It’s a glorious day to wrap up a quiet Release Week. We’re starting to see some snow flying in the air, which is fine, as long as it doesn’t land.
I was able to find a total of 32 songs to recommend; Three Singles and two Albums. Let’s call it a healthy snack of Organic and Electronic sounds. Allons-y!
The Icelandic Vocal Goddess Björk is back with a “New” single. I use the quotes because Oral actually had its birth in the mid-1990’s. Ms. Gudmunsdottir decided to revive the discarded track, and asked Spanish singer Rosalía to join her. Proceeds for the song will be used for Legal Fees to fight International Fishing in Iceland. It sounds like it could have easily fit on Homogenic.
A single from War-torn Jerusalem is making the crowd at My Imaginary Nightclub feel awkward. But they’re ordering more drinks as they dance to Aralkum b/w Zellijby Mozaik Ses. The A-side is a head-nodder, whilst the B-side will have you busting several embarrassing moves.
Playing next for the patrons at Mon Discotheque Imaginaire is a single from UK Producer Iglooghost. Collision Data b/w Diode Teethbegins with a brisk Electronic slap of an A-side that features the wonderful Marina Herlop on vocals. Diode Teeth keeps the energy edgy and dark for all my Goth friends.
The long-held tradition of getting together with friends to create Art continues to thrive, no matter how the Industry winds may blow. The new album from American transplant to Canada Robert Connely Farr is a simple-yet-effective demonstration of this ethic. The Blues guitarist and singer sat down with his friend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes on drums, pressed “Record,” and came up with the thirteen tracks that is Pandora Sessions. Earthy downhome grooves with a whole lot of soul.
My Feature Pick for this week is an Artist that Cult Film Director John Waters described as, “Roy Orbison with a head wound.” Bloodshot Bill hails from Montreal, Canada, and he carries a distinctly American sound. His new album Psyche-o-Billyhas a classic Rockabilly and Country/Western soul, performed by a potentially insane person who emotes with wild yelps and yodels. His background vocals are hilarious singalongs, particularly on I’m A Ding Dong and the “poppa doos” of Tell Me To Go. Great fun for all.
Important Scheduling Note: Now that the Release Schedule is thinning out for the rest of the year, I will be releasing the 2023 New Music Jason PrizeLonglist. The list of my twenty favourite albums of the year will be ready for your eyes on Sunday, December 3 at 9:00 am EST. The winner of the New Music Jason Prize will be announced on Sunday, December 31.
As today (September 30) is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I’d like to hereby acknowledge and share my gratitude that I am on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. My city is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land promised to Six Nations, which includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Let’s give it back!
It’s a fantastic Friday at the NMJ* abode, full of wondrous New Music and palpable excitement. If you want to know what I’ll be listening to tonight, put this in your ears, at full volume.
*I’m cool enough to have an acronym, no?
Otoboke Beaver – Don’t Light My Fire (Live at SXSW 2021)
As I’m anxiously awaiting my first Club Gig in 3-4 years, I have eleven new titles to share with all my friends. Let’s get right down to it!
This week’s single to whet your whistle comes from British Rapper and Singer M.I.A. Beep is a Dancefloor bop. Can’t have too many of those.
M.I.A. – Beep
A solo Electronic Producer from Japan who goes by GuruConnect has released a terrific 8-song EP. Illness was created during, and chronicles a hospital stay, due to a Diabetes emergency. Clocking in at nearly 25 minutes of what one may label as “Experimental Instrumental Hip Hop.” The artist makes ingenious use of loops of traditional instruments, fortified by clever Production. Don’t worry. They’re fine, I presume.
I’m happy to be able to recommend Mamalarky’s second album, Pocket Fantasy. The Austin band, now based in Los Angeles, has outdone itself with inventive melodies and charming vocals from lead singer Livvy Bennett.
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I had a album in my BandCamp Wishlist released this week by a very similarly-named band, and it’s made the cut. Mamaleek hail from San Francisco, and their particular brand of noise utilizes elements Jazz, Noise, and Thrash Metal. The resultant concoction on the seven-song full-length, Diner Coffee, is a surprising brew filled with many tangy flavours.
