This has to be one of the first albums where the Shakuhachi plays a large role in improvised music that I’ve come across. From the duo’s Bandcamp site: “This album is the first encounter between improvisers John Garner and Hervé Perez. We came across each other’s work through the jazz Continue Reading
United Kingdom
VLMV – Flora & Fauna
VLMV comes from Great Britain, where he (they?) was, like everyone during these days, heavily affected by the cursed lockdown. This album, ethereal to its core, is the soundtrack to his coming back out to the world.
Scanner & Nurse with Wound – Contrary Motion
It looks so strange to see these two names paired up together for the first time, yet it feels weird that they had never collaborated before (to my knowledge). Neither project should need an introduction as both Robin Rimbaud (Scanner) and Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) have nearly four decades Continue Reading
Delta Saxophone Quartet – Dedicated To You But You Weren’t Listening: The Music Of Soft Machine
Dedicated To You But You Weren’t Listening: The Music Of Soft Machine is an exceptional album full of renditions of classic Soft Machine material and includes the legendary Hugh Hopper. From the Bandcamp site: “Since initially being formed in 1984, the Delta Saxophone Quartet has never sought or found a Continue Reading
Zan Hoffman & Hubert Heathertoes – Synchronicity
Our dear friend Hubert Heathertoes collaborates with longtime partner Zan Hoffman on a release which pairs oddly satisfying spoken word with music that could rightfully be described as Berlin-School electronics. My only complaint about the tracks is its brevity. One minute and thirty-six seconds was just barely enough to whet Continue Reading
A Second Life for The Avant-Jazz of Leo Records
Today is a travel day, so there will be no posts, but it seems Bandcamp has a great article on Leo Records. Leo Feigin was the man responsible for introducing me to people like my old friend Roman Stolyar, Sergei Belichenko, and the work of Sergei Kuryokhin, who I ended Continue Reading
Soft Machine – Høvikodden 1971
Canterbury jazz-rock legends Soft Machine need little introduction, but this release might. This release comes from a Norwegian gig the band played, and though the master tapes aren’t absolutely pristine, the sound, for a live recording, is quite good. “Soft Machine’s two concerts at the Henie-Onstad Art Center near Oslo, Continue Reading
Exit North – Anyway, Still
Exit North is a revelation to me. The instrumentation reminds of the sort of progressive rock one would expect to hear from Tim Bowness, Steve Jansen (who happens to provide backing vocals on this album), or in parts, David Sylvian, but singer Thomas Feiner is blessed with a voice so Continue Reading
Matt Berry – Heard Noises
I thank my dear friend Hubert for pointing me to this disc. Matt Berry is a new name for me, but this album, which combines psychedelic folk, Americana and elements of soundtrack music, is a pleasantly heavy listen. This compares well with similar music which came out during the 1970s. Continue Reading
Breichiau Hir – Y Dwylo Uwchben
Though I’m a little disappointed that the band only offer one track to hear on their Bandcamp site, it’s not everyday you get to hear Welsh post-rock sung in actual Welsh. Breichiau Hir mix a basic rock sound with emo, post-rock and post-metal touches to it. Solid.