Majid Bekkas produces a stunning take on blues from a Moroccan perspective. From his Bandcamp site: “This secular music is still considered the “healer of souls” from Essaouira to Marrakech, easily understandable when you listen to the spellbinding sound of Bekkas’ voice, guembri and guitar. Like a watermark, the mystery Continue Reading
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Various Artists – Antonovka Records: Made in Davlekanovo: Russian and Chuvash Songs from Bashkortostan
The brilliant folks at Antonovka Records continue to amaze and delight with their travelogues across Russia, Moldova and the Balkans. This particular recording covers an area I have ready plenty about, but have not yet passed through. From the label’s Bandcamp site for this release: “The album features Russian folk Continue Reading
Úzgin Űver – Patak
Our dear friends at the Lollipoppe Shoppe released a stunning slice of psychedelic folk prog that came out in 2018 and holds up beautifully six years later. From the label’s Bandcamp site: “In the music of Úzgin Űver traditional folk is stretched far beyond the average world music. Of course, Continue Reading
Thierry Zaboitzeff – Le Passage
Thierry Zaboitzeff was for many years a member of the seminal avant-progressive/RIO group Art Zoyd, and since 1997, he has been involved in numerous solo projects and collaborations. This is one of the bleakest records I’ve heard in recent memory, and the liner notes on the Bandcamp site sum up Continue Reading
Audion 60
The legendary Audion Magazine has a new (well, new to Bandcamp) edition out, and included with it is about 1 1/2 gigabytes of tracks from albums reviewed within. They were my first doorway to progressive rock, and I am forever indebted to them.
Nilotika Cultural Ensemble – Ejokawulida
I didn’t expect Uganda to have a techno scene, and perhaps they do, but the Nilotika Cultural Ensemble, 7 expert drummers, make such precise beats that you could easily play this in a 1980’s-era Detroit or Chicago techno club and get the boots onto the dance floor. An invigorating listen. Continue Reading
Jazz Q – Živí se Diví: Live in Bratislava 1975
A new label out of Poland called GAD Records has been documenting seminal jazz and jazz-rock albums out of Poland, but now they’re venturing into the former Czechoslovakia with this release. Jazz Q were a progressive rock band who managed to incorporate blues rock and even a bit of free Continue Reading
BlindººCoyote – Mycelium Sonora Outtakes
From my friend, the rather legendary Drem Bruinsma‘s project, BlindººCoyote manages to expertly weld together wild electronic music with a relaxed back beat, making the music adventurous but, ultimately, pleasant to listen to. From BlindººCoyote’s Bandcamp site: “This 33-piece album consists of a deep reflection on a period, albeit a Continue Reading
Alphaxone – Dark Complex II
Alphaxone are a Tehran-based project who put out profoundly deep and lush dark ambient music.
Saadet Türköz – Urumqi
Saadet Türköz is an international treasure. Born to Kazakh and Turkish parents in Istanbul in 1961, she has developed a style that comfortably blends Central Asian traditional music with free jazz. A very pleasant listen.