This week is seemingly full of coincidences. Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released their first album in nearly a decade (which I can’t, in good faith, recommend), but a One-Man Band called Weird Crush has released his second album, Yeah Yeah Yippie Yippie Yah. Otherwise, they don’t have much in common. The latter is a London musician “with too many guitars and too much spare time,” and the record in filled with ten tracks with whip smart pop hooks, and ingenious chord progressions. As a vocalist, he conjures Damon Albarn and Robert Smith. In a parallel universe, this is huge.
To the best of my recollection, I’m visiting the Nation of Hungary for the first time in my musical journeys. From the beautiful City Of Budapest I give you the Progressive Punk sound of Palánta. Their debut, five-song Demo jumps out of the speakers with manic lo-fi glory, accentuated by keyboards and punishing drums, perfectly performed with wild abandon.
A quintet from Atlanta is rocking my world this week. The band with the charming name Upchuck has been around since 2018, and they’ve released their debut album, Sense Yourself. It’s aggressive and fierce, with moments of great sludge. If youthink Amyl & The Sniffers are too poppy, this should more than suffice.
OK, so I won’t bury the lede any further. I can now officially recommend Björk’s New Album. It thrills me that fossora is every bit the adventurous and daring album I hoped it would be. No words, just listen.
My favourite Country to which I’ve never before been factors into this week’s picks. Rafael de Toledo Pedroso is from Ponta Grossa, Brazil. He’s an Experimental Electronic Artist, and his latest project is Eu não cheguei tão longe pra existir agora, which translates to, “I did not come this far to exist now” (a clever turn of phrase). It is twenty-four tracks of Field Recordings, Noise, Hip Hop and great lo-fi production.
For the first time this week I get to recommend something that comes from artists of Iranian descent. NY-based brothers, known only as Muhammad and Mehdi, record and perform together as Saint Abdullah. Their new album is a collaboration with Ian MacDonald, better known as Eomac. Patience Of A Traitor is a lovely mix of Electronic production, harsh noise, Jazz samples, and traditional vocals.
My Feature Pick this week comes from Beatmaker and DJ Enver Göyken. Based in London, Göyken is of Turkish descent. On his second full-length “beat tape,” Ozan, he lays out twenty-one tracks immersed in Turkish Rock, traditional instruments, and Club grooves. It is glorious.
I’m sure I’ll have no problems with staying awake for my concert tonight, but wish me luck that the same holds true while driving home early tomorrow morning after the show. If I play the music loud enough, and roll down all the windows, I should make it.
Be kind to yourself, and I’ll talk to you again on Sunday, for Jason’s New Music Heroes, Chapter Four – MuchMusic. Ta!
When I was younger, I watched a ridiculous amount of television. When left to my own devices, it was generally tuned to MuchMusic, which as you may know was Canada’s answer to MTV from 1984 until 2006. I will be doing my next Chapter on Much, because it is without a doubt one of my big New Music Heroes.
It was one late afternoon in Mid-1993 while watching Much when my eyes and ears were awestruck by a Phenomenon. I’ll let Wikipedia describe what I saw:
“As the video starts, a car approaches a hedgehog while the animal tries to cross a country road. The video’s style is a surreal, almost Papier-mâché style with a combination of practical effects and forced perspective shifts. Images of a toy-made bear approaching a human Hunter in a threatening way are shown…Björk starts to sing…in a small cabin while sitting at a table, seemingly eating.”
The first words out of Björk’s mouth snapped me to attention. “If you ever get close to a human, and human behaviour, be ready, be ready to get confused—” and then she erupts into an otherworldly vocal run that may be Icelandic, or Venutian. My jaw fell to the floor. Who is this goddess? How is she singing like that?
Björk – Human Behaviour
Michel Gondry’s video for Human Behaviour was my introduction to Björk Gudmunsdottir. It was the lead-off single from her Debut album and I was dumbstruck. She looked and sang like no person I had ever seen or heard before. With the cassette purchased soon after, a love affair began.
What a debut! Such a incredibly confident statement from a new artist! The production by the artist, with Nellee Hooper, contains elements of Dance Music, Hip Hop, Latin Jazz and even Indian Music. I luxuriated in the beauty. I dubbed copies for my friends. It was my personal soundtrack.
