Album Reviews
Album Review: The Circling Sun –‘Orbits’: the spiritual jazz collective return refreshed and vital as ever.
The ever-orbiting Aotearoa/New Zealand based cosmic jazz big band The Circling Sun are clearly on a roll. After building a live reputation on the NZ scene for well over a decade, their first album ‘Spirits’ appeared in 2023 and made some commotion beyond their home shores. Here was a massive new sound, a fermentation of …
Album Review: Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird unveil stunning new album ‘Rosewater Crocodile’ – a powerful beacon of luminescence.
The sonic behemoth that is Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird (CTBNF) arises again. My love for and admiration for this magnificent and criminally underrated band knows no bounds, and there is a delicious and satisfying sense of joy when each new release further confirms their position as one of the most exciting bands around at the moment. …
Album Review: Charbel Haber, Nicolás Jaar and Sary Moussa- ‘Crashing waves…’: A breath-taking electro-acoustic journey which reaches beyond the moment.
Disseminating experimental/alternative music from the myriad of vibrant scenes across the SWANA region to the wider world has been Ruptured Music’s generous undertaking for over fifteen years. Its creative source keeps giving and its curational insight keeps providing. Enter amongst the label’s significant June releases, the poignantly titled ‘Crashing waves dance to the rhythm set …
EP Review: Sand Brothers sweep elegantly into the world with the glorious ‘Shadows In The Square’ EP
It’s been a while since we heard from Sand Brothers and their album ‘Too Much Sky’ (see my review here) but in surprise announcement they are back with a new EP entitled ‘Shadows in The Square’ and it’s business as usual for these purveyors of the finest indie pop. These track didn’t make the original …
Album Review: Merpire immerses us in the beautiful tender embrace of ‘MILK POOL’.
It’s been four years since we reviewed Merpire‘s last official release, the album ‘Simulation Ride’, and the Naarm/Melbourne-based award-winning multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter (the nom-de-plume of Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt) is back with her new album ‘MILK POOL’: a marvellous sonic journey that puts to the fore her immersive vocals and wry intelligent delivery. Merpire shares of the album: I …
EP Review: Tasmania’s own Golden Sunbird unveil 4 tracks of pure space gossamer in latest offering – Heart of the Universe
Tasmania’s cosmic overlords, Golden Sunbird, have released their latest single, Heart of the Universe amidst a four track EP brimming with the timeless wonders of space and time. The EP serves as a wrap around for the single, and second track on the EP, Heart of the Universe, with the remaining tracks being predominantly instrumental, …
Album Review: Universal Affirmation Ensemble – ‘Unconditional Propositions’: Daring experimental rock inspired by Gamelan’s rich intensity.
The second release of the venerable Katuktu Collective’s spring offering sees the Californian label open our ears to some new sonic adventures with drummer and composer Justin Devries. For his solo debut ‘Unconditional Propositions’ the Vancouver-based musician has gathered together the Universal Affirmation Ensemble, a group of players from across Canada, like-minded in their boundary …
Album Review: Me Lost Me –‘This Material Moment’: Jayne Dent’s avant-folk takes another great leap forward.
As the Broadside Hacks/ Shovel Dance Collective avant-folk momentum rolls on, it does well to remember that Newcastle’s Jayne Dent aka Me Lost Me has been stretching those traditional boundaries since the release of her inspired debut ‘Arcana’ way back in 2018. An album set in a trad frame but with a feisty experimental intent, …
Album review: Aotearoa’s Ringlets unveil ‘The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies)’ – a spectacular post punk blast from the land of the long white cloud, with NZ tour announced.
Aotearoa/New Zealand’s fabulous Ringlets have released their second album, endearingly entitled ‘The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time For Walkies)’ and it is a blast of thoroughly commendable sonic joy. Ringlets so epitomise the classic Dunedin sound it is kind of fitting they are on the legendary Flying Nun and Leather Jackets Records label: intelligent wry pop at its very …
Album Review: Franz Von –‘Take What You Want’: Conscious hip hop on the fusion front foot.
If you’re a gig goer who’s ever crossed paths with the fusion blast of TC & The Groove Family or going back further been levelled by Kweku Sackey, aka K.O.G, in his Zong Brigade days, then the chances are you’ve encountered Franz Von, out front in full flow. That sharp delivery, those spikey, incisive rhymes, …