This album works on so many levels. There is a blend of Italian romance, easy listening, French chanson, sophisticated City Pop, bossa nova, a touch of schmaltz, and electro-pop all rolled into one fine album. Drummer Yukihiro Takahashi had just helped form the Yellow Magic Orchestra after leaving The Sadistic Continue Reading
Various Artists – Brazil USA 70: Brazilian Music In The USA In The 1970s
We’ll have to rely on a different way of hearing the tracks on this phenomenal comp released by Soul Jazz Records and Mr. Bongo. Consider heading over to Sounds of the Universe’s page to sample tunes from one of the best and widest-ranging comps I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Continue Reading
Imam Baildi – Imam Baildi III
This was a punchy and fun release to come home to. Imam Baildi are brothers Lysandros and Orestis Falireas backed by a band who manage to blend laïkó, rebetiko , hip-hop and alternative music into a high-energy take on Greek and Balkan fusion.
Tomáš Vrana – Therapy
We’re on the road today in Las Vegas, Nevada, but listening to music never ceases. Today we share a Slovak dark ambient composer called Tomáš Vrana. His style is very cinematic, and you can hear references to composers like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Yoshimura and Abeoji (아버지) among others.
Max Brody – MAXBRODYWORLD TV 2006-2007: THE SOUNDTRACK
If you haven’t heard the name Max Brody before, you probably know a lot of the bands he’s worked with: Ministry, the Test Apes, the Butthole Surfers, Scratch Acid, the Big Boys, Lubricated Goat and so many others. He was a powerhouse drummer in the Austin Industrial music scene, but Continue Reading
Jauno Jāņu Orķestris – Div’ Svecītes
The Jauno Jāņu Orķestris (The New Midsummer Orchestra) are a folk music band hailing from Latvia, an area we don’t get to cover terribly much here on this blog, which is a shame. This is a one-track single of very well-done traditional music with, of course, updated production values and Continue Reading
The Tibbs – Damaged Heart / Ball and Chain
The Tibbs are a Dutch band who bring on a funky version of Hammond organ-driven retro-soul and 60s R&B. The vocals are warm and sultry, and the musicians are deeply inspired by Stax, Volt and Motown Records. Meaty, funky and beautiful.
Salah Ragab and The Cairo Jazz Band – Egyptian Jazz
How do such wonderful musicians get lost in the mists of time? It boggles the mind, though I must say I’m happy to be living in an age of crate-divers and those who have the same passion of discovering music as I do. This particular artist, Salah Ragab, a military Continue Reading
Jeff Gburek – Corduroy Cascade
Jeff Gburek · Corduroy Cascade Normally, I’m more than happy to present works from Jeff Gburek and those associated with his music because the quality is high as it comes to experimental or other such avant-garde music. This, however, is a departure from what I’m used to hearing from him, Continue Reading
Culto al Qondor – Tannhauser Tor
Repsychled Records is based in Peru, and has done great work documenting their psychedelic rock scene. This particular one is a weird treasure from 2019. Culto al Qondor bring the freakiest of Krautrock to South America with two 14-minute tracks of pure drone-laced music inspired by bands like Ash Ra Continue Reading