Album Review: Anna Erhard –‘Botanical Garden’: jibing, jiving joy to be found in this slacker pop gem.
There’s something actually refreshing about a singer/songwriter who describes their ‘creative process’ as “…something makes me frustrated, and then I turn it into a little passive-aggressive song…just obsessing about stuff that’s not that important, actually!” So said Berlin based, indie pop realist Anna Erhard when asked about how her latest album ‘Botanical Garden’ which is …
Track: Restless ambient artist Earthen Sea announces new album ‘Recollection’ with a luscious and loose double preview.
You may recall the name Jacob Long as a member of the seminal Dischord band Black Eyes, a group who defined post-hardcore’s in-built non-conformity. Such a starting point inevitably embedded unorthodoxy in his music making and his next excursion with the deep dub rhythmics of Mi Ami only underlined his disinclination to stand in line. …
Album Review: Raffy Bushman – ‘Here Today Gone Tomorrow’: More thrilling post-bop nu jazz from the London pianist and composer.
For a musician who puts out an annual album release, pianist, cellist and composer Raffy Bushman manages to keep surprisingly under the muso-radar but you sense that’s just how he likes it. His music is part, yes a significant part, of what he recognises as his whole life. Watching any of the documentary shorts, which …
Album Review: Ross McHenry – ‘Waves’: A deep and dynamic set from the renowned Aus-jazz bassist/composer.
It’s sobering to think that it was way back in 2013 that Ross McHenry was landed with the ‘future of Australian Jazz’ strapline. If that was then then what is now? Well there’s probably a raft of other musicians who’ve picked up the ‘future of’ tag in the time that’s passed but as a bassist, …
Track/Video : Guitarist/Producer Gitkin previews new album ‘Golden Age’ with the rocking global grooves of ‘The One’.
Since the days of Dick, Duane and Hank the twang has never settled on a single sound, it’s been the vehicle for numerous destinations. Link Wray took the rockabilly to hard rock route, Man or Astroman surfed sci-fi, Huevos Rancheros headed for punk rock and Khruangbin continue along the soul-funk highway. US Guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and …
Track/Video : MPB new wave mover Dora Morelenbaum previews incoming album with the lush and lyrical ‘Essa Confusão’.
The jet-stream of MPB may stretch right back to the sixties but it keeps powering onwards with singer/songwriter Dora Morelenbaum right there at the epicentre of this latest surge. She’s an artist steeped in a weighty musical heritage with parents, composer Jacques and vocalist Paula, having CVs which include work with Tom Jobin, Gal Costa …
Album Review: WE ARE WINTER’S BLUE AND RADIANT CHILDREN –’No More Apocalypse Father’: A probing, poetic and profound alt-rock record of today.
While much contemporary music of today seems required to focus on the ‘me’ some artists continue to probe wider into the things that ‘we’ do collectively, the injustices, the inhumanities, the inequalities. Since co-founding the seminal Godspeed You! Black Emperor and the agit post rock assembly Thee Silver Mount Zion, Efrim Manuel Menuck has been …
Album Review: Citron Citron – ‘Maréeternelle’ : more distinct and deceptive electronic pop from the Genevan duo.
What flavour of pop are Genevan duo Citron Citron, avant- arty- absurdist- alt, lo fi -leftfield- chamber- surreal, synth – electro – experimental – no-wave or bits of all these thrown in at random and rising to the top at different times? No matter, more important things about Citron Citron can be said: the musical …
Album Review: Michael Scott Dawson – ‘The Tinnitus Chorus’ : A poignant and moving ambient statement crafted through collaboration.
Saskatchewan sound artist and producer Michael Scott Dawson is someone who’s both artistically prolific and restless. A stalwart for the Torontonian We Are Busy Bodies label, he’s released three solo albums plus two other records as a lead member of post-rock minimalists Peace Flag Ensemble, and all since 2020. But Dawson’s momentum has been cruelly …
Album Reviews : Daniel García Trio – ‘’Wonderland’ : an exceptional, tight-knit jazz piano trio that keeps its mind open.
The piano trio is such an established form of jazz expressionism that it can be tricky to broaden the scope and keep the messages fresh. In recent times the classic Mehldau/Grenadier/Ballard trio broke new ground with their inspirational interpretations, Phronesis brought dynamic experimentalism to the party and Go Go Penguin thrilled through their strident dance …