No reviews today as we prepare for Gregorian Calendar Christmas and finals for the school. In my stead, I offer to you Kazdoura, a singer from Canada who is of Levantine Arab descent. This is a touch of Arabic pop blended with trip-hop, jazz and psychedelic Andalou Rock.
Trip-Hop
Various Artists – Passed Records: The Passed Year – 2023
Passed Records come from Uppsala, Sweden. This is a fine introduction to their label, which produces trip-hop, electronica, drone and post-punk. These guys are going to be fun to follow.
United Future Organization Feat. Monday Michiru – My Foolish Dream
Sad news to report. Yabe Tadashi of United Future Organization, one of the best nu-jazz bands of the last three decades, has passed away. This is one of his finest moments, collaborating with singer Monday Michiru. Memory eternal, Yabe-san. HT: Rocco Pandiani
Rettward von Doernberg – A Military Base
I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing the work of Berlin-based composer Rettward von Doernberg in the past, and it seems he’s still producing impressive beats where one can hear trip-hop and EBM influences. Mellow, lush, and a rather relaxing and enjoyable listen.
Various Artists – Glücklich VI – Compiled by Rainer Trüby
From his days as a member of the seminal A Forest Mighty Black to collaborations with the who’s who of downtempo music (think Kruder & Dorfmeister, Jazzanova and so many others, Rainer Trüby has been of Trip-Hop’s finest tastemakers. We can celebrate today that after 20 years, there is a Continue Reading
Various Artists – A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto: To the Moon and Back
Your browser does not support iframes. Our heroes age. After the passing of Yukihiro Takahashi last month, it got me thinking about how long we have Sakamoto-san and Hosono-san with us. Both are due a tribute album of some sort. Thankfully, Milan Records has done a sterling job bringing together Continue Reading
Wintermute – Summersnitch
The esteemed French label Lotophagus Records released an album by Wintermute on December 2, and it’s a rather deep, dark and dubby affair, mixing trip-hop, the aforementioned dub and experimental rock music into something which reminds me of Cabaret Voltaire’s more dub-infested moments, or even acts like Scorn.
Shuma (Šuma) – Sonca
Sonca is a reissue of an album released in 2016 by Belarusian band Shuma. From label Ezhevika’s Bandcamp site: “Re-issue of Shuma’s most popular album Sonca, originally released back in 2016. It was aknowledged by Belarusian music critics as The best album of the year, The best electronic album and Continue Reading
Boztown – In Memory of Freedom
This was a pleasant surprise. I’m new to Boztown, a trip-hop band out of France, and they have a warm, dark, rather crusty sound to them.
Gralitsa – Little Mosquitoes Are Sleeping This Night
Some time ago I had reviewed the work of an ethno-folk-jazz band from Kostroma, Russia called Gralitsa, and I found them favorable. I have to say that I find this album at least as favorable, but it sounds like a totally different band. This sound is far more affected by Continue Reading