Silber Records has released their wonderful Droneuary series to begin 2019 and 2020, and they are continuing the tradition in 2021. Though it is still early in the year, wait until mid-February to see this series completed. If you enjoy drone, dark ambient and experimental music, this comp will keep Continue Reading
Music
Trigger Cut – Rogo
Wow! Imagine a mangling together of Gang Of Four, early Wire, an angry Birthday Party and all that is good in post-punk, and you would have the bones to make Trigger Cut. The tracks are minimal, punchy, and full of distorted angst. I’ll have to hear the rest of this Continue Reading
Martin Chilton – Michel Petrucciani Overcame Enormous Odds To Become A World-Renowned Pianist
Martin Chilton at udiscovermusic.com writes on the difficult life and masterful playing of pianist Michel Petrucciani. A worthy read, which you can access here.
ZX ELECTRIC – Assortment 80-81
This release by ZX Electric took a bit of getting used to, but once I felt settled in, some rather pleasant memories washed over my mind. Mainly, I started thinking about the sound of cold wave, minimalist electronics, a lo-fi aesthetic, broken, heavily manipulated vocals, and the aura of 1980s Continue Reading
Marta Ren – Stop Look Listen (Deluxe Edition)
Porto, Portugal’s neo-soul queen Marta Ren has had her breakthrough album reissued with a couple of extra tracks! From her Bandcamp website: Record Kicks re-release Marta Ren’s legendary debut LP “Stop Look Listen” on ltd edition vinyl clear LP (500 copies worldwide). By popular demand Milan label Record Kicks announce Continue Reading
Male Choir of the Valaam Singing Culture Institute – Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord
To our new readers, we at Music You Need To Hear wish to honor Christmas on the Julian Calendar. We wish you a Merry Christmas, a hopeful 2021, and peace on Earth and in your hearts. Here is some music for the season courtesy of the Male Choir of the Continue Reading
Erkin Sadykov & Abdugheni Abdurusul – Secret of the world. Archival recordings of Uyghur music from Kyrgyzstan
There is little information available on Uyghur musicians Erkin Sadykov (vocal, dutar) and Abdugheni Abdurusul (tambur), but the quality of these recordings show a warm, sensitive interpretation of music we’re watching disintegrate before our eyes. Thankfully, Kyrgyzstan allows their Uyghur minority to live and protect their traditions in peace.
Ángel Ontalva – Roads to Sunrise Cities
Ángel Ontalva is something like a paisano to me; a fellow of Spanish descent who spends an extraordinary time in Russia, and who has integrated himself into local scenes across the country. Guitarist Ontalva has released a single which is a mellow pastiche of progressive rock, world music and jazz. Continue Reading
Nihil Impvlse – Stasis
Though I am not sure exactly where Nihil Impvlse hail from in Italy, I can rest assured that Raffaele Pezzella of Eighth Tower Records and his own project Sonologyst will ensure the quality of such music. Nihil Impvlse are quite a pleasant surprise for noise or drone music. This sounds Continue Reading
The Claudia Quintet +1 with Kurt Elling & Theo Bleckmann – What Is The Beautiful?
Cuneiform Records offers a very generous program where a release from their back catalog is offered for $5 ($7 for a double album release), and they don’t skimp on the quality of these releases. Drummer John Hollenbeck’s The Claudia Quintet released this disc in 2011, and as a Rock-In-Opposition / Continue Reading