Beyond that, there really isn’t very much I’m looking forward to hearing, beyond Voice of Baceprot, Nessa Barrett, and Rusty Santos.
Voice of Baceprot – What’s The Holy (Nobel) Today?
My BandCamp Wishlist is sitting with merely two titles coming out this week. I’ll highlight Nashville Punk Band Snooper, and their new album Super Snõõper, released on Friday.
Snooper – Pod
I’ll be back on Friday with my weekly recommendations, however many there may be. Be good to yourself and kind to others!
Good day to one and all, my friendly friends! It’s time for your weekly New Music Injection, so roll up your sleeve. I have an even dozen recommendations to impart, so sit tight. It’ll just be a little poke.
The week begins with it not one, not two, but three singles to tickle your fancy. First up is the fantastic vocalist Moses Sumney. His first new music since his terrific 2020 album græ comes via the HBO series The Idol. Get It B4 certainly owes some inspiration credit from Prince, if not for the numerical title alone, then certainly for the sensuous falsetto and emotional production.
My second single for the week comes from a reliable, if not prolific Afghani Artist, based in Germany. Farhot released a single in March for the Persian New Year. His new track, Bahar 1402 is a downtempo Hip-Hop beat with minimal samples, enough to tickle the ears in a lovely way.
A song that my son and I heard performed last November has been given official release. The band that makes up 40% of Radiohead, The Smile, has released a new standalone single. I recognized Bending Hecticfrom its bending guitar lines at the start of the song. The track then gives way to an orgasmic transition that leads to a thundering Rock song. Eight minutes of gorgeousity. If I had a ‘Song of the Week’, this would be it.
An Experimental Hip-Hop Artist and Producer from Columbus, Georgia called quinn has once again gotten my attention. His three-track EP, slaps…well, it slaps. quinn’s fragmented production is a perfect frame for his stream-of-thought delivery.
An Artist that has quickly become a regular visitor to my ears recently is Philip Sanderson. Between his experiments in sound manipulation released under his own name, and as Ice Yacht (and others), the man is busy. His latest is a four-track full-length album inspired by the sound of people on trains. Dilly Dreamers is an immersive experience, at times Ambient, others, leaning to something more rhythmic and guttural.
Ye Olde BandCamp Wishlist came through again with some imaginative and exciting Music. NEONis the fourth release from UK Chamber Group Manchester Collective. The title piece was composed by Hannah Peel, and it stretches across three movements. After that are compositions by Lyra Pramuk and Julius Eastman, before closing with Steve Reich’s thrilling Double Sextet.
A new Hip-Hop album came out this week with a lot of emotional baggage. A rapper from Chicago called Tree has been making records for over ten years, but, evidently it wasn’t selling well enough to stop selling drugs. Well, Tree got busted, and is up for a three-year hitch in the hoosegow. FREE TREEwas recorded in a Judge-approved 39-day stay of sentencing. There’s a lot of soul searching here, and worth the listen.
A five-track EP from scenic Stowe, Vermont, is giving me tingles. HERMANN is the ‘nom-de-son’ of Lynn Berğkömit, of whom I can find zero information. However, Rzewski Alexanderplatzis a divine mix of Jazz and Classical idioms performed in an oddly quiet manner.
I’ve learned my lesson to not sleep on New Reggae. When you are talking about a specific style of Music that is identified by its rhythm, it’s the responsibility of the Artist to find unique ways to present the sound. Zion Train is a Dub dj and Producer based in Cologne, Germany. They’ve been recording and performing for 35 years, but they sound fresh as daisies on Dissident Sound. Throughout eleven tracks, it will keep you dancing, only pausing to react to the next tasty sonic manipulation.
Brooklyn NY’s Geese is a five-piece Rock Band that has just released their second album. 3D Countryis filled with hard-driving tracks and endearing vocals. Mysterious Love is a standout.
pardoner is a quartet from San Francisco that has been active since 2015. Their latest effort is Peace Loving People, a 14-track album filled with high-energy bops full of disillusioned lyrics that are highly relatable.
Holy Locust is a five-piece acoustic band from New Orleans, Louisiana. This week they’ve released their second full-length. Beneath The Turning Wheel spins a dark and emotional tale, with tight interplay between the musicians. Gorgeous harmonies are abundant on this beautiful record, helping to make it my Feature Pick for the week.
Happy End to the Week, cats and kittens! I hope you’ve been taking care of yourself, giving yourself lots of breaks, and spreading whatever you have left to others.
A quieter week is what I have to offer you, in terms of New Music Offerings. Two singles, and four full-lengths, so I shouldn’t keep you for long.
To start this week’s findings, I found a new single from an artist that I loved listening to in 2021. Brooklyn, NY’s Miss Grit put out a fantastic ep near the start of last year, and I’m pleased that she’s returned. Like You is thoughtful and Pop-adjacent, with ear-catching guitar riffs and vocoder vocals.
