No reviews today, but I did want to share Tom Waits performing Tom Traubert’s Blues on Italian television recently.
United States
Mexican Slum Rats – Slum Rat
I get to do my avuncular duty with a bit of pride today, as my niece, Abi, insisted I listen to her current favorite band. The Mexican Slum Rats are Los Angelinos who are deeply loyal to the L.A. punk scene, but what struck me most by this early album Continue Reading
TRUTH – Truth: Eponymous Anonymous
TRUTH is a new project that starts in the realm of microsound and develops into an organic piece of musique-concrète. The pulses and bleeps remind me of the very early experiments of Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle, as does the rather dark tone carried within the music. It is both are Continue Reading
Matthew Pinto – Flatlands
There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot out there on composer Matthew Pinto, but this album is quite a solid release and will appeal to fans of minimal techno and headphone music. Music to trip to.
Various Artists – Los Angeles Rising
Though California has an utterly repellent governor whose incompetence seems boundless, the citizens, rich or poor, are resilient. In honor of the California spirit which has been bruised thanks to the horrible wildfires that destroyed parts of my former home, some fine artists have contributed tracks for this compilation of Continue Reading
Jeff Gburek & the Łazy Ozone Clan – Baltic Ozones
If you close your eyes and let the music of Jeff Gburek & the Łazy Ozone Clan sink deeply into your mind, you might feel like you are wading in the sea and letting the rhythm of the waves cover you. Track #3 was the one that won me over Continue Reading
Brooklyn Rider – The Wanderer: Live From Paliesius, Lithuania
Brooklyn Rider are one of America’s best contemporary classical music quartets and they simply don’t receive the exposure they so richly deserve. In this album, the first six tracks are dedicated to modern composers like Osvaldo Golijov from Argentina and Gonzalo Grau, who hails from Venezuela. Both come from a 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
Lea Bertucci – Hold Music
Rather beautiful for drone, this one. Lea Bertucci is a composer based in New York and on this recording offered by Dinzu Artefacts (fellow Los Angelinos whom I hope are safe), she offers music that is meant to be infinite. From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Hold Music is a pair Continue Reading
Illumni Men’s Chorale and Glenn Miller, Basso Profundo – Music Of Russia
Chris is Born! We celebrate Orthodox Christmas by sharing the interpretations of Glenn Miller, a basso profundo for this holy day From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Glenn Miller, is known around the country for his unique Bass voice. He is Director of Music & Organist at Kirk in the Hills Continue Reading