One of the reasons that I’ll be profiling Canada’s Music Video Channel is due to the fact that whenever an artist had built up even a small body of work, they would put it together on a half-hour daily show called Spotlight. When the second video from Debut, Venus As A Boy, was released, Björk was the Spotlight. It was in that half hour that it became clear that she was not a new artist at all, but had, in fact, been making music for years, and even had acclaim globally in a band called The Sugarcubes.
The Sugarcubes – Birthday
I did my subsequent deep-dive into The Sugarcubes catalog and while, overall, I wasn’t thrilled with their quirky B-52s musical style, it’s glorious to listen to Björk sing anything. She performs these songs, and immerses herself in character with complete abandon.
The Sugarcubes – F***ing In Rhythm & Sorrow
Before Björk’s follow-up to Debut would be released she would record a historic performance for MTV Unplugged. If you haven’t seen this show you need to do yourself a favour. Truly “unplugged” instruments (like Harpsichord and water-filled crystal glasses) recreate much of the Debut album, performed by a collection of musicians including Talvin Singh and Evelyn Glennie. It’s my favourite of the Unplugged series, and it is magical.
Björk – MTV Unplugged 1994
For nearly two years I revelled in Björk’s Debut, with its loving and soothing lyrics like, “Come to me, I’ll take care of you, Protect you, Come lie down.” So it was a shock to the system to be sonically assaulted by the first single from 1995’s Post.
Björk – Army Of Me
Now, the caring and compassionate Icelandic pixie had had enough of my crap. “Stand up, you’ve got to manage. I won’t sympathize anymore, and if you complain once more, you’ll meet an Army Of Me.” Björk’s follow-up to Debut was a statement of independence and aggressive maturity. She dives headlong into London Club Culture, with collaborations with Tricky and Goldie. She appears even more daring than previously seen, which is something that has become typical of Björk with each album.
By the time of Army Of Me, Björk had become hugely successful, and a major influence on the Popular Music surrounding her. Even Madonna, who is renowned in her career for being at the forefront of the sound of Pop, came to Björk for a hit. Amuse yourself with her silly imitation, on Bedtime Story.
Words are useless, especially sentences.
It was the album following Post when I would finally get my chance to see Björk perform in concert. Joined by Jennifer at the sadly-missed Kool Haus in Toronto, I witnessed Björk accompanied by the Icelandic String Octet, and Mark Bell on Electronics. Such an impressive mix of sound, led by one of the greatest singing voices in human history. It ended up being the first of two times we’ve seen Björk. So far. Sidebar: Homogenic is my favourite Björk album.
In 2000, Warner Music Canada gave me two passes to see Björk starring in a new Lars von Trier movie, Dancer In The Dark. I was so excited to see this movie, as it was a musical, with the music composed by Björk. A companion album, Selma Songs, was released, featuring a duet with Radiohead’s Thom Yorke.
Björk – I’ve Seen It All
Admittedly, I’ve seen a less than average amount of movies in my life. I haven’t seen The Matrix, or even Jurassic Park, for just two prime examples of my cinematic ignorance. And if we are talking theatre-going experiences, they number in the low dozens. However, there have been two times when I’ve been in a movie theatre, and the audience has been leveled to full-on sobbing in the aisles. The first was Schindler’s List, and the second was Dancer In The Dark. The difference between the two is that I walked into the Spielberg Holocaust film expecting to be emotionally destroyed. The reaction was equally devastating in the von Trier picture because the audience had no idea what was coming. And man, is it sad, and it doesn’t let up. I won’t give anything away, but if you feel like having a full-body cathartic emotional breakdown, this is the film for you. It is beautiful, incorporating found sound from the scenes into the production of the songs. I’ll never watch it again.
Dancer In The Dark (2000)
If the world at large hadn’t heard of Björk by this point, a Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, and an Academy Award nomination for Original Song brought her front and centre. Her appearance at the Oscars that year is still remembered for her dress. As she felt like this was an “Ugly duckling turning into the beautiful swan” Moment, she wore a dress that looked like a swan. When she walked the red carpet, she laid eggs along the way. Some people were…confused.
Punk as fuck.
