From the Bandcamp site of the consistently solid record label Vampisoul: “”Rangarang” is a compilation of forgotten jewels from pre-revolutionary Iran. These songs tell the stories of an artisan community that flourished during the 1960s and 1970s before vanishing into oblivion. The pop stars who stayed in Iran were summonsed Continue Reading
Spain
BlindººCoyote – Improv in Minor/Major 7th Clusters
Our dear friend Drem Bruinsma, currently performing under the name BlindººCoyote, has released a single track of improvisations. This piece features abstract music infused with glitch-hop influences. It evokes the nostalgic feel of the Made To Measure albums from the 1980s, bringing back some fond memories.
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
Cuélebre – Oinos
Cuélebre is a band that creates a sound blending world music, folk, medieval music, and a hint of progressive rock with darkwave influences. Their name is derived from a mythical dragon in Asturian culture, which has Celtic roots. This music will appeal to fans of Dead Can Dance, Qntal, Sopor Continue Reading
Luciano Margorani – Dario D’Alessandro – Chris Cutler – Triangolazioni
Our friends at áMARXE have released a wonderful collaboration between Luciano Margorani, Dario D’Alessandro and the legendary Chris Cutler. From the label’s Bandcamp site: “This project started in April 2012 when I asked Chris to record six rhythmic parts on his own, suggesting he play six different drum parts as Continue Reading
Various Artists – Golpea Tu Cerebro: Spanish Underground Cassette Culture, 1980 – 1988
From the release’s Bandcamp site: ““Golpea Tu Cerebro” (“Shake Your Brain”) is the first ever vinyl compilation dedicated to the unknown yet fascinating Spanish underground cassette scene from the ’80s. In the early 80s, with few resources but unlimited imagination, youngsters all across Spain started recording at home their experimental, Continue Reading
Malabriega – Frippada Andaluza
I enjoy drifting back to progressive rock every so often because, even though its detractors crow on about the death of the genre, new bands like Malabriega show up and give a fresh perspective. The instrumentation reminds me of the bigger bands like Yes, but the vocals have a more Continue Reading
The Brooklyn Sounds – Libre-Free
Though it has tones of underground and perhaps even a type of mafia culture (certainly the imagery of Hector Lavoe records could spread that misconception), salsa is fun music by its very nature. It’s danceable, rather passionate at times, and full of horns. The Brooklyn Sounds are a long-forgotten group Continue Reading
Carme López – Quintela
One of my people has done us proud! From Carme López’s Bandcamp site: “Quintela’, the debut album by Carme López, a performer, teacher and researcher of traditional oral music from Galicia, is a new experimental work for Galician bagpipe. Influenced by the approach of composers like Éliane Radigue or Pauline Continue Reading
Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri – Live at Le Guess Who?
Abul Mogard and Rafael Anton Irisarri, from Italy and Spain respectively, are two of the most outstanding ambient music composers going today. They collaborate here on a live work that sounds so atmospheric as to be nearly holy, especially since it was performed at a church in Utrecht.