A great Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening to each and every one of you. As we go into another Christian holiday weekend, the New Releases are noticeably quieter this week. If you were to believe Apple Music, there wasn’t a single New Release to be had from the continent of Africa. But despite the lull, I was still able to come across eight new titles to cruci-fix all your needs.
Everyone likes Steve Buscemi. You’d be hard-pressed to find a negative thing to say about this indie film stalwart you have seen in The Big Lebowski and Reservoir Dogs. He seems like your affable Everyman, filled with humanity. It is no surprise that Buscemi has a working relationship with Toronto’s Hayden Desser. In 1996, Steve Buscemi directed and wrote the film Trees Lounge. Hayden provided the title song for the soundtrack, beginning their friendship which continues today. Buscemi appears in Desser’s most recent promo videos for Hayden’s new album, Are We Good. Hayden isn’t the most musically flashy, and his voice sits somewhere between J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and fellow Canadian songsmith Ron Sexsmith. What reveals itself in his music is his humanity. An unabashed romantic with mixed fortunes. In other words, Hayden is Steve Buscemi. You can’t help but like the guy.
I’m the kind of person who thinks that deep regular meditation is important for a healthy mind. Cultures around the world have known this for centuries, and spiritual wisdom comes from these inner examinations. “The Huni Kuin people live on the banks of the Jordan River, inside the Amazon Forest…almost at the border of Peru, and have, in the NixiPae, Ayahuasca, their medicine and vehicle to The Spirit of the Forest.” (from BandCamp) Ibã Huni Kuin is a master of the songs of his people, and with Brazilian sound artist Marco Scarassatti you are brought into the inner circle during their communal spiritual journeys, on Ni yuxibū xinã rewe (Sound Of Sprit Forest) Just the ambient outdoor noise alone is enough to lower your heart rate. Calm and truly entrancing.
Albany, New York is just across the border to the US from where I sit, and is a no less magical place than the forests of Brazil. I have always seen their commercials Used Cars and Ice Cream Cakes since I was a child. Bruiser and Bicycle is a three-piece Rock combo that makes a noise much larger than the sum of their parts. Holy Red Wagon is their second “official album”, and it has a nine tracks steeped in Prog, and proves that it doesn’t have to mean a bad thing. Long pieces that have movement, virtuosity, and invention. Not only is Rock not dead, it already has its bloated genius cousin. Modern Prog Rock, new and improved.
An Experimental Synthesized Music composer and performer from Germany caught my attention. Detlef Funder records as Konrad Kraft. Nifbin Circle is his most recent release, and it is as ambient as it is rhythmic. Textured sounds combine with downtempo Dance grooves.
Bernard Edwards, Jr. is DJ and Producer from NYC that was signed by Dr. Dre to Aftermath Entertainment in 2002. He has since gone on to work with some of the biggest names in Music, such as Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé. Known as Focus… (ellipsis included), he has just released the ninth edition of his aNALOG iN a dIGITAL wORLD series of Beat Tapes. Distinctive and flavourful beats with creative percussion makes even going shopping for groceries that much cooler.
An EDM Producer from Johnston, Pennsylvania named Tatania Triplin has released her debut album as Nondi_ (underscore included). Flood City Trax is twelve tracks of what she envisions as Detroit techno and breakcore, from having only experiencing it via the internet. It’s a dreamy and exciting journey.
An album that graduated from my BandCamp Wishlist on this BandCamp Friday comes from Brooklyn’s Yaeji. She has been recording Electronic Pop and Dance Music in Korean and English since 2018, and her latest release, With A Hammer incorporates breakbeats and atmospherics that creates a complete world of her own.
TatzumaKiii is a DJ and Producer from Sydney, Australia that has just twisted my mind. His new album, GURU contains some of the most ingenious production I’ve heard in my life. The Artist’s use of samples, both micro and micro, to create an aural collage, and ultimately “The Beat” (be it ever so wonky). Experimental Hip-Hop of the highest order, and my Feature Pick for the week.
I hope you’re not cross with me about my casual blasphemy. Don’t get too hung up on it. Have a great weekend and be good to yourself!
New Music Jason’s Picks 