Björk brought tears our eyes when we were able to catch her in concert once again in Toronto. For her next album, Vespertine, she toured midsized theatre venues, which led her to the formerly-named O’Keefe Centre, then known as the Hummingbird Centre For The Performing Arts, and now known as Meridian Hall. Joining her on the Vespertine tour was harpist Zeena Parkins, Electronic duo Matmos, and a Greenlandic First Nations Choir. The show began with Björk seated, centre stage, playing a large clear Music Box, with Rose petals falling from above, which then lead to the Overture from Dancer In The Dark. The show, which took place less than a month after September 11, 2001, was a soothing balm for all in attendance.
Björk – Vespertine Tour 2001
The rest of the early ‘00’s were filled with collaborations with a number of artists, including Tanya Tagaq,Mike Patton, Anohni, and Rahzel. She then returned to Popular success with the inclusion of Producer Timbaland into her Sound World on 2007’s Volta.
Björk – Innocence
Björk’s 2011 album, Biophilia was a mainly solo effort, inspired by the Economic Crash of 2008, and futile Environmental efforts. She continued to push the envelope, in terms of technology, by releasing the first album to be supported by an App. Truth be told, I was a new father, and out of the Music Industry by this point, so my attention was elsewhere. I also mostly missed her 2015 album, Vulnicura, which I’m told is a breakup record from filmmaker Matthew Barney and included collaborations with Venezuelan Producer Arca. The videos she made for Vulnicura are filmed in stunning 360-degree VR.
Björk – Stonemilker
In 2017, Björk followed Vulnicura with another album flush with collaborations with Arca. If the previous album was full of marital pain, Utopia was more…well…utopian.
Björk – Utopia
Björk is one of the most naturally forward-thinking artists working in Popular Music today. She will always be a hero to me for her courageous other-ness, her bold musical proclamations, and that one-of-a-kind voice.
Björk – Joga (Later With Jools Holland, 1997)
I’m planning on having a marathon of the three most recent albums, before the new album, fossora, is released on Friday (September 30). I may even be doing it right now. Care to join me?
In other news, from this point forward I will be moving Jason’s New Music Heroes from Wednesdays to Sundays, so be sure to look out for Chapter Four: MuchMusic on October 2nd. Take care!
Happy End to the Month, Dear Friends! The days have turned notably cooler these last few days, and I guess that it won’t be long until we are shovelling the precipitation that falls from the sky. I do hope we get a reasonable amount of time to enjoy Autumn’s beauty before then.
It is an exciting week for this guy, with all the anticipated New Releases due this week, and a Club show in Toronto to end the week. It’ll be my first indoor concert experience since 2019. I’ll be strapping on a mask this Friday to see Otoboke Beaver at the storied Lee’s Palace. I’ve been training my body all this week to be able to stay up that late. Expect a full report to follow next week. Even if it doesn’t happen.
But it would be foolish of me to gloss over the new titles due for release This Week. Holiday shopping begins in earnest, with eagerly-awaited New Releases from Pixies, M.I.A., Slipknot, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with their first album in nine years.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Burning
Beyond these titles, I’m also looking forward to hearing the new ones from Lambchop, Steven Page, Kid Cudi, and the sophomore effort from Mamalarky.
Mamalarky – Shining Armor
In terms of my BandCamp Wishlist, I have a total of seven titles awaiting my final approval. By a fun coincidence, one of the artists has a similar name to Mamalarky. Mamaleek are from San Francisco and they have my ears firmly pricked.
Mamaleek – Wharf Rats In The Moonlight
Well, that’s about all I can think of for this week’s New Releases, I haven’t forgotten anything—
Oh yes, I have! Only a silly person like me would pretend to forget about Björk.fossora is released on Friday, and I will state now, for the record, that it will be among my picks for the week. Also, in advance I will be celebrating the music of Björk tomorrow (Wednesday), when I publish Jason’s New Music Heroes, Chapter Three:Björk.
Björk – Álfur Út Úl Hól (The Fool On The Hill)
I do hope we can connect with each other, through Music. I’ll talk to you again tomorrow. Take care.
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 Friday, friends! It’s been another tremendous week in New Music. For two weeks running we have a Baker’s Dozen of Releases, spanning many countries and styles, so it’s imperative that we dig right in, post haste!
