• Music

    Hassan Wargui – Tiddukla

    August 22, 2024 - By 

    From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Tiddukla (which translates to Friendship) is one of Hassan’s numerous group projects and he recorded the album with friends in 2015 and self released it through YouTube due to the lack of music infrastructure in Morocco. The Tiddukla album is raw and hypnotic and sees Hassan and his group channeling the deep and contemplative sounds of classic Amazigh groups such as Izenzaren, Archach, Izmaz, all of whom risked their freedom by daring to sing in Tachelhit at a time when the language was still forbidden, and when Amazigh people were fighting for their rights to…

  • Music

    R.A Sánchez – L’ottava Sfera

    August 22, 2024 - By 

    Tuscon, Arizona’s R.A Sánchez has produced one of the most horribly bleak albums of 2024.  A combination of slow doom metal and drone set with jazz instrumentation, this could easily give bands like Sunn O))) a run for their money.  All respect is due to Lost Tribe Sound for releasing this dark masterpiece.

  • Music

    Luiz Santos – Sapphire Fire

    August 20, 2024 - By 

    https://luizsantos.com/album/2834683/sapphire-fire I normally try to share albums on major platforms, but my friend Luiz Santos has self-released a rather fine jazz album on his website, and I thought it would be good to share it with friends.  It’s piano-based, a bit dark, and a comfortable listen worth your time and exploration.

  • Music

    Various Artists – Was Ist Das?: Ballads Of Seduction, Fertility And Ritual Slaughter

    August 19, 2024 - By 

    This is a rather novel concept.  The compilation featured here, courtesy of Was Ist Das?, is, as the Guardian states, “… a fittingly weird 50th anniversary tribute to The Wicker Man’s startling soundtrack. Magpahi’s synth-drizzled Maypole, Dean McPhee’s Sunset and Meg Baird’s Willow’s Song are particularly gorgeous.”  Each track stands well on its own, but generally fits the ethos of the legendary film as well.

  • Music

    Real Live Tigers – Denatured

    August 18, 2024 - By 

    Described as, “Letters read aloud over AM radio, quiet guitar through motel room walls, loud electric guitar in summer basements, gravel parking lots in the rain, train sounds,” there was no way I wasn’t going to pay attention to this release. Real Live Tigers is a project started by Tony Presley.  His voice reminds me, ever so slightly, of Stuart A. Staples of Tindersticks, but with a more lo-fi, folksy feel to it.

  • Personal

    Housekeeping Note

    August 14, 2024 - By 

    My friends, I am in dire need of a rest.  I’ve been on the road for a few weeks now, and the joints are going a bit sore.  I will resume posting after August 17, after I celebrate making it to 54 years.  See you soon!

  • Music

    E-Clark Cornell – (S Sontag

    August 5, 2024 - By 

    The magnificent Kalamine Records introduces us to yet another astounding ambient music composer, E-Clark Cornell.  As his Bandcamp site says, this is music “…that celebrates the Intellectual, and intelligence in making Art.”