Continuing Björk Watch 2022, Ms. Gudmunsdottir dropped her third prerelease single on Thursday. Ancestress is sure to be one of the longer tracks from the upcoming album, clocking in at nearly eight minutes. It begins tentatively, with spare strings, dissolving into bells and percussion before the bass erupts at the halfway point. Soon all is quiet again, and the Second Act begins, leading to a dramatic conclusion. Björk is joined by her son, Sindri Eldon, on vocals for this tribute to Björk’s late mother.
Makaya McCraven is at the forefront of a handful of musicians who are actively driving the Jazz Bus through uncharted territory. The Paris-born, Chicago-based multi-hyphenated artist became renowned for his reimagination of Gil Scott-Heron’s work in 2020, and before that, he and trumpet player Antoine Berjeaut made what was probably my favourite album of 2019, Moving Cities. McCraven’s new album is titled In These Times, from the great Chicago label International Anthem. It’s an eleven song suite that was created over the last seven years, with over a dozen fellow artists, at five recording studios and four live performances, seamlessly sewn together to become a thing of delicate beauty.
My next recommendation comes with a caveat. I’m a big fan of Wylie Cable, both as an Electronic Music Producer, and as Label Head, for the fantastic Record Company Dome Of Doom. I’m really happy with his New Release, Warmed By The Sun. It is twenty-one tracks of ingenious Production, spanning many flavours and tempos. What grinds my gears is that the album, which is available on all streaming formats, is available on Bandcamp on limited-run cassette for $15 (plus another $12 for shipping), or $20 for just the digital files. So, while I’ve linked to the BandCamp page for my recommendation, I myself will download this one from Apple.
I don’t know what it is that they put in the water in England, but something has caused the ratio of Bands:Person to be damn near level. That kind of fight for space and attention in a relatively low population is always going to create better, more creative musicians. A quartet called Kid Kapichi have just released their second full-length, Here’s What You Could Have Won. Hailing from Hastings, in the Southeast, Kid Kapichi is tight hooks, smart production, and snarling attitude. The album showcases all of this with winning precision. The lead-off track, New England, is an amazing kiss-off for the reign of Charles, Post-Brexit, and features Bob Vylan.
An unusual record crossed my path this week that I cannot stop listening to. American musician N.R. Safi’s father emigrated from Afghanistan, and his upbringing was informed by that culture and music. Safi records as Naujawanan Baider, and his new BandCamp release, Volume 1 & 2, compiles his recordings from 2017 to 19. It ranges from hypnotic and droning, to rhythmic wonder and gorgeous musicianship. It would go without saying that this album is my Feature Pick, but I just said it.
A heckuva week, wouldn’t you say? Maybe it’s a slight calm before the storm of releases coming, starting next week. In the meantime, don’t forget to pace yourself. I care about you, and want you to stay healthy. Drink lots of water, and I’ll talk to you again soon.
Happy Saturday, to one and all! If you’re one of the lucky people that receives emails from me when I post, you received an unfinished post yesterday, due to a nationwide internet and cellular crash. Before that happened I was able to find three new titles before the big release day on Friday. That post has been updated.
This morning I pretended that today is Friday, and searched for New Releases. I expected to continue rocking with the new Viagra Boys album, but unfortunately, it just doesn’t measure up.
Sad Trombones
My search today was in vain, but my BandCamp Wishlist heldstrong. I have three more titles to recommend to all my friends, so shall we get started?
First up is the artist that I teased on Tuesday, from my Wishlist. Anna Butterss is from Adelaide, Australia, and lives in Los Angeles. An artist competent on many instruments, she is an in-demand session musician, and has worked with many other artists. At last, she has released her debut solo album, “Activities”. It is twelve mainly instrumental tracks, Bass lead, with thrilling rhythmic turns.
Up next, I have a Hip-Hop artist from London who goes by the name Wu-Lu. Miles Romans-Hopcraft is a musician and producer that has released his debut album, “Loggerhead”. Spanning many styles, it’s a journey of the mind, and a feast for the senses.
My Feature Pick this week is from an Afghan-American “street project”. I take that to mean that it is a band that started, and perhaps remains, in the streets. Naujawan Baidar has released their third album, “Khedmat Be Khalq”. It is exotic, it is whimsical, and it is potent. It gets my adrenaline pumped and primed, and it feels like a roller coaster ride through the streets of pre-Taliban Kabul.
It’s nice to have technology again. I don’t know what I’d do without music. The thought alone is enough to cause shivers. I hope you have all the comforts you require, and that you can spread that feeling to others. Be well, and I’ll talk to you again on Tuesday.
I thought when I forcibly removed myself from Zuckbook it would decrease my screen time. Instead, it only increased my time searching on Bandcamp. I believe it to be a healthy trade-off, but I need to be careful on the wallet. Fun fact: Bandcamp gift cards can be purchased and emailed to any recipient (including the good person who has two thumbs and may be typing this). (jaymowil@hotmail.com)
I also take certified cheques.
The releases are beefy, indeed. Eleven titles in all; transcending styles, borders, quarantines, and preconceptions.
