Album Review : Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers – Somanti : Vodou energy meets electro dub intensity to break new ground.
The partnership between Haitian mizik rasin (or roots music) collective Chouk Bwa and Brussels electronic beat masters The Ångströmers hasn’t exactly had a smooth ride. First connecting in 2016 around Rokskilde Festival time, the idea of fusing potent Vodou sounds with the dance informed, dub wise beat reductions felt like a good one. A couple …
Album Review : Yara Asmar-‘synth waltzes and accordion laments’ : an electro-acoustic journey of deep emotion and rippling beauty.
Here’s a little booster for the difficult days ahead. Lebanese multi-instrumentalist and puppeteer Yara Asmar once again ushers in those intimate, close-knit vibes we so need with her new release ‘synth waltzes and accordion laments’ on the irrepressible Hive Mind Records. It was last September when we were gifted the tiny gem of her ‘Home …
Album Review: ‘TENGGER’ by TENGGER : The new age family trio’s melodic electronica glows ever brighter.
Seoul based, Pan Asian new-age travelling band TENGGER gloriously float around the edges of the sonic world, beyond the usual concepts, processes and mechanics. Musical couple Itta and Marqido first performed as the duo ‘10’ but with the birth of their son RAAI in 2012 they became TENGGER. Meaning ‘unlimited expanse of sky’ in Mongolian, …
Album Review: Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Five: In The Garden : a powerful and poetic jazz saga.
Jazz composer, saxophonist and visual-artist Matana Roberts powerful and profound Coin Coin album series has reached its fifth chapter with the release of harrowingly resonant ‘In the Garden’ via Montreal’s Constellation Records. The album continues Roberts’ resolute commitment to a twelve-part song cycle which began in 2011 with ‘Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de couleur …
Album Review : And Is Phi – ‘Double Pink’ : Vibrant and vital nu-jazz vocalist opens up a new chapter.
Vocalist, song writer, dancer and visual artist, Andrea Isabelle Phillips (aka And Is Phi) talks about her first album ‘Double Pink’ out now on Albert’s Favourites as something that’s been cultivated over time. Well it may have been simmering in her imagination for a while but that doesn’t mean we have a recording that’s stewed, …
Track/Video : Percussionist/producer Ben Sloan, previews the sweeping ‘Philistine’ from incoming ‘muted colors live’ EP.
Percussionist and producer Ben Sloan looks set to continue his confident step out into the spotlight with an incoming second release, the EP ‘muted colors live’, due 27th October via NY’s New Amsterdam Records. Sloan’s decade plus as collaborator and contributor, drumming with the likes of Moses Sumney, Beth Orton, WHY? and The National, may …
Album Review : Arthur Hnatek Trio – ‘Apnea’ EP : bringing new energy to the Jazz/IDM intersection.
To introduce Arthur Hnatek as a jazz drummer only skits across the surface of the soundscape he works within. Sure he has drummed in units led by Tigran Hamasayan and Eric Truffaz but primarily Hnatek’s own musical explorations lead him closer to destinations where electronica and acoustic generated rhythms cross paths. He’s been releasing music …
Album Review : Vumbi Dekula – ‘Congo Guitar’ : The much loved Soukous musician’s honestly joyful first solo album.
The feast of goodness that is the Hive Mind Records catalogue is deftly sprinkled with a fair share of the finest guitar-centric albums from Ricardo Tavares ambient leaning ‘Congo’ to Gustavo Yashimura’s rugged and rakish ‘Living Legend’ cassette. Now comes a new addition to the mix, ‘Congo Guitar’ the debut solo album from revered fret …
Track/Video : Lebanese multi-instrumentalist Yara Asmar announces emotional new album ‘synth waltzes and accordion laments’ with the rippling beauty of ‘come back later’.
Autumn is the perfect time to encounter experimental musician Yara Asmar’s drifting music. Last September we were gifted the tiny gem of her ‘Home Recordings 2018 – 2021’ cassette, a soundtrack of detailed exquisite portraits from the Beirut streets and houses around her. The tunes had a warm glow, an illusive presence made real by …
Track/Video : Sonic therapists Wax Machine announce new album ‘The Sky Unfurls; The Dance Goes On’ with psych pop fizzing ‘Glimmers’.
With the long nights and dull days sneaking closer we’re all in need of some transportation and Brighton’s Wax Machine are once more here to deliver. This is a band guaranteed to lift you beyond the day to day, maybe somewhere cosmic, maybe somewhere exotic or maybe deeper down within yourself. Revolving around the restless …