Federico Balducci is an experimental music composer based out of West Springfield, Massachusetts in the United States. The soundscapes he makes here are engaging, and it seems he’s not only influenced by excellent cassette culture forebears, but his style is rather cinematic in scope, a style that I think very highly of. A very pleasant…
Tag: Avant-Garde
Biliana Voutchkova – Seeds Of Songs
This release is a double introduction of sorts for me; first, for the chance to finally delve into a full recording of the work of Biliana Voutchkova, an interdisciplinary artist, violinist, performer, composer, improviser and curator from one of the countries I most enjoy visiting, Bulgaria (though she is based in Berlin these days). Second,…
Nick Sudnick – Opera Of The Eleventh Hour
St. Petersburg, Russia-based composer Nick Sudnick has had a storied career as the main protagonist of the of the art-rock group Zga. I had the pleasure of working with him for one reissue in another life. He is still very much involved with music, and has been releasing an incredible series of albums recently. As…
George Christian – África em mim
Our friend and colleague George Christian Vilela Pereira has released an album that I could only describe as mellow strumming psychedelic noise with elements of Krautrock and instrumental psych that one could have found in Japan in the late 70s and early 80s. The lo-fi feel of the recording adds to the hazy pleasantness of…
Various Artists – That Sounds Greek To Me | Apr 27 | Muses & Sirens
First, a debt of thanks goes to Dimitris Tsironis who took the time to send me this compilation for review. His label, 1tracktape, is doing a great service exposing Greek experimental and avant-garde music to the world, and the quality of this compilation is superb. What’s more, the label is unique in that it releases…
Various Artists – Anthology Of Experimental Music From China
I don’t do top-ten lists, and I don’t ever plan on doing that in the future, but things can change at any moment. Still, if I had to nominate a favorite record label at this moment, there’s no doubt it would be Italy’s Unexplained Sounds Group. Each compilation is a tour guide of experimental music…
IO – ∀LICE
I have a particularly strong attraction to Porto Alegre, Brazil. I have a few friends from there, one in particular who was a charmer, and it seems that everything from jazz to progressive rock seems to do well there. This is the breeding ground of IO, a visual artist, scenographer, fashion designer, performer and musician…
[Youtube] Sofia Gubaidulina – Sieben Worte for cello, bayan and strings
No reviews today, as I will be celebrating Easter weekend (for those who are confused, it is because most Eastern Orthodox celebrate Easter using the Julian Calendar) with my friends. To honor Good Friday, I offer to you Tatar-Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina’s magnum opus, Sieben Worte for cello, bayan and strings. It is a composition dedicated…
Jeff Gburek with Ilaria Boffa – Reifications // Minimal Animal // Reanimations
Another Akashic Records masterpiece. This imprint never fails for me. Jeff Gburek works with Italian composer, researcher and poet Ilaria Boffa to make a hazy, deeply psychedelic piece of musique concrète. The three works on this album are sonic storytelling, layering voice on voice, and is perhaps the best way I can describe this release. …
Steve Buscemi & Elliott Sharp – Rub Out The Word
Few inside of the world of avant-garde music will not have heard of composer and multi-instrumentalist Elliott Sharp. He has one of the most impressive bodies of work in experimental music. This release is a very pleasant surprise for me, though, because, despite the wonders of Sharp’s music on its own merits, having actor and…