This weeks recommendations begin with a banger of an single as an appetizer. J. Rawls is a DJ and Producer from Columbus, Ohio. He’s been doing it for over twenty years, and his latest single is, I Believe. Featuring a sample of one of the many thousands of versions of The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” turned on its head for a floor-filling jam. The flipside, #Brazil, increases the tempo, with blazing horns, flutes and percussion. Is it getting hot in here, or is it just you?
I haven’t been this excited for a new Björk album since 2007’s Volta, so I will not apologize if you get bored of me writing about every morsel of music that is released before Fossora comes out at the end of the month. A new single was released, titled Ovule, on Wednesday and it is Classic Björk. This means that it is catnip for my soul. Have a listen.
Björk – Ovule
Another artist from Iceland got my attention this week. Árne Grétar is a Producer from Reykjavik that has teamed up with UK Producer Lee Norris to become Metamatics. Their New Release, “Beatsamatic consists of 17 tracks that are beats and loops designed for the consumer to sample/enjoy.” Enjoy it, I am, with its many-textured beats of varying tempos and atmospheres.
I wasn’t going to mention the death of the ceremonial Head of the United Kingdom (and Canada). It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized “Send Her Victorious” usually meant killing lots of Brown People. So, as it happens, I’m underwhelmed at her passing. Not so with three artists this week.
First, from London, is Philip Sanderson. He started the great Cassette Label, Snatch Tapes, back in 1979, and he also records music, both under his own name, and as Ice Yacht (a great name, easily remembered by adding, “The Sheriff”). While, surely, the church bells throughout the kingdom toll their mournful tones, Sanderson has been inspired to manipulate recordings of bells, and release the aptly-titled The Ringing Of A Bell. It is a meditative 16-minute epic track that inspires calm.
Next, an artist from Brazil named Maximiliano Chami has released a new four-song ep, as Antoine Trauma. Though perhaps not inspired by QE2, Clonazepam Zombie is a gothic and mechanical collection of scattered beats and inspired soundscape that ends with “Elizabeth’s Funeral (Industrial Sex Party)”.
Philadelphia rapper Ghais Guevara has some unmistakable thoughts that he would also like to share. Lest there’s any confusion regarding his feelings, he’s titled his new single, I Personally Wouldn’t Revive Queen Elizabeth. With the starting couplet, “Heard that the witch is dead, Bitch I did it, put that pillow over her fuckin head, Irish jiggin on her grave…” it’s bound to be a chart-busting, singalong, feelgood hit of the year.
A Hip-Hop collaboration from the UK was released this week with nary a mention of Dead Monarchs. London-based rapper and producer Sonnyjim, and The Purist (who is a label owner and producer in Brighton), have teamed up to become White Girl Wasted. Their self-titled debut eight-song ep is a glorious twenty+ minutes, with features from DJ Premier, Madlib, and MF DOOM with Jay Electronica.
Also from Jolly Ol’ England there resides a Contemporary Classical Composer and Musician named Danny Mulhern. He is a renowned Composer for TV and Film. His fifth solo album Singing Through Others features eleven original compositions performed on synthesizer, with the thirteen-piece London Contemporary Orchestra. It’s a beautifully meandering soundscape, with touchstones on Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue, and broader concepts of Human Connection.
Now we go to one of the Colonies that I’ll probably never get to visit in person. In the stolen lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation (Melbourne, Australia) there has been a Split EP produced, featuring two local bands. Vampire Club begins with three punchy tracks by male solo Pop Punk artist Billiam, followed by two from female quintet The Vovos. Picture Ally Sheedy dancing in The Breakfast Club and you will have an accurate visual representation of what you’re hearing.
And now, to Belgium, where I have three artists from Africa, or of African heritage for your dining and dancing pleasure. Nyati Mayi & The Astral Synth Transmitters are of Congolese descent, residing in Brussels. They’ve released their first full-length, Lulanga Tales. It is six gorgeous tracks, combining Electric keyboards, acoustic percussion, strings, and emotional vocals.
A wonderful singer from South Africa captured my ears this week. Nana Atta was born Sinenhlanhla Mthembu, but she is also known as the Queen of Afro House. Her new EP, Emakhosini, is five Dance tracks with Nana’s voice from and centre.
