With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for albums to drop online and go overlooked. No lengthy write-ups as who reads those anyway? We keep it short and to the point because you’re here to listen to the music! Today is Bandcamp Friday so if you like what you hear, click the links and put your money directly into the pocket of the artists.
Josh Johnson – Freedom Exercise
LA via Chicago multi-instrumentalist/composer Josh Johnson has shared his debut album as a bandleader. When we first heard Freedom Excercise a little while back, we described it as refreshingly different and completely absorbing. We’re sticking with that description although Johnson himself describe it as “musically omnivorous” which is even better! From the off-kilter guitar, breezy drums and warm horn lines of ‘Nerf Day’ to electronic soundscapes of ‘865’ the LP offers a broad mix of styles that keeps things varied and interesting. This is another album (like this one) that could easily sneak onto a few end-of-year lists. Click play and be amazed.
Yr Lovely Dead Moon – Yr Lovely Dead Moon
Well, this is weird but weirdly good. Came across Yr Lovely Dead Moon via a track premiere on Stamp The Wax a little while ago and it piqued my interest. The solo project of producer, poet and performer, Rachel Margetts, cleverly blends her spoken-word stories that recall the “gender hypnotics” of Jenny Hval with elements of post-punk, musique concrete and prickling electro. Don’t sleep on this, because this is music so original you have surely never heard anything like it before.
The Diabolical Liberties – High Protection & The Sportswear Mystics
For lovers of the dance diverse. The Diabolical Liberties aka Rob Gallagher and Alex Patchwork, experiment with post-punk, electronica, jazz, spoken word, refusing to settle on any particular one. It’s an interesting array of sounds and aesthetics, which makes this LP an interesting listening experience. High Protection & The Sportswear Mystics is one of the best experimental jazz and electronic albums of 2020. It also has one of the best titles and comes with splendid Victoria Topping artwork, meaning you need to buy a copy!
MALK – O Muse!
At the time of writing, we’ve only heard one track from MALK’s new album, but that’s all we need as he’s a creative genius and everything he puts out is golden. Right, before the album drops, I’m off to listen to his much-lauded and deservedly so 2018 Death From a Love album!
Twinkle3 – Minor Planets
You can’t rush perfection. After fifteen years and two great releases, Twinkle3 the trio comprised of Richard Scott, David Ross, and Clive Bell complete their cerebral themed electroacoustic trilogy with the ‘Minor Planets’ LP. Across its nine tracks, you’ll hear Bell playing the shakuhachi flute, with skilful free improvisers Scott and Ross on percussion and electronics from self-designed analogue systems. It could be a while before we get another full-length from the trio, so take your time, and absorb this…
Susannah Stark – Time Together (Hues and Intensities)
Debut album from Scottish artist Susannah Stark. Having been active as a visual artist for some time in recent years, Stark has increasingly worked with sound so an album was perhaps inevitable. Her debut LP called Time Together (Hues and Intensities), finds Stark blending vocal improvisation, with synths, trumpets, distorted percussion, guitar feedback, samples and field recordings. A record for varying moods, but one that you need to sit down and really absorb.
EP’s
Galdre Visions – Galdre Visions
Take a seat, get comfortable burn your favourite incense stick and click the play button. Galdre Visions is a Leaving Records supergroup comprised of Olive Ardizoni (Green-House); South Asian-American sitarist, vocalist, and composer/producer Ami Dang; Diva Dompé (Yialmelic Frequencies, Diva & The Pearly Gates); and harpist/composer Nailah Hunter. They were drawn together during the pandemic to remotely create collaborative music reflecting this unique and uncertain moment in history. Hunter describes the group’s dynamic: “Each member of the group provides a unique sonic lens with which to view the realms beyond this world. Each member’s music recalls the sound of organic life in a different way.” With so much talent on this record, it couldn’t possibly fail to be anything but impressive. If you’re looking for a vibe to soothe the soul than Galdre Visions have just what you need.
Penelope Trappes – Eel Drip
On her new EP Penelope Trappes’ Eel Drip explores the idea of honouring the dead and “the passing of lives, within you and beyond you.” Throughout the EP, Trappes captures a sense of fear and a sense of releif, as fragile arpeggiated electronics and hazy vocals swell to a celestial hallow. This will leave you with feelings of both pain and joy. Beautiful stuff.
Singles
Lilypicker – Interlude
Astro Nautico’s close out their Atlantic X series with a masterly piece of neoclassical jazz from Lilypicker. We featured a fair few of the tracks in the series which marks ten years for the label, but this is the pièce de résistance. Can’t wait to give this beauty an airing on the radio show!
Charles Webster – The Spell (Burial Mix ft. Ingrid Chavez)
Who’d have thought Charles Webster and Burial would be a match made in heaven? The South London producer completely flips the original, lacing the track with his trademark touches to create a stellar outing. Seeing as we don’t post many remixes of tracks, you know that this one’s going to be a bit special! Another one for the radio show.
Don’t sleep on these…
Various Artists – La Locura de Machuca 1975-1980
Omar El Shariyi (Ammar El Sherei) – Oriental Music
