Hey folks, welcome to your new Between The Cracks featuring ten must-hear releases. 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! It’s Bandcamp Friday so put your ££££ directly into the pockets of artists and labels.
Albums
Held By Trees – Solace
It’s not just the cover art that evokes memories of late 1980s/early 1990s Talk Talk records. Musically it’s a post-rock flirting, ambient wandering, contemplative treat. The minimalist piano work of Ryuichi Sakamoto and early Pink Floyd also inspire the project. It’s a record that gives songs plenty of room to move, breathe, and evolve without losing the organic flow. It’s time to provide yourself with a brand new audio head massage with this gorgeous album.
Richard Jr Riviera & Isak Sundstrom – Excursions
Experiencing travelling in time and space, UFOs and otherworldly encounters with extraterrestrials are the inspirations behind this laid-back jazz album by Isak Sundstrom and the late Richard Jr Riviera. Subtle basslines, hypnotic synths, intoxicating wood instrumentation, and gentle drum rhythms allow you to let your mind drift away. Press play and boldly go where no man has gone before!
Fazer – Plex
‘Plex’ is the third full-length foray into the musical world of Munich-based five-piece jazz band Fazer. It wouldn’t be fair to say that they are just a jazz band since their compositions incorporate experimental pop, afrobeat, krautrock, and dub techno. Since the group’s formation in 2018, their spontaneous quest for experimental sounds wrapped in jazz sensibilities has not slowed down, and this is their best offering to date.
Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin – Ghosted
With a love for percussion, Ambarchi, Berthling and Werliin set off on a journey designed to take the listener through deep rhythmic grooves, jazz vibes, and experimental electronics that is almost impossible not to get stuck in your head. Listening to ‘Ghosted’ is such a wonderful experience. It will remain a favourite for a long time to come.
Tom Sochas – The Sorcerer
Layers of sound combine hard-hitting post-bop and western classical from the Tom Sochas Trio, creating a perfect dreamscape that is both a risky and soothingly atmospheric. Your ears will be blessed if you listen to this album. Lovely stuff!
Brown Fang – Sherwood Pines
The Constellations Workshop in Colwick, Nottingham, provides work to unemployed musicians by creating studio furniture. Brown Fang’s impressive and ear-catching debut album took shape there, after-hours. Dubby basslines, deep ambient chords, bubbly electronics, and gorgeously laidback guitars are the order of the day.
Claire Rousay – everything perfect is already here
Experimental musician Claire Rousay has released her new album; everything perfect is already here via Shelter Press. Throughout the album, Rousay builds a fluid landscape made up of acoustic contributions from Alex Cunningham (violin), Mari Maurice (electronics and violin), Marilu Donovan (harp), and Theodore Cale Schafer (piano).
Alabaster DePlume – GOLD
Alabaster DePlume delivers another incredible album. The outspoken poet, singer and orator’s new double-LP, GOLD, combines his talents as a composer, saxophonist, and singer/lyricist in an expansive way. The music is filled with whispered vocals, delicate saxophone and captivating spoken word – be prepared for an experimental and out of the ordinary listening experience. Devendra Banhart fans will enjoy this heavier, more complex album than To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1.
Music For Ukraine
V/A – For Ukraine (Volume 2)
For Ukraine (Volume 2) is the second compilation from music magazine Headphone Commute helping to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee (rescue.org) to help displaced children and families while the crisis in Ukraine is raging. It features music from the great Ryuichi Sakamoto and Ukrainian violinist Illia Bondarenko, Julianna Barwick and Rafael Anton Irisarri, Benoît Pioulard and many more.
Compilations
V/A – PRAISE POEMS 8 – A journey into deep, soulful jazz & funk from the 1970s
Volume number eight in the Praise Poems series, and the quality remains as high as ever. From sublime vocal jazz to swinging big band jazz to sweet psych-pop and mellow folk-rock, it’s all here, and it’s all fantastic!
