Though California has an utterly repellent governor whose incompetence seems boundless, the citizens, rich or poor, are resilient. In honor of the California spirit which has been bruised thanks to the horrible wildfires that destroyed parts of my former home, some fine artists have contributed tracks for this compilation of Continue Reading
Alternative
Exit North – Anyway, Still
Exit North is a revelation to me. The instrumentation reminds of the sort of progressive rock one would expect to hear from Tim Bowness, Steve Jansen (who happens to provide backing vocals on this album), or in parts, David Sylvian, but singer Thomas Feiner is blessed with a voice so Continue Reading
David Sylvian – Late Night (Atom™ Remix)
For you who are fans of the new wave band Japan and their lead singer David Sylvian, this will be a treat. David offers a one-track release of a song that did not make it onto the album entitled The Good Soon vs the Only Daughter. The track was remixed Continue Reading
Science Noodles – Soothe Me
From an article in TimeOut Magazine: “Science Noodles is a self-described “Hong Kong-Taiwan mixed baby” that formed in the most 21st century way possible. While on a trip to Taiwan, vocalist/guitarist Yuet matched with vocalist Qing on Tinder, and the two bonded over their mutual love for Taiwanese indie band, Continue Reading
Kazdoura – Khayal (خيال)
No reviews today as we prepare for Gregorian Calendar Christmas and finals for the school. In my stead, I offer to you Kazdoura, a singer from Canada who is of Levantine Arab descent. This is a touch of Arabic pop blended with trip-hop, jazz and psychedelic Andalou Rock.
Various Artists – Passed Records: The Passed Year – 2023
Passed Records come from Uppsala, Sweden. This is a fine introduction to their label, which produces trip-hop, electronica, drone and post-punk. These guys are going to be fun to follow.
Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom – A Peace of Us
Dean Wareham is someone who could be called Shoegaze royalty. He has been partnering with Britta Phillips for some time now making some fine records, but this is a different, even more interesting beast. The Spacemen 3 centerpiece Sonic Boom collaborates with Dean & Britta for an album which combines Continue Reading
Bohmig – Birth In Birdsview
Another day, another unsolicited album, and another absolutely pleasant surprise! Bohmig are an Austrian band who produce a novocaine-like fuzziness housed in a dream pop vibe. This is a lo-fi affair, but with gentle vocals, a wispy guitar and, as mentioned, just enough buzz to give this an edge. Fine Continue Reading
Steve Albini & K.K. Null – Steve Albini & K.K. Null
These recordings are a sample of a 2-disc CD which I am not sure is still available, but since the passing of Steve Albini recently, K.K. Null has done the world a service by publishing these two tracks from that vaunted release.
Radian – Distorted Rooms
From Radian’s Bandcamp site: “Radian’s visionary approach to composition speaks to lifetime working in forward-thinking music. Brandlmayr, Siewert and Norman share an unconventional, wildly imaginative approach to sound. The trio’s collective experience finds an expansive and egoless outlet in Distorted Rooms, uncovering new sonic universes. After nearly 30 years of Continue Reading