I regret missing this release from our friends at Nordic Notes! Barbora Xu is a Czech singer and multi-instrumentalist who explores local poetry, string instruments, and vocal techniques in her music. According to her official biography, “Her work is deeply inspired by nature, capturing the calmness, fragility, and softness found Continue Reading
Finland
Hadal Sherpa – Void Weaver
Many thanks to the Finnish instrumental prog-rock/Neo-Krautrock band Hadal Sherpa for sending me notice about their latest release, Void Weaver. The music definitely reminds me of the heavier, weirder, more Buddhist/cannabis-ladern sound that would have fit in well during the late 1960s and early 1970s as music for Krautheads on Continue Reading
Áššu – Luoteniegut
Sadly, our dear friends at Nordic Notes are not offering downloads through Bandcamp, which is understandable as there is something nice about holding a CD or a piece of vinyl in your hands, but you can hear this magnificent recording of Sami music over at Apple Music. From the press Continue Reading
Bronze, Silver & Brass – Conrad’s Lesson
Timmion Records is on a roll! This funky gem comes to us from a band very new to me, Helsinki, Finland’s very own Bronze, Silver & Brass. Worthy!
Helen Svoboda – The Odd River
Helen Svoboda is a Finnish-Australian composer, double bassist and singer whose work reminds me in some way of Laurie Anderson’s work, but perhaps denser and more lush. This makes for a pretty phenomenal listen.
Johanna Juhola – A Brighter Future
What a joyous release this is! Accordion-based music out of Finland is just what the doctor ordered for our chilly Beijing day. Johanna Juhola is one of many incredible artists on the Nordic Notes imprint who have blown my mind this year. Imagine a collection ranging from traditional music melded Continue Reading
post doom romance – fragments
Post Doom Romance is a project between Mykel Boyd and Seah, and their collaboration produces a collection of sweeping drones dedicated to their supporters, immortalizing them on disc. A noble project, but more importantly, the sound is engaging and hooks the listener into a pleasant ambient lull.
Jonny Benavidez with Cold Diamond & Mink – My Echo, Shadow and Me
Finland’s Timmion Records has released Chicano-soul rocker Jonny Benavidez who provides a radio-friendly (for 1965) soul cut that sounds so authentic that it takes you back at least two generations, which seems to be a specialty for the record label.
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
Bobby Oroza – Get On The Otherside
The Finns are noted for not only being great musicians, but are masters at cultural adaptation. They make tango even more melancholy than their Argentine friends do, and now, I guess I have to admit that they’re more than holding their own in soul and R&B if this latest album Continue Reading