Much respect to Transversales Disques who have lovingly reissued (on vinyl and digital, no less!) the first album of Jean-Michel Jarre before he became a commercial success in France and then worldwide. From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Transversales Disques proudly presents the first official LP reissue of Deserted Palace, a Continue Reading
Music
Flo Rosset – Intra
An intriguing release by French musician Flo Rosset, who combines electronica, hip-hop and percussive beat into the sort of techno I wish more artists in the genre aspired to. An intelligent release, musically.
ARROWOUNDS – The Loneliness of the Hollow Earth Explorer Vol. 1
Thanks to our old friends at Lost Tribe Sound, who bring us the latest ARROWOUNDS album. The description at their Bandcamp site is absolutely grand: “A love letter to the Ohio River Valley, the Earthworks, and the esoteric mysteries of the cave systems in the Southern OH/KY regions. With weavings Continue Reading
Anthony Braxton – Quartet (Bristol) 1985
One of America’s foremost saxophonists, Anthony Braxton, collaborates with Marilyn Crispell on piano, Mark Dresser on double bass, and Gerry Hemingway on percussion. This music is as free as it gets, but has a slight film-noir soundtrack feel in parts. Impressive.
Departure Street – Phantom Sightings
Thanks to Allan Kimmel for sending me this incredibly mellow record. Departure Street offers a sound that blends elements of shoegaze with a lo-fi take on post-rock and even shows hints of the legendary German Krautrock band Popol Vuh. It makes for a perfect morning album.
Fränder – Fränder II
Nordic Notes offer a sophomore album by the Swedish/Estonian troupe Fränder. What separates this album from traditional folk or “World Music” albums is the ease with which the band can mix not only Nordic and Baltic sounds but even music like rock & roll, progressive rock, and modern stylings. Any Continue Reading
SoRIAH with Metamorphic Mindphase – Black Ceremony ∞Yahualihui∞
Around 25 years ago, I had the privilege of tour-managing the English band Sol Invictus through a tour of the West Coast. It was a fun experience, and I’ve managed to keep some form of contact with a couple of the lads over the years. There was one instance where Continue Reading
Helena Espvall / Ernesto Diaz-Infante / Marjorie Sturm – A Shadowed Fulguration
Thanks ever so much to Ernesto Diaz-Infante for alerting me to his latest release with percussionist and Nepalese flute player Marjorie Sturm (his spouse, if I am not mistaken) and cellist Helena Espvall. Musically, there is a gritty, lo-fi feel to the recordings, with the guitar sounding more like a Continue Reading
Vaudou Game – Otodi
Vadou Game are from the African Republic of Togo, where they seem to have an absolutely wild funk scene. Singer Peter Solo has a voice that is as soulful as it is rich, and the guitars have a nice psychedelic twinge to them. A winning combo! We had the pleasure Continue Reading
David Thomas and two pale boys – I’m Alive!
We have sad news to report. Yesterday, David Thomas, singer of the legendary art-punk band Pere Ubu, passed away. We honor his memory by sharing a rather brilliant live album with his side project, David Thomas and Two Pale Boys. From Pere Ubu’s Bandcamp site: “David Thomas, Andy Diagram, and Continue Reading