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Zeresh - The End

Over the past few days, I’ve been organizing music I found on a hard drive to enjoy on the hi-fi stereo this weekend. Some of the files are 20 years old, which is hard to believe, and among them are many old 1970s acid-folk and proto-metal albums. Our beloved friends at Zeresh capture that spirit with their latest album, The End. It features elements of unusual psychedelic bands like Comus, along…

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Brötzmann / Miller / Moholo - The Nearer the Bone, the Sweeter the Meat

As far as free jazz goes, this is about as free as it gets.  Saxophonist Peter Brötzmann is a legend in the genre, double-bassist Henry Miller is a new name to me, but the album’s star is Louis Moholo, who recently passed away.  His drumming sounds like a loud, heavy rain on a rooftop, supporting Brötzmann’s wailing and Miller’s violent plucking.  For a free jazz album, this is a pleasant racket.

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Jeff Gburek - The Bridge Of Many Shapes

Jeff Gburek is primarily recognized for his experimental music, but he uniquely blends psychedelic elements, tribal beats, and bone flute sounds into a gritty, lo-fi experience. This recording is one of my favorites by him because each track feels like a journey along a strange, forested road shrouded in haze, sometimes accompanied by the voice of a wise sage.

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Various Artists - Kalamine Records: Inside / Beside X

Kalamine Records hasn’t been featured on the blog for quite some time now, so it’s time to remedy this!  Their latest offering is a compilation of the dark ambient they are so famous for curating and hard electronic music that you could almost dance to.  Standout artists on the compilation include Zumala, Dong Zhou, and Franco Divine.  Solid!

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Fairuz - Chat Iskandaria LP - Deluxe Gatefold Edition (black vinyl)

Our friends at Wewantsounds Records will release one of the great gems of Arabic pop music this September. The legendary Fairuz is making another appearance on the label, and I hope Wewantsounds continues releasing the best of her catalog on vinyl!

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The Obi Strip: How a Japanese Paper Band Became a Collector’s Grail

Nick Zanca, writing for Discogs.com, discusses the ubiquitous obi strip, which is so common in Japan—and even in China—that it has become a significant part of record collecting culture. Ironically, these strips were originally intended to be discarded. Today, a mint condition obi strip can actually enhance the value of a Japanese LP or CD.

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Payo Flores - Payo Flores Con El Sexteto Moderno

Payo Flores was a singer from Puerto Rico who specialized in guaguancó and son Cubano. His voice was bright, energetic, and one of the most neglected voices in Latin American music history.

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Hommy Sanz y Sus Jovenes de Puerto Rico - Jala Jala Mozambique

Homero (Hommy) Sanz was a Puerto Rican bandleader, singer, and percussionist. He and his band worked in various genres, including salsa, guaguancó, boogaloo, descarga, guajira, and son Cubano. To my ears, he was equal to the magnificent Cuban bands active during the 1960s and 1970s. I also want to thank Tuff City Records for their outstanding job in remastering these tracks!

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ZÖJ - Give Water To Birds

This week seems to be dedicated to Iranian and Kamancheh music. We are featuring a band from Australia called ZÖJ, a multicultural project. Their sound captures the essence of Australia’s world music scene, with subtle influences reminiscent of a more Persian-inspired Dead Can Dance.

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Saba Alizadeh - I May Never See You Again

Saba Alizadeh is a sound artist, instrumentalist, and composer based in Tehran. In light of the ongoing bombings there, I pray for his safety and for all those suffering from violence around the world. Saba is a virtuoso on the kamancheh, a traditional Persian spike fiddle. The only person I have had the privilege of seeing perform this instrument live is Kayhan Kalhor, the Kurdish-Iranian…

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elliot. - Informant

We are excited to introduce you to a talented musician named elliot. He is the son of the legendary Bill Nelson, known for his work with Bebop Deluxe and Red Noise. elliot skillfully wields his guitar, showcasing his father’s musical influence. However, he also draws inspiration from various sources, incorporating elements of country, folk, and a strong experimental vibe into his music. Although…

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Various Artists - Disque La Rayé: 60's French West Indies Boo-Boo-Galoo

Boogaloo is a genre that combines the best elements of black soul music with Latin American dance rhythms, and it found its strongest following in New York City. However, the genre also thrived in various pockets around the world during the 1960s and 1970s. One such outpost was the island of Guadeloupe, a French department in the Caribbean. While many of these artists on this compilation released…

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COS - Pasiones

COS were an avant-progressive rock band from Belgium who were radically different from their contemporaries.  From their Bandcamp site: “Pasiones is the fifth album by COS. It is a chamber opera which relates a story happening during the Spanish Civil War. The libretto tells the story of three soldiers coming back from fight and staying a while in a Barcelona. They rest in an apartment where they…

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Jun-Yang Li,Xiao Liu,DJ誠意重,Buddha Tiger Dog - 樹 Sù Vol​.​3

We have a unique recording here from Taiwan. DJ誠意重 is a turntablist in the mold of Christian Marclay, Philip Jeck, or Otomo Yoshihide, and he collaborates on this album with their compatriots, the band 神仙老虎狗 Buddha Tiger Dog, Jun-Yang Li on self-made instruments and objects, and Xiao Liu on saxophone.  This is free improvisation with a twist.

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Christophe Bailleau O'Farrell - Locust bean gum

When I started listening to Christophe Bailleau O’Farrell’s latest EP, titled “Locust Bean Gum,” I was initially taken aback by the abrupt stops and transitions between songs. However, after reflecting on it, I began to feel that this music serves as a soundtrack for fleeting dreams. The band that comes to mind as a reference for this sound is Tuxedomoon. Indeed, that is high praise.

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Jane in Ether - Oneiric

Jane In Ether is a trio composed of Miako Klein on recorders, Magda Mayas on piano, and Biliana Voutchkova on violin, who also utilizes her voice as an instrument. Their improvisational skills are remarkable, reminiscent at times of a more contemporary AMM or MEV. The sounds they create have an organic quality that swells and recedes a bit roughly and pulsatingly. While not for the faint of…

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Borghesia - Clones

Borghesia is a prominent Slovenian electronic rock band that was established in Ljubljana (then part of Yugoslavia) in 1982. Formed by members of the alternative theater group Theatre FV-112/15 and Teater Performans, Borghesia carved out a distinctive aesthetic that boldly embraced imagery that was deemed forbidden, taboo, and repressed. At their peak, they stood shoulder to shoulder with…