A band formed in Paris, France, called Al-Qasar has also released their first full-length album. The five-piece brings together musician from France, The US, Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt. The music on Who Are We? is steeped in North African sounds to add to your global mind-journey. Special guests are Punk legends Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys).
#CaliforniaDuos is trending on My Own Personal Twitter. I’ve found yet another this week, and it’s my own damn fault that I hadn’t heard of them sooner. No Age has been around since 2005, and they’ve just released their seventh album. Randy Randall and Dean Splunt have a distinctly lo-fi approach on People Helping People, my Feature Pick for this week. Analog keyboards are driven by garage drums, exploding into noise, with Thurston Moore-esque vocals.
People helping people. No wonder it’s my Feature Pick. It’s my favourite human action. Have you tried it? At least be good to each other. I’ll talk to you soon. Happy Weekend!
It’s been a Banner Week in New Music. Good thing that I will never run out of rafters to hang them in My Imaginary Gymnasium. I was able to find thirteen new titles that I’m really happy to recommend.
I should mention, if anyone reading this connects with only one of the titles I talk about, that really makes me happy. I don’t expect everyone to like everything that I like. I contain multitudes.
To start the week off right, I have to start with the pre-release single for Björk’s new album, Fossora, due at the end of the month. Released on Tuesday, Atapos features an Electronic bed, with a Clarinet sextet. Björk’s voice continues to be unmatched, and her lyrics are a call to the heart of everyone, to overcome our differences. “If we don’t grow outwards towards love, we’ll implode inwards towards destruction.”
Another single (of sorts) was brought to my attention this week, thanks to fellow Music Blog New Music United. Catherine Graindorge is a Belgian Violinist and Composer, and has released the four-track, The Dictator. The title track features Iggy Pop, and so too do the two tracks that follow. Track Four is an instrumental piece, simply titled Iggy. Dark, deep, and atmospheric.
My BandCamp Wishlist paid off again this week. As I mentioned on Tuesday, LA Artist Sudan Archives’ second album, Natural Brown Prom Queen, was released today (Friday). It has certainly exceeded my expectations, with its array of sonic palettes at play. Trip-Hop meets R&B, which then meets with Experimental Electronic Music. Highly recommend. Highly.
Also on my Wishlist this week was an album by an artist from Cyprus. I’ve always had a fondness for Cyprus, as my old friend Biva visited family there and brought back a keychain for me, in the shape of the island. The easternmost part of the Country (which I referred to as “Cyprus Hill”), was useful for cleaning out my cannabis pipe. I miss it to this day. Nevertheless, Cypriot Antonis Antoniou brings interesting sounds with his second solo album, Throisma. Antonis is a Sound Artist and Producer, and across the nine tracks, he utilizes analog synths, fuzzy bass, and tzouras (which is a small bouzouki), to create a mystical Eastern Mediterranean journey.
Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall had a hit back in 2004 with, Black Horse And The Cherry Tree, and I hadn’t heard much from her since. To my surprise, she’s just released her ninth album since then. I’m pleased to recommend NUT for its creative Pop production (by Martin Terefe), it’s incorporation of unique instrumentation, and Tunstall’s skilled vocals.
I was wondering when I’d be hearing from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Moreover, what form will the New Music from Minneapolis take? Will it be following in the footsteps of local legends Prince, or Hüsker Dü? Or maybe something else entirely? Surrogates are something else entirely. Their lofi, no frills, self-titled debut showcases the quartet’s in-your-face raw energy. DIY Punk by talented musicians, fronted by unhinged and mesmerizing Lulu on vocals.
A duo that I wrote about in April is back with another release. 106 is comprised of Phew and Dowser n, and they hail from Tokyo. Together they make what they call “Desktop Punk”. Their latest release, 106 DTP02, is seven tracks continuing their experimentations with synth beats, throbbing bass, guitar and expressive vocals. Wonderful.
A husband-and-wife duo from Oakland, CA, is doing something really different. Jamey and Volly Blaze have been recording and performing as Vantana Row since 2015. Their brand of Music takes the best part of heavy Thrash and Screamo, and pairs it with Experimental Hip-Hop. Their new TXTS MIXTAPE is jarring and exhilarating, and requires maximum volume. It features two covers, one of AC/DC, and the other, Dolly Parton. Put this on for size.
