My friend, the Russian composer Liudmila Knyazeva, has composed an album of Eastern Orthodox choral music. It’s a wonderful venture with the vaunted hymns the Church is known for. This is an especially nice thing to hear as we as Orthodox prepare for the Marian Fast, as well as for my Saint’s Name Day (Ilija, or Elijah).
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A quick warning ahead of time – do NOT put this in your hi-fi stereo system. Love 666’s latest album is about as lo-fi as it gets, and considering the audience chatter, this has to be a live recording. The music is harsh, brutally in-your-face noise-rock that bands like Les Rallizes Desnudes or some of Keiji Haino’s side project fans are going to be very much into.
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Sad news to report. Yabe Tadashi of United Future Organization, one of the best nu-jazz bands of the last three decades, has passed away. This is one of his finest moments, collaborating with singer Monday Michiru. Memory eternal, Yabe-san. HT: Rocco Pandiani
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Not the happiest record I have ever heard, but Philadelphia’s Moor Mother uses a sumptuous soundscape to air her grievances of past horrors. This is a deep listen, and I’m sure I’ll come back to this a few more times before all is said and done.
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Our friends at Wewantsounds have dug deep for this one, and of course, they have found gold. This album, available from the label as a vinyl-only release, sits in a strange apex of electronic music, soul, pop, jazz and the avant-garde, which is the first genre I would have associated with Steve Beresford. This is an album you can don your smoking jacket for. Swanky, well-produced and an elegant listen. You can purchase the album here.
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Jeff Gburek returns to these pages presenting an album featuring himself improvising on his mandolin. The album is sparse and very well recorded. The clarity really helps one to focus on the sounds emanating from his weapon of choice. Think of a mix between experimental music, jazz, a horror soundtrack, and your friend musing.
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I am busy today fixing a turntable I just picked up, so no posts today except to share this mellow piece of prog rock from Spain by the band Azahar.
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“Last American Poet” Shane Beck collaborates with the Dutch electronic music project Phrozenlight as Tears of the Sun, an album of spoken work and Berlin School electronics.
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NFFFactory are a psychedelic jazz fusion band out of Montreal, Quebec. Think of bands Weather Report and the work of Jean-Luc Ponty, but with a more updated sound.
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You would be forgiven, I’d imagine, if you thought this release came to us from Nigeria, but as it turns out, Oluko Imo comes from Trinidad. I had no idea they had Afrobeat there. Imo is ably supported by both the legendary Fela Kuti and his son, Femi. Quite an impressive release.