Various Artists – GRAMMOFON​-​MISSIONEN – A Selection of Swedish Jesus Music 1967​-​1982

As a practicing Eastern Orthodox Christian, this Jesus music might be a subject I know a little something about, though my normal preference is more Byzantine, Arabic or Slavonic and dates back to at least the 5th Century rather than the 20th.  Still, give mad respect to Subliminal Sounds for Continue Reading

Brìghde Chaimbeul – Carry Them With Us

A big and hearty thanks goes out to my dear friend and brother in music, Hubert, for turning me on to this album.  Brìghde Chaimbeul plays smallpipes, a wonderful instrument criminally neglected in comparison to its more famous cousin, the Highland pipes.  These smallpipes have a more ethereal sound to Continue Reading

Petar Vujačić – Made in Ovto​č​i​ć​: Songs from Montenegro

Amazing.  The ever excellent Antonovka Records are now producing music outside of the former USSR.  We have a description of the recordings below, courtesy of the label’s Bandcamp site: “Gusle (not to be confused with Russian gusli) is a Balkan (mainly Montenegrin and Serbian) bowed instrument. There is only one Continue Reading

Kara Jackson – Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?

Kara Jackson certainly knows how to leave a strong impression!  If you can imagine Nick Drake’s guitar being willed to Nina Simone with a touch of the spirit of David Bowie (see the track brain for reference), then you have this incredibly powerful album.  I had no idea what to Continue Reading

George Macreyannes (Nesereos) – Blue Series | Mar 21

George Macreyannes (Γιώργος Μακρυγιάννης) was a violinist active during the early part of the 20th century.  Some of these archival recordings are nearing 100 years old, so it is quite nice to get a glimpse of music that has such a remarkable history.  Respect to 1tracktape for a job well Continue Reading

Egari, Paata Chakaberia – In Qvevri Veritas. Original Soundtrack

Egari and Paata Chakaberia provide a stunningly good instrumental music from the Republic of Georgia serving originally as a soundtrack to a film about Georgian winemaking.  From the release’s Bandcamp site: “This music was composed as the soundtrack for Leonid Parfyonov’s documentary In Qvevri Veritas. The film is dedicated to Continue Reading

Willos’ – From Now On

Willos’ are an Italian/Irish/Canadian folk band currently based in lovely Siena, Italy.  The name of the band is a play on Will o’ the Wisp, the band’s original name.  According to their bio, a French journalist that named the band “les willos”, it the name stuck. The music is bright, fresh, Continue Reading

Marc Almond – Heart On Snow

20 years ago, Marc Almond collaborated with musicians in St. Petersburg and recorded a magnificent album of Russian chanson.  It’s as good as you would expect.  The gems of the album include the title track and Gosudaryunia, penned by Russian rock legend Boris Grebenshchikov. A fine reissue, and I thank Continue Reading