A few hours drive south of Oakland is the West Coast’s Punk Capital. Orange County is home to many of the big Punk and Pop-Punk artists of the last thirty-plus years. A set of twins from Orange named Wyatt & Fletcher Shears have been recording together as a duo for over ten years as The Garden. Their fifth full-length, Horseshit on Route 66, contains the Punk aesthetic, mashed with electronic beats, samples, and aggressive vocals. Well suited with pogo dancing.
Taking a sharp ninety degree turn, both in style and geography, we go to London. Here we find Coby Sey, a multi-instrumentalist, producer and poet. His debut album, Conduit, is a twitchy, bass-heavy testament to life at the end of Elizabethan England.
I get the tingles for the sound of backwards drums, and cymbals particularly. So does, I presume, an anonymous DJ and Producer from London who records as Nottap (who wants to bet their first and/or last name isn’t Patton?). Their second BandCamp release is a five-track ep, titled Sandman. Backwards drums accompany backwards vocals, synths, and guitar. To make it further confounding and fun, I think the vocals are in Russian. Get lost in linear time!
In the great city of Montréal there is a writing duo of Abigail Galway and Danny Trudeau that has ganged up with nine other musicians to create their debut album, EDDY. Funk/Soul is the primary template across the ten tracks, with intriguing melodies and phenomenal performances, particularly Galway’s vocals.
The musical and personal mythology of massive and broken pop stars has long been abundant creative fodder that still has much to mine. The trick is to make it interesting, and not a retread. Detroit Artist Timothy Michael Jones has been recording and self-producing music since 2020 as Alice Dreamt. His latest is an alter-ego project; as described on Twitter, a purported ‘Final Album’ by the “biggest band in the world,” The Candy Land Generals. The Visions of Dear Perfection (Or, The Candy Land Generals). Also, it’s my Feature Pick for this week. It’s a Rock Opera, in the same way that Sgt. Pepper is, in that it doesn’t tell a story, and the songs don’t have anything, fundamentally, in common. Without having heard any of his previous work, I can only imagine that this is the artist branching out, and, to my ears, it succeeds. From the attention-grabbing ‘Intro (Variations)’, into ‘Closer To The Light’, (which sounds like Muse, having a great day in the studio with Jeff Lynne), through to its ‘From Peppermints To You’ conclusion, it’s the kind of album that would hold the top eight positions on the Singles Charts, if the world were mine. The production is fantastic, it’s filled with terrific melodies, and he’s a winning vocalist. Can’t lose!
So, hey, so if you happened to have found thirteen out of thirteen titles to your taste, I think it falls upon you to let me know. That’s just being polite. Share the love, people!
Happy September, dear friends! It’s been a cooler morning, a clear indication that Autumn is nigh. My children are headed back to school after the holiday weekend, which is momentous, as our eldest is beginning High School (a clear indication that I’m old.).
The time of year has come when the Music Industry, or whatever is left of it, releases their most attention-grabbing, and thus sales-producing releases of the year, for all of your Holiday Shopping needs. Although I may mention some of these releases, they are not my focus.
*Not my disembodied feet
Today, we’re looking ahead to the releases I’m excited to hear. Maybe some will be great gift ideas, but I like to think that perhaps most of these artists aren’t as ‘fiscally-focused’ as Taylor Swift or Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also, there will be no Greatest Hits, no box sets, and no cash-grab live albums. That’s right, I’m surly.
Starting off right at the end of September, there are two well-established artists with anxiously anticipated New Releases. New York’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs are releasing their first album in nine years, Cool It Down, and Icelandic legend Björk is releasing her fourteenth full-length, fossora. It’s also Björk’s first in five years, and it goes without saying that it’s been too long. I’ve been a fan of Björk since her debut solo album, and she has never disappointed. A lesser-known band from Los Angeles is also releasing their sophomore album on September 30. I’m a big fan of Mamalarky’s self-titled debut from 2020, and from what I’ve heard of Pocket Fantasy, it is indeed promising.
