Belgium’s taâlem Records is one of Belgium’s most venerable labels and one of the world’s best for experimental music in general. This is their ninth edition of tracks collected for the year, and this one has 71 pieces to go through.
Drone
Lawrence English – The Peregrine
Lawrence English is one of Australia’s finest sound sculptors. This particular piece reminds me of the last moments of Andrey Tarkovsky’s seminal film, Solaris, where the ocean swallows up Kris Kelvin and his father to end the film.
Yara Asmar – Everyone I Love Is Sleeping and I Love Them So So Much
I can’t pin down why, but Lebanese experimental music composer Yara Asmar’s latest album is almost heartbreaking in its beauty. I’ve never heard electroacoustic music that left such a deep emotional scratch. Sublime.
The Necks – Disquiet
The Necks, perhaps my favorite improvisational music trio, have a new release. From the Northern Spy Records Bandcamp site: “Meticulously recorded and sculpted, the four extended pieces on Disquiet see Tony Buck, Chris Abrahams, and Lloyd Swanton pushing at the outer edges of their collective intuition, building and unraveling hypnotic Continue Reading
Various Records – Buh Records: Return To L.A.Y.L.A.H. – Tribute to Zero Kama
From Buh Records’ Bandcamp site: “Curated as a tribute rather than a simple reproduction, Return to LAYLAH brings together a diverse selection of contemporary experimental musicians, each with a distinct connection to the ritual music tradition. These artists offer reinterpretations that resonate with the original spirit of Zero Kama, while Continue Reading
underlyn – gwr. 240110
This release comes from the Xian Liam label in China and is described as a mixtape. It features a pleasantly drone-laden and hazy sound.
Yoichi Kamimura & Olli Aarni – Kōri no ryokō / Jäämatkailu
Yoichi Kamimura, a Japanese composer, teams up with Finnish musician Olli Aarni for a release on mappa, a Slovak record label. From mappa’s Bandcamp site: “Water can retain or wash away memory; flowing or freezing. It gives life and shapes earth, while frozen imprints of an ancient past are waiting Continue Reading
BJNilsen – True than Nature
BJ Nilsen is a Swedish composer based in Amsterdam, and has long been one of the true treasures of labels such as Touch and Ideologic Organ. His latest album, from 2025, combines sumptuous field recordings with soft drones. This is wonderfully organic-sounding.
Juan Antonio Nieto & Jan Kruml -Break The Silence
Juan Antonio Nieto was a percussionist who, at one time, was a member of the legendary Spanish new wave/experimental band, Aviador Dro. He went on to collaborate with exceptional experimental musicians both in Spain and internationally. Nieto passed away in 2022, but one of his final works was a collaboration Continue Reading
Toni Dimitrov + Dionisaf – Pastoral
From our dear friends at Mahorka Records: “Toni Dimitrov is a Macedonian multimedia artist, cultural producer, radio host, communicologist, organizer, curator, label owner (Élan Vital Recordings), mountain/rock climber, and nature lover. He connects all those with a love for music, sound art, and field recordings. Currently, he is the director Continue Reading