The world is a hellhole at the moment. Everyone is suffering, hearts are burning. Perhaps a bit of soul from El Michels can give us a break. Both guest singers, Clairo and Shintaro Sakamoto, have voices dripping with sweet soul.
United States
Richard Leo Johnson – The Sleeping Porch
Thanks to the ever-wonderful Cuneiform Records for offering this album by the Georgia (USA)-based guitarist Richard Leo Johnson. You can hear flashes of John McLaughlin, Leo Kottke, Larry Coryell and Ralph Towner’s influence, but Richard has carved out his own niche. A great guitar disc.
Jeff Gburek – Round About Kaponiera
Jeff Gburek has a new release of instrumental guitar work that is simply sublime listening. From his Bandcamp site: “These tracks, were recorded in October, at home, quickly, via mono instrument microphone and with with a Boss reverb pedal in the mixer’s effects loop. The pieces on the album reiterate Continue Reading
Dan Krimm – Second Wind
Many years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing fretless bassist and fellow Californian Dan Krimm’s album on my old blog, A Miscellany of Tasteful Music. Recently, Dan informed me that he has a new album coming out, and it’s one of the most elegant and relaxing listens I’ve had in a long Continue Reading
Tuxedomoon – Desire (45th Anniversary Edition)
Currently, there is no track list available for this important release, but Tuxedomoon is reissuing their masterpiece, Desire, as a double LP, CD, and digital download. The release date is set for November 21, 2025, just before Thanksgiving. If you’re looking for an avant-garde Christmas gift for yourself, this might be the perfect Continue Reading
B🜁RBELITH – Terpsichore
Fresh post-vaporwave from B🜁RBELITH, one of the many aliases of IXΘΥΣ and Lux Aura Records. Heavy, crunchy techno beats, a bit more muffled. Not quite vaporwave, this is a beast that looks back to the 1990s techno scene.
Marja Ahti & Manja Ristić – Transference
From the venerable Erstwhile Records’ Bandcamp site: “”Transference is a dialogue of sonic gestures and traces of visits to places and the spirit that occupies them. It unfolds as a map of subtle and drastic differences, a space where the contours of sound and silence merge, and where listening becomes Continue Reading
Zbigniew Preisner – Effroyables Jardins
Quoting Wikipedia, “Zbigniew Preisner is a Polish film score composer, best known for his work with film director Krzysztof Kieślowski. He is the recipient of the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis as well as the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He is a Continue Reading
Jeff Gburek (Senin) – Grindu
We haven’t heard from Jeff Gburek in a while, but he offers quiet and meditative field recordings on his latest release. From his Bandcamp site: “Recordings made near the town of Grindu in Tulcea County, Romania (maps.app.goo.gl/roAuvvtzmLvmM2a48) on July 22 of 2025 and the 44 minute album might be called Continue Reading
IXΘΥΣ – Bordello Borneo
Although this is labeled as witch-house, my friend IXΘΥΣ has released an album that I find incredibly enjoyable. It reminds me of late 1980s Electronic Body Music. While I’m not much of a dancer anymore, this music had me moving for a while. Well done!