My first choice for this week was actually released late last Friday, well beyond press time for me. So, it gets moved to this week. My blog, my rules.
Detroit rapper Zelooperz released a great album last year that I’m still enjoying, and he has already followed it up. “Get WeT.Radio” has a slew of producers, notably fellow Michigander Black Noi$e. Zelooperz’s unique delivery is centre stage and he is on a full-on “(mostly)Woke Lover Man” flex. My only complaint is that the cover is not one of his great paintings, instead it’s a beefcake bathtub shot. Ah, well, he is a fine-looking fellow. I can’t fault him.
Zelooperz – Get WeT.Radio
A producer from San Francisco got my attention this week with their new release. rainsdeaf is the artist name for this high-energy DJ. Their new album, “rhythm industry”, doesn’t stay in one place for too long, which makes it so engaging to listen to. Anything else I could tell you would be pure speculation.
rainsdeaf – rhythm industry
I’ve found a great new MC from Charlotte, NC, via Ohio. jaH-Monte OF MELENATED PEOPLE has been releasing records since 2020, and his new one, “Here, There & Everywhere” is some heady and smooth rhymes, with production from Fly Anakin, Ohbliv, and a bunch of others.
jaH-Monte OF MELENATED PEOPLE – Here, There & Everywhere
OK, I’m not saying that you should take some time for Brazilian Music, but it is punching well beyond its weight category. And it does well in many disciplines. As far as not being able to understand what they are singing, Music has the ability to transcend meaning. Didn’t you know that?
Apropos of nothing, from Valencia, on East coast of Spain, on the Balearic Sea (and not from Brazil), comes La Culpa. The band is a four-piece of the Rock tradition. Their eight-song self-titled debut was released this week. I smell a strong Pixies influence to their sound. Boy-girl unison vocals punctuate in a charming way. Beautiful cover. It’s a winner.
La Culpa – S/T
And we’re back to Motor City again. Detroit DJ and producer Chef Mike has been behind the ones and twos for over two decades. He refers to his recent release, “Kitchen Confidential” as, “Rando instrumentals vol. 1”. The truth is, if any rapper were to take these ten tracks as the basis of their own album, they won’t have lost. Smart samples, and a keen sense of rhythm. Tasty.
Chef Mike – Kitchen Confidential
Another Hip Hop producer, but from a different culture. Afghan-born Farhot is based in Hamburg. His new single, “Nowroz 1401”, was released in celebration of the Solar New Year, as celebrated in Afghanistan. Three tracks that utilize samples of Afghan Psychedelic Pop records of the 1960’s. Unique and enticing.
Farhot – Nowroz 1401
The pandemic has been hard for everyone, for myriad reasons. I can only imagine the special challenges a eight-piece Jazz-Funk combo could be struggling with. From the sounds of it, UK band Speedometer has risen to the challenge. They have released a three-song ep, recorded remotely, and featuring half a dozen additional guest musicians. “Lockdown Sessions – Ukraine Crisis Appeal” leads off with a brilliant track, “Kashmir”, which utilizes sitar and trumpets in a call-and-response fashion. Get on up!
Also from the UK, a singer with an exceptional voice, Reginald Omas Mamode IV. He has released his fourth album, after previous critical successes. “Stand Strong” is a personal testament, with warm and bright production.
Reginald Omas Mamode IV – Stand Strong
Oh my, so many releases this week! I’m so happy with what I’m hearing this week. Also, I’m learning. Did you know that actress Lisa Bonet has a very talented half-sister? It’s true. Kadhja Bonet is a critically-acclaimed singer and multi-instrumentalist. She has released a single this week, in anticipation of a new LP. “Dear Gina” was also produced by Bonet. Woozy synth-bass and broken beats accompany her velvet voice. Released by the almighty Ninja Tune.
Kadhja Bonet – Dear Gina
If you can believe your eyes and ears, Czech ‘Artist-with-a-capita-A’ Petr Válek has released a Pop album! If you don’t know Mr. Válek’s work, he toils in many mediums, but is known for his short videos where he demonstrates instruments he’s created. Some make the most breathtakingly beautiful sounds, others…simply breathtaking. This week he has released “Orange Album. Over fifteen tracks, Petr turns down the noise (kinda), and shows off his skill creating songs; spanning numerous styles, which I believe to be spontaneously composed while recording. Does humor belong in music? Yes, with one exception: Limericks.
Petr Válek – Orange Album
My final pick for this week. Phew! Are you all still with me? A band from Tel Aviv, Israel called El Khat made my brain collapse to its knees and weep with pure joy this week. Lead by Eyal el Wahab, the group incorporates strings, horns, synths, and homemade percussion. The grooves on “Albat Alawi Op. 99” are so flawless and natural. “Djaja” gave me Third-Degree Stank Face. A no-doubt early frontrunner for Album Of The Year.
El Khat – Albat Alawi Op. 99
What a tremendous week in New Music! March is ending strong, and April also looks to be full of great stuff to look forward to. Enjoy the bounty, friends, and take care of yourself!
New Music Jason’s Picks 