Scattered Purgatory ( 破地獄) – Sua-Hiam-Zun (山險峻)

Today marks my last post from Beijing, as I will be flying out this evening to set up shop in Tbilisi, Georgia. On this occasion, I am excited to introduce my readers to Scattered Purgatory, a band I believe I featured on my old blog, A Miscellany of Tasteful Music. Continue Reading

Ehsan Saboohi – Politics-Aesthetics No. VI: Eight Short Stories Vol. 3

Ehsan Saboohi’s latest release is a continuation of his Politics-Aesthetics series.  From his Bandcamp site: “Ehsan Saboohi, composer and theorist of Post-Orientalism music, presents the sixth installment in his Politics-Aesthetics series: Eight Short Stories. In this project, Saboohi engages with literature in its broadest sense—encompassing theatrical texts and short prose—as Continue Reading

Various Artists – sirr-ecords: Noli Me Legere … To Maurice Blanchot

The venerable record label sirr-ecords from Portugal offer a collection of electroacoustic, musique-concrète, and microsound artists honoring the French philosopher Maurice Blanchot.  From the label’s Bandcamp site: “With Brandon Labelle/Maria Nilsson, Toshiya Tsunoda, Julien Ottavi, Steve Roden, Paulo Raposo, Christof Migone and Stephen Vitiello. “Maurice Blanchot (1907-2003) is one of Continue Reading

Vinylogue – Poly Ritmo: Crate Digging Across Continents

Discogs.com is one of the few websites legally accessible in China for those passionate about collecting vinyl. Their blog, Vinylogue, offers great inspiration for digging through record stores around the world—after all, there are plenty of untapped stores right here in China. This edition features musicologist and promoter Poly Ritmo Continue Reading

Li Song / Zhao Cong / Zhu Wenbo – Tangerine and the Invisible

Though I will be leaving China in a week from yesterday, I will not stop exploring what the country has to offer musically.  From traditional and pop music to jazz, classical and avant-garde, there’s something for every taste here, and it’s generally done quite well.  From the Ftarri Bandcamp site: Continue Reading

Fred Elias with Buddy Sarkissian & his Mecca Four – Soul of the East: New England Near Eastern Dance Instrumentals ca. 1960

The story of Syro-Lebanese violinist Fred Elias reads almost like a movie script, and we have Ian Nagoski from Canary Records to thank for bringing his story to light. The music itself is energetic and percussion-heavy, with Elias skillfully playing his violin to a lively 9/8 rhythm. It’s the kind Continue Reading