Hello folks, welcome to your latest Between The Cracks selection. As always 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! Check out our weekly mini-guide below and if you like what you hear, click the links and support the artists.
Albums
Koma Saxo with Sofia Jernberg – Komo West
Koma Saxo, Petter Eldh’s explosive ensemble, continues to thrill with their new album ‘Koma West’. With vocalist Sofia Jernberg and a strong cast of featured artists, including cellist Lucy Railton, violinist Maria Reich, pianist Kit Downes and accordionist Kiki Eldh (Petter’s mom! ), the album expands upon their previous style. The music is experimental and free, but it is still easy on the ear and welcoming. A captivating combination of freewheeling jazz with Swedish folk song tradition results in one of the strongest albums we’ve heard this year. Highly recommended.
Carmen Villain – Only Love From Now On
It’s no secret that we’ve been buzzing about Mexican-Norwegian producer Carmen Villain for a while now, and rightfully so – her music is incredible. Villain’s latest offering, ‘Only Love From Now On’, falls even more into an ambient, jazz soaked, meditative dub aesthetic than her previous productions. Packed with many intricate details that will take your breath away, the album features guest contributions from Arve Henriksen (trumpet, electronics) and Johanna Scheie Orellana (flutes). Arguably her best offering to date, enjoy the record in all its glory below!
Barney McAll – Precious Energy
This genre-spanning new project from Barney McAll delivers above and beyond expectations. Featuring music royalty like Hiatus Kaiyote and Gary Bartz, as well as Rita Satch, Jace XL and Laneous, Precious Energy pays tribute to some of music’s greatest icons, while McAll further cements his legacy. It is an uplifting, forward-looking jazz masterpiece that displays respect for the past and a keen sense of the future. Highly recommended.
Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer – Recordings from the Åland Islands
‘Recordings from the Åland Islands’ marks Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer’s first recorded collaboration. Throughout the album, Chiu’s modular synth and Honer’s viola are complemented by voice memos and field recordings from the Baltic archipelago of Åland. Listeners are transported and immersed into the other world of the Åland islands in this excellent debut. If you are a fan of Jon Hassell, Franco Battiato, or Brian Eno, this might become one of your new favourites.
Hinako Omori – a journey…
Hinako Omori lands Houndstooth for her first album proper following a limited edition cassette and 12″ release in 2019. Omori’s ‘a journey…’ is a well-medicated deep listening experience composed of spatial 3D recordings, binaural sounds, therapeutic frequencies, wispy tones and ambient experiments. Best listened to with headphones.
Maylee Todd – Maloo
With her new album, Maloo for Stones Throw, Maylee Todd paints a parallel universe. In the early sketches for Maloo, Maylee used a Yamaha Tenori-on sequencer; the songs were then fine-tuned with co-producer Kyvita. On Maloo, Todd explores identity, growth, and mental health themes, all with a satirical, playful tone.
Buy
Music For Ukraine
Various Artist – Music For Freedom: A Fundraiser For Ukraine
In support of Ukraine, Music From Memory has released a charity compilation entitled Music For Freedom: A Fundraiser For Ukraine. On the 17-track compilation, you will hear music from Suso Sáiz, The Zenmenn, Alex Ho, Jonny Nash & Suzanne Kraft, and more. All proceeds from Music For Freedom: A Fundraiser For Ukraine will be donated to Red Cross Ukraine.
We Jazz Records – Music For Ukraine
A fine compilation from one of my favourite labels, and all proceeds support a very worthy cause – you can’t go wrong. Featuring music previously unreleased by We Jazz Records digitally, the comp includes tracks from Koma Saxo, Jason Nazary, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, Lucia Cadotsch, Kit Downes, Ruth Goller and more. Just buy it…
Various Artist – W snach widzę spokojny Wschód / In my dreams I see a peaceful East
The music is excellent, and the cause is worthy. Nine tracks that range from jazz, ambient, electronic, experimental and classical courtesy of artists such as Immortal Onion, Oskar Jakob Tomala, Olga Anna Markowska, Maja Miró, Stefan Wesołowski and more. Props to Fundacja Palma.
EP’s
Flora Carbo – Arthur’s Walks
During Melbourne’s COVID-19 isolation, Flora Carbo spent her days recording music and walking on Arthur St, ears full of the music of Arthur Russell. A variety of grooves, melodies, tensions, and releases are explored in Arthur’s Walks. This project is truly remarkable. It moves the listener deeply and inspires them to feel many emotions, taking them on a sonic musical journey.
