs, which is based on its imagery. That creates interactive between the “teller” and listener, and reflects the beauties for individuals due to their own aesthetic experiences. At this time, the distant, outmoded, cumbersome and vague image of landscape might leave a huge space for “starting again.”

Instrumental by Liu Zhu (bamboo flute) /Qi Ya (Guitar)
Recorded by Qi Ya at Ningbo、Hanzhou、 in 2016-2018 and Liu Zhu at New York in 2016
Mixed and Mastered by Qi Ya
Artwork and Layout by Qi Ya
Released by Pest Productions

在傳統語境中說到山水，多半關乎隱逸，真隱逸不常有，而真山水常有。葉公好龍的是，真山真水其實是「可怕的自然」，並非閒居宴坐的所在。山水畫作為一種「馴服的自然」，即古人說的「澄懷觀道，臥以游之」、「不下堂筵，坐窮林泉」，自南北朝鮮嫩的發端，五代兩宋的窮其理而後成為一種遊戲，到明清之後陳陳相因的體系內繁殖——其蓬勃發展的歷史反而是與人的身體離開自然山林而進入人工城市的歷史併行的。這張專輯也是對這一母題的延續。在人的身體都快離開人工城市而進入虛擬現實的環境下，給重複了上千年的「陳腔濫調」再增添一次重釋，帶著「山水」這一母題，以即興演奏的方式完成整張錄音。在曲目的定名上，也避開中國傳統的「意象命題」式標題，只以分秒為替代，在「說」與聽之間，帶著各自的審美體驗，進行一次互動，映照各自心中的佳山水。此時，山水形象的遙遠、陳舊、累贅和模糊或許又給「重新出發」以很大的空間。

演奏：六貯（竹管樂器）/ 栖崖（吉他）
錄音：六貯/栖崖
混音/母帶處理：栖崖
錄音時間：2016年04月至2018年11月
錄音地點：寧波 / 杭州 / 紐約
視覺設計：栖崖

June 5, 2021June 5, 2021

Tofa Jaxx – A Guy Like Me EP

In normally more partial to listening to old, stripped down 60s soul than I am to hearing modern R&B, but this gem out of Tanzania, by way of the U.K., caught my ear in a most pleasant way.

Our friends at Delicious Tunes do yeoman’s work spending time all over Africa, getting to know and working with musicians of astounding quality and getting them a proper release. Tofa Jaxx is one of these gems.

Tofa’s vocals are sultry, and he can hold is own with any of modern heavyweights populating the top 40 charts, but what is especially interesting is his choice of remixers for this EP. According to his press release, “from September 2017 to February 2018 during his stay in London, Tofa worked with other musicians, producers and artists like the Dance/Electronic Producers & DJs TruFonix, Fred Abbott from Noah and The Whale, Steph Marziano, and Tara Priya.” These artists have, since the mid-2010s, rules dance music and electronic music, so melding Tofa’s voice with danceable (slow groove) electronics and beefy production make this a release worth bumping at a club or enjoying at home with pleasant company and an adult beverage of your choice.

Those familiar with this blog might surmise that this is more an experimental/weird music/ambient blog, but we also like groove in all its forms. Delicious Tunes strikes again with another winner.

June 4, 2021

Nicadrio Lee – Palette

Aloha Got Soul is a record label out of Hawaii documenting the lost soul that was coming out of the state during the 1970s and 1980s, but this release is actually the work of a local prodigy called Nicadrio Lee who put this album together last year if I understand correctly. It’s been hyped for quite a few months, but to be honest, I figured that it was merely some kid noodling with his guitar. I am happy to say that I was terribly wrong. It’s a rather sophisticated City Pop, all instrumental and very mellow. Nicadrio is very good at what he does. As he’s 19 at the moment, I wonder what he’ll be doing in the next decade or two.

June 3, 2021

Makoto Kawabata, Richard Pinhas, Manongo Mujica, Juan Luis Pereira, Hiroshi Higashi – Alturas

What we have here is an experimental music supergroup. Makoto Kawabata and Hiroshi Higashi of acid-psych lords Acid Mothers Temple team up with the legendary guitarist Richard Pinhas (famed as the leader of the band Heldon, and still very much active under his own name). Joining them are two musicians from Peru in Manongo Mujica and Juan Luis Pereira who fill out this psychedelic soundscape.

For some context regarding this release, read these notes for the band’s Bandcamp site:

When Acid Mothers Temple and Richard Pinhas visited Lima for the first time, in November 2017, to participate in the experimental music festival “Integraciones”, Luis Alvarado, the director of Buh Records and curator of the festival, summoned the Japanese and the French musicians to Manongo Mujica’s studio and invited Juan Luis Pereira (El Polen) to join them for a recording session. The result was this album which finally comes to light, and where a variety of instruments and sensibilities are combined. The guitar sound of Kawabata, the leader of Acid Mothers Temple, merged with that of Pinhas, the leader of Heldon, creates a dreamlike atmosphere, which is supplemented with Mujica’s Indian bells and drums, Pereira’s pututos, moceño, violin and charango, and the cosmic electronic sounds of the classic Roland synthesizer played by Higashi, from Acid Mothers Temple. Everything flows between quietness and abstraction, an atmospheric music that gives way to inspired melodic developments, which are fused with sounds coming from the Andean tradition, as well as with the classic textural and melodic explosions courtesy of Kawabata. All this is enhanced by the meticulous mixing and post production work done by the Peruvian artist Ale Hop. ALTURAS [Heights] is edited in vinyl format and is destined to become a milestone in the catalogue of Buh Records, a label that has also released albums by El Polen, Acid Mothers Temple and Manongo Mujica.

