Welcome to our latest Between The Cracks round-up. 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! Enjoy the music, and more importantly, it’s Bandcamp Friday so your purchase will support the artists and labels directly.
Albums
HTRK – Rhinestones
HTRK’s newest is an elegant suite of skeletal arrangements crafted from guitar, voice, metronomes, and electronic effects with nine songs of windswept emotion and heartbreak noir. Rhinestones introduces a series of pieces that trace the muted embers of loss and lust through haunted city streets, inspired by a recent obsession with “eerie and gothic country music.” This one’s going to be on repeat for a while.
박혜진 Park Hye Jin – Before I Die
Following a string of singles and EP releases over the last few years, South Korean producer Park Hye Jin’s highly anticipated album Before I Die is here! As she continues to develop her musical vocabulary, she draws on a range of influences with elements of electronic, hip-hop, and downtempo sensibilities to produce the most complete vision of her sound yet. A great listen from start to finish.
Midori Hirano – Soniscope
Wrap your ears around the pleasingly soothing, electroacoustic piano soundscapes, merged with ambient textures to form an entirely dreamy atmosphere -top-quality fusion from Midori Hirano on her new LP for Ghent-based tape label Dauw.
Felisha Ledesma – Fringe
Take a lovely stroll through the varied and intimate soundscapes of sound designer Felisha Ledesma. She composed the works using AMQR, a synthesiser software built with Ess Mattisson. The two pieces utilise synths, strings, voicemail, and found sound samples. The sound is neither electronic nor acoustic, but rather something between the two, a sound that focuses on togetherness and intimacy.
Tomoko Omura – Branches Vol. 2
The second volume of violinist-composer-arranger Tomoko Omura’s Branches series continues with six compositions/arrangements based on Japanese folklore and Japanese popular songs. Branches Vol.2 includes three pieces by Omura, as well as three traditional folk songs. Her working quintet comprised of Jeff Miles, Glenn Zaleski, Pablo Menares, and Jay Sawyer join Omura in exploring sound and culture. The music seems to flit between melodic folk and uptempo jazz-rock, and the mix of light and heavy tracks keeps things interesting.
Celo Sol – Mother
Celo Sol burst onto the scene with her incredible debut album Rose in the Dark back in March last year, followed by her work with SAULT, and now she returns with her stunning second LP, Mother. Produced by Inflo, with Sol’s golden vocals flowing throughout that genuinely take your breath away. We’ll keep this one short; just click play and then repeat…
Chris Dave -Thine People Vol 2
The multi-talented Chris Dave makes music that is always welcomed, and his latest creations beautifully incorporate elements from all kinds of genres like soul, jazz, funk, spoken word and are a soothing end of the week pick-me-up. Dave’s laidback production serves as the perfect backdrop for an array of insightful lyrics.
Reissues
Tülay German & François Rabbath – Tülay German François Rabbath
Reissue of Tülay German & François Rabbath’s 1980 self-titled debut Turkish folk album, released on Berlin-based label Zehra Records. The label will reissue another of German’s essential 80’s recordings, ‘Hommage to Nazım Hikmet’, in early 2022.
EP’s
The Diabolical Liberties & Edrix Puzzle – Double Drop Vol. 2
On The Corner share the second instalment of their newly forged ‘Double Drop’ series. The latest cosmically twined EP features Edrix Puzzle and The Diabolical Liberties. On one side General Rubbish and Alex Patchwork medicate the soul with their post-punk, dub, and twisted future funk stylings. While on the flipside, Edrix Puzzle marries noir instrumental jazz with cinematic energy unpinned with driving breaks and psyche fusion thrown in for good measure.
Constantine Weir AKA Yahya – Heaven is at the Feet of Mothers
Our ears couldn’t wait to hear this EP from Constantine Weir AKA Yahya, and we were not disappointed as it’s an absolute delight! Ear pleasing, mind-opening roots reggae, spoken word from Weir and friends with a great reworking and dub from Justin Langlands (Pressure Drop). There’s not much else to say other than play, listen, and let the vibes take over.
