Welcome to our latest ‘Between The Cracks’. You can read a bit about each album and play it on the website via the Bandcamp player. As always, please support the artists by purchasing their music. We hope you enjoy reading and listening!
Albums
Saint Abdullah & Jason Nazary – Evicted In The Morning
Having released the excellent Inshallahland early last year, Saint Abdullah returns, teaming up with drummer Jason Nazary. The result of this pairing is ‘Evicted In The Morning’, which encompasses the brother’s signature hypnotic aesthetic where scintillating electronics meet Nazary’s expressive drum patterns in perfect harmony. The three musicians have been combining sounds and genres for years, resulting in a remarkable fusion of polyrhythms and electronic sounds.
Twoosty Mayonez – Carmin
Comparisons to Błoto’s more laid-back offerings are easily made regarding the atmospheric songs that Twoosty Mayonez creates, though such comparisons should not obscure the duo’s remarkable compositions. The debut offering from Bartosz Wolert (drums) and Dominik Kaniewski (bass guitar and synths) stuns, transitioning from feathery light post-jazz sounds too fast and energetic grooves, all meticulously played by the duo. Magic is all this is and nothing else. Tuck into the fantastic “Carmin” below.
International Sangman – Death Roads And Spirit Ways 2
The mysterious artist International Sangman is back. Their new LP is even better than the last as they craft their particular, lovingly stripped-down, dreamy broken textures and hypnotic dub vibes into a fresh, exciting, unique sound for Ish Records. Enjoy it below!
Seaming To – Dust Gatherers
Dust Gatherers is a unique achievement, an album of unclassifiable, dazzling, magic-realist avant-pop. Drawing on and alluding to classical, jazz, blues, pop, and electronica, Dust Gatherers always wears its eclecticism weightlessly, airily, and dreamily…
Japan Blues – Japan Blues Meets The Dengie Hundred
With a deep knowledge of Japanese music traditions, Howard Williams is back as Japan Blues, enlisting The Dengie Hundred to help with the album’s production. Akari Mochizuki and Tsugaru shamisen master Hibiki Ichikawa provide the album’s core sound, and Williams has infused field recordings from his travels across Japan into the mix. In his first album in six years, he expertly combines Japanese folk singing with dub, drones and field recordings, which is worth the wait.
Polobi & the Gwo Ka Masters – Abri Cyclonique
The artwork grabbed my attention, and the music did the rest. Drawing inspiration from the heart of Gaudeloupe’s tropical forest, the mystical Polobi and his musical cohorts collaborate with Doctor L (Les Amazones d’Afrique, Mbongwana Star), where deeply rooted Creole chants and rhythms take a radical new direction. Listening to this album, I’m thrown into a trance-like state, but I’m also inspired to indulge in the many styles present, whether dub, jazz, psychedelic, psych-funk or Caribbean grooves. Abri Cyclonique will likely make its way to many Best Albums of 2023 lists.
Popp – Blizz
We’re still discovering and shining a light on a few releases that dropped last year. Munich-based drummer and producer Simon Popp further blurs the line between electronic and organic sounds on his third album, Blizz. In carefully crafted, slow-growing tracks, tuned metal percussions cut through searing synth pads, sucking the listener into a sonic vortex. If this is the first you’re hearing from Popp, check out the rest of his work.
The Necks – Travel
The Necks’ 19th studio album, Travel, documents their recent practice of beginning each recording session with a 20-minute trio improvisation. The trio presents some of its most ecstatic and captivating music in four slowly expanding soundscapes. We are not quite two months into 2023, but this album may be nestled snugly on our end-of-year list.