This release is, in every sense of the word, experimental.

June 2, 2021

Corciolli – Valse D’Adieu

The word seems to be burning at the moment. All around, there is misery, anger and a sense of hopelessness. One can either be consumed by it (and it’s been a battle not to be), or you can relax, listen to something calming, and get on with life.

Corciolli is a pianist out of Brazil who also owns the record label Azul Music who specialize in releasing classical and world music.

Some words from the label regarding this release:

In a minimalist and stripped-down approach, VALSE D´ADIEU, new single from Brazilian film composer Corciolli, stands out for its simplicity and spontaneity.

VALSE D´ADIEU is the second single of Corciolli´s forthcoming album SILENT WORLDS (May 28, 2021). Bringing to light nine brand new songs, Brazilian film composer Corciolli is preparing to release his new album with inspired performances on the piano and a few synthesizers, recorded during the month of March 2021. The musician compares the album to a “photograph without filters ”, whose melodies, born from improvisations, were recorded in the instant moment of creation.

“I´m always working or studying in my studio, everytime playing little improvisation pieces on the piano, something that has become a habit, almost a ritual of connecting with the music … So, I just decided to register some of these ‘flashes’, totally spontaneously, letting the interpretations flow. Because they were not previously planned, the themes bring certain ‘imperfections’, which, if on the one hand, could be worked on later, on the other, bring their own charm and authenticity ”- Corciolli

Introspective, nostalgic and delicate, the melodies of the new project – in special the current single VALSE D´ADIEU – reflect a necessary internalization of processes related to loss, melancholy and long periods of social isolation, that affected everyone during the pandemic, but which, for the author and his music, find their way in acceptance and especially in transmutation: Hope prevails and remains victorious… Very touched by the situation of his native country, Brazil, Corciolli, like so many artists, found on the piano, a way to vent and burn his anguish and sadness. In his own words: “The unique combination of factors and events, ended up pointing out certain paths, where I could find (or rediscover) songs that perhaps have always been in me. My heart will always overflow with hope. ”

I grew up listening to waltzes as my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were fond of listening to them (and great-grandmother was an accomplished violinist who could play anything). Hearing this on piano brought back some rather pleasant memories for me. Bravo, Corciolli. Well done.

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021

Stijn Hüwels & Tomoyoshi Date – 遠き火、遠き雲’ (A Distant Fire, A Distant Cloud)

laaps Records is a French label releasing quality ambient music. This one seems to be their latest, a calming wash of sounds composed by Belgian composer Stin Hüwels in collaboration with the Brazilian-Japanese composer and sound artist (and emergency room doctor!) Tomoyoshi Date.

The music is a mix of organic and electronic sounds, gentle plonking tones, and a very, very relaxed atmosphere. This could be music to sleep to, and I mean this as a high compliment.

From their Bandcamp site:

遠き火、遠き雲 (Tōki Hi, Tōki Kumo / A Distant Fire, A Distant Cloud) is the second collaboration by Tomoyoshi Date and Stijn Hüwels.
The album was commissioned by Laaps.

Tomoyoshi Date and Stijn Hüwels met for the first time in 2015 in Tokyo, being introduced to each other by Chihei Hatakeyama. That same evening, they recorded what would later become Hochu-Ekki-Tou, their first album, released on Home Normal in 2019.
For “Tōki hi, tōki kumo”, they teamed up again to create a slow and bright album, using field recordings, processed guitar, piano and synth. The title refers to a poem by Tadahito Ichinoseko, recited by the poet on the album as well.

Tomoyoshi Date creates acoustic and organic sounds with a little touch of digital processing. He began to create electronic music in 1998. In 2003, he forms the group Opitope with Chihei Hatakeyama (released by SPEKK), in 2012 the group ILLUHA with Corey Fuller (released by 12k), and the group Melodia with Federico Durand (Home Normal). His solo albums were released from Flyrec (2009, Japan) and Own Records (2011, Luxembourg). Also he worked as emergency doctor until 2014, and started his ambient oriental medical clinic “Tsuyukusa Clinic” in Tokyo since 2014. Tomoyoshi currently resides in Narita, close to Tokyo.

Stijn Hüwels has a profound fascination for minimalism. He’s using mainly layers of processed guitar and field recordings. He released on Dauw, mAtter, Eilean Rec., Home Normal, White Paddy Mountain and Slowcraft/Lifelines. He released albums in collaboration with Chihei Hatakeyama, Norihito Suda, An Moku and Ian Hawgood. Together with James Murray he forms Silent Vigils. Stijn lives and works in Leuven and Brussels, Belgium. He’s also curating Slaapwel Records since 2014, a label dedicated to music to fall asleep with.