Mamalarky – Mythical Bonds
In October there are a slew of artists pitching their wares. Among the Meghan Traynors, Carly Rae Jepsens, Tegan & Saras and the Swiftsesses (all releasing new albums 10/21), there are lodes of talented lesser-known musicians who deserve Happy Holidays too.
The month starts with another artist to release their first since 2017. Toronto band Alvvays got my attention with their last album, Antisocialites, and they are finally following it up with Blue Rev on October 7th. Also due out that day is a new project from Dan Snaith (Caribou). Daphni is the nom-de-plume for his new full-length, Cherry. Also being put out that day is a record I’m eagerly looking forward to from Cellist Lori Goldston. You may know her from Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance. She also toured with the band, and has done session work with innumerable artists. Her solo album, High and Low, is sure to be exquisite.
Lori Goldston – The Waves and What’s Under
Sharing shelf space with Red Hot Chili Peppers on the 14th are a couple things that pique my interest. The first is a band from the UK of some acclaim called The 1975. I feel like their previous album had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite make it for me. Perhaps Being Funny In A Foreign Language will do it. Also being released on this day is Louis Cole’s new full-length, Quality Over Opinion. I can’t wait to hear what else this musical wunderkind has up his sleeves.
Louis Cole – I’m Tight
I’ve already noted that October 21 is a massive New Release day. The scraps left behind by Ms. Swift are definitely worth your time and attention. UK stalwarts Arctic Monkeys have a new album, The Car, and so do Canadian Rock Legends Sloan. The Halifax band’s thirteenth full-length, Steady, sounds like they continue their tradition of whipsmart hooks and catchy harmonies.
Sloan – Scratch The Surface
Among the confirmed releases for November are a couple of things that I eagerly await. London DJ and Producer Archie Fairhurst is putting out his most recent album as Romare. Fantasy is due November 4th, and so is the latest release from New York’s Kaya Wilkins. As Okay Kaya, she won me over with her 2020 full-length, Surviving Is The New Living. She’s releasing her follow-up, SAP.
Okay Kaya – Spinal Tap
I’m happy to note that BandCamp Friday is back, starting tomorrow, September 2. The first Friday of the next four months will see BandCamp waiving their percentage of sales. It’s a perfect time for gift giving, both to your loved ones, and to the Artists that give us all such joy. And may I be the obnoxiously early person to wish each and every one the Happiest of Holidays, whatever they may be.
Is Summer already over? It’s hard to believe that we’re already coming into September. The deciduous leaves are changing colour, and the big New Releases that are due out for the Xmas Shopping Season are being pre-hyped.
If you happened to watch the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday (which I did not), you will have seen Taylor Swift announce her new album, which is due in a couple of months. On Thursday I’ll do a post of the anticipated Announced New Releases that are due in the autumn, for all of your Holiday shopping needs.
Spoiler: Kanye West did not produce the new Tay-Tay album.
Coming into the last Long Weekend of the Summer, the list of New Releases due out this week is a hearty mix filled with genre heroes and names unknown to me. Metal legends Megadeth, Electronic pioneers Stereolab, and Rapper/Producer extraordinaire Logic lead the way. One of my favourite singers, Moses Sumney, is releasing another live album. I don’t, as a rule, add Live albums to my life if they are simply performances of previously released performances. We’ll see what happens Friday, but the pre-release single is Sumney doing a fourteen-minute cover of Björk’s “Come To Me.” His voice is really magical.
Moses Sumney – Come To Me
I’m also looking forward to hearing the new titles from Kenny Beats, Two Door Cinema Club, and King Buffalo.
King Buffalo – Mammoth
I have four releases on my BandCamp Wishlist due out this week that I hope to be adding to my life. Among them is Unloved, a collaboration between three artists, one of which is renowned Belfast DJ David Holmes. Their debut album, “The Pink Album,” is due Friday.
Unloved – Mother’s Been A Bad Girl
Stay tuned Thursday for the upcoming new releases that are expected in Fourth Quarter, and try to stop by again on Friday to marvel with me in all of this week’s findings. And remember to take breaks if you’re feeling overwhelmed. The world won’t fall.
Not New Music, but sometimes you need the scriptures.
New Music Jason’s Picks 