Mikael Tariverdiev – Visions in Black & White

Mikael Tariverdiev was a Russian cinema and TV composer of Armenian extraction but raised Tbilisi, Georgia, a true man of the Soviet world.  Though he was quoted as not particularly liking jazz, he was as good an improviser that Russia ever produced. From the release’s Bandcamp page: “Visions in Black Continue Reading

Ernesto Dj​é​djé – Roi Du Ziglibithy (Limited Dance Edition Nr. 15)

Analog Africa released a disc of music from Ivory Coast legend Ernesto Dj​é​djé recently, and it was rather eye-opening to see that even in a place as far away as Côte d’Ivoire, they had the same problems of so-called foreign influence getting in the way of local music, with Ernesto Continue Reading

Various Artists – Let’s Stamp: 1950s Folk Dance Recordings from Bulgarian and Yugoslavian 78rpm Discs

The ever-reliable Canary Records out of Baltimore, Maryland, have released a compilation of Balkan 78 rpm shellacs with a lot of the artists being unidentified, but whose music is most assuredly from my home away from home.

Lucho Bermudez y su Orquesta – The Coastal Invasion

The ever-stunning Radio Martiko out of Belgium release an amazing collection of cumbia from Colombia’s greatest export, Lucho Bermudez.  From the label’s Bandcamp release site: Bermudez was a key figure who modernised the tropical music of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. At the beginning of the 20th century, this music was largely Continue Reading

Various Artists – Dracula – Music Inspired By The Bram Stoker’s Novel

Our dear friends at Eighth Tower Records never cease to surprise us with their choices for topics.  This compilation, featuring the legendary Rapoon along with a slew of new artists, is dedicated to the novel that launched the career of Bram Stoker and make vampires alluring among the public well Continue Reading

Wings Of An Angel – Hieronymus Bosch’s Belated Revenge Comes On Like Thunder And Shakes Us Asunder

Despite the horribly long song and album titles, Wings Of An Angel is an ambient music machine, pumping out quality ambient music almost daily.  This is the album that caught my attention recently, and the tracks are long, droning tracks that float on clouds.  Despite the frequency of output, WOAA Continue Reading

Siavash Amini & Eugene Thacker – Songs for Sad Poets

Siavash Amini, an Iranian sound artist and composer, collaborates on this album with author and poet Eugene Thacker on Songs for Sad Poets, though I hear no vocals on this disc.  What is on offer, however, are incredibly bleak soundscapes that range from engaging dark ambient music which settles well Continue Reading

György Kurtág – Signs, Games and Messages (mode230)

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going out to the picturesque town of Szentendre, about 35 minutes outside of Budapest, with my girlfriend and some fine old friends.  I expected a nice trip, and instead, we not only have that but we were treated to seeing several galleries, bookstores, and Continue Reading