Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra – Unshackled​/​Bedouin Ska

Here is an impressively authentic-sounding ska coming to us from Los Angeles, California (my home town).  The Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra boast of combining Jamaica’s greatest contribution to the world and a big-band sound.  They pull this combination off flawlessly, and they must have one very impressive live act Continue Reading

Amancio D’Silva – Konkan Dance

A pleasant surprise comes from Australian record label The Round Table.  Amancio D’Silva was a musician based out of India who mixed traditional music from his homeland with modal jazz, and the results are stunning.  From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Also recorded in 1972 although not released at the time Continue Reading

Stephen Mallinder – tick tick tick

With the death of Richard H. Kirk last year, my hopes are dashed for new material from Cabaret Voltaire.  However, Stephen Mallinder is carrying the torch of mid-period Cabs by combining a dark soundscape with rough electro-funk.  From his Bandcamp website: “Cabaret Voltaire co-founder Stephen Mallinder’s second solo outing for Continue Reading

Kikagaku Moyo/幾何学模様 – Kumoyo Island

Some very happy news today, as Japanese acid-folk-psych band Kikagaku Moyo have given us a fresh album. From their Bandcamp website: “In many ways ‘Kumoyo Island’ represents the culmination of a journey for Kikagaku Moyo. While their decade-long career can be summarized as a series of kaleidoscopic explorations through lands Continue Reading

Valgeir Sigurðsson – Kvika

Icelandic composer Valgeir Sigurðsson is a classical composer who has developed into the country’s leading light in terms of modern classical music. From his Bandcamp site: “Valgeir has become a master of sound to get lost in. Through his layering of his collaborators’ instrumental and vocal parts and a nuanced Continue Reading