Yuri Vikharev / Juris Āķis / Einārs Raibais – The Lost Latvian TV Studio Sessions 1967

This archival recording is a swinger released from Latvian specialty label Jersika Records.  It consists of pianist, jazz journalist and and record collector Yuri Viharev, paired with bassist Juris Āķis and drummer Einārs Raibais.  This was the cream of Latvian jazz, and it’s a massive event to see this label Continue Reading

Christian Fiesel – Avant Que Nous Soyons Tous Partis Pour Toujours

Hail! to our friends at Kalamine Records in France for producing yet another fine dark ambient/drone/post-Industrial masterpiece.  There’s a lot of drama and pathos in this recording by Christian Fiesel, sounding very much like it would be a fine updated soundtrack to any good expressionist film of the early 1920s Continue Reading

Shane Beck & Michael Brückner – Extended Sigh

There’s little I can add to my dear friend, the Last American Poet, Shane Beck, and heir to the Berlin-School throne, Michael Brückner, so I will let the gentlemen speak for themselves.  You can read further at this release’s Bandcamp site: In what turned out to be a spontaneous burst Continue Reading

Nicola Conte – Umoja

My friends, mark your calendars for June 30, 2023.  This is the date that Italian DJ/bandleader/impresario and all-around man of good taste Nicola Conte releases his latest album under the banner of  Far Out Recordings, who have never let me down on a single release all these years. As Nicola’s Continue Reading

Lounès Matoub – Lettre Ouverte Aux​.​.​. (25th Anniversary)

Lounès Matoub was the controversial voice of a generation of Algerian Kabyle people.  He was brutally assassinated on June 25, 1998, but his work lives on.  From Elmir Records’ Bandcamp site: “In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of his assassination, Elmir offers the very first vinyl edition of the reference Continue Reading

Santeri Dobrynin, Egor Masaltsev, Olga Plekhanova – Karjalan Jouhikko: Karelian Instrumental Music

This release from our friends at Antonovka Records features three players of the jouhikko, a local stringed instrument: Santeri (Alexander) Dobrynin and Olga Plekhanova from Karelia and Russian Egor Masaltsev, who moved to the region.  There are 22 tracks of charming interplay between the three and individually.  All the tunes Continue Reading

Kuzman – Fine Wound

Kuzman Markoski has produced a rather fine EP’s worth of soundtrack-style music.  The composer, thereminist and sound designer offers a groove-filled, damn-near danceable disc.  From his Bandcamp site: “Kuzman is a versatile musician and audio-visual artist based in Skopje, Macedonia. With a background in classical training, he has honed his Continue Reading