Blockhead – New Music Jason’s Picks

The New Music I’m Listening To Contemporaneously This Week, April 27 – May 3, 2024:

May the Third be with you! It has been another gangbuster week in New Music, with lots of stuff to dig through to find the real quality material. I ended up with ten titles to recommend to you and yours. Shall we?

A release that evaded my sight last week finally made its way home to Papa on Monday. I recommended Brooklyn‘s Nick Dunston back in 2022, and after listening to his latest album, COLLA VOCE, I cannot wait to let the world know. This is Post-Jazz; beyond improvisation, droning dissonance and unsettling vocalizations. Surrealism at its finest.

I discovered a US bicoastal collaboration this week. LA’s Rhys Langston is an MC, and Brooklyn’s steel tipped dove is a DJ and producer. Together they’ve released the new seven-track EP, Polyglot on Chloroform. Downtempo beats with crate-diving Jazz samples and agile bars.

*Rhys Langston & steel tipped dove – Polyglot on Chloroform*

Another Artist that I have recommended in the past is back with New Music. I first came across the New Zealand Avant-Garde Musician known as Frog Power back in September, and he has since released three albums since. The latest is snuff film blooper reel, and throughout the ten tracks, many Pop influences have been put through the blender, set on fire, and played back at the wrong speed. To me, that equals a hit!

A duo from Germany has just released their second album, and it is bigger than the sums of its parts. Rouge is based in Berlin, and their self-titled album opens with a barrage of drums and bass before introducing us to the snarl of lead vocalist Laura Großer. Recommended for fans of Amyl & The Sniffers.

Also coming from Germany is some lo-fi Bedroom Punk. Egg Idiot is clearly aligned with other oddball Devo-inspired SynthPunk like Billiam. On their debut album, the 16-track Best Of LOL, wobbly guitars and bass collide with angular digital beats and distorted vocals.

Mdou Moctar is a Nigerien quartet that has made a name for themselves as one of the premier Tuareg groups in the world. Their latest album, Funeral for Justice, is ferocious and feedback-drenched Desert Rock. Unique melodies will keep your ears on the edge of their lobes.

NYC DJ and Producer Tony Simon is better known as Blockhead, and he is a heavily in-demand architect of sound for the Underground Hip-Hop scene. His latest release, Luminous Rubble, is ten solo instrumental tracks on the Jazz-fi spectrum. Introspective in mood, with choppy samples, it’ll get your head nodding.

Kamasi Washington is one of the brightest lights existing in the Jazz universe today. The Grammy-nominated saxophonist from Los Angeles is back with a new album after a six-year gap. Fearless Movement has a lot to say, nearing ninety minutes in length, and is chock full of guest appearances. Thundercat, George Clinton, Andre 3000, and other greats join Washington on this euphoric record.

Montreal’s Kee Avil released her debut album in 2022, and not only was it one of my Feature Picks, it was also nominated for a Juno Award (Canada’s Grammys). The guitarist, vocalist and Producer is back with her sophomore album. Spine is delicate and minimal, with ASMR-style vocals and guitar textures providing the canvas. Ponderous and lovely.

An album that has me transfixed this week comes from a UK duo. Arianne Churchman & Benedict Drew dwell in analog synthesizers, tape loops and field recordings, with Churchman providing vocals. MAY opens with the nearly fifteen-minute The Cuckoo, which is one of many traditional English folk songs that are featured. It is a glorious musical journey, and it is my Feature Pick this week.

*Arianne Churchman & Benedict Drew – MAY*

I hope you have some time to relax this weekend. I’ll talk to you again soon. Be good to yourself!

Upcoming New Releases (Everybody Good?) – Week Ending Friday, May 3, 2024:

Oh my, is it Tuesday already? I almost forgot that we’re coming into the beginning of May. In a way, it feels like April would never end. Nevertheless, time marches on, and New Music keeps on chugging. We have another strong week in scheduled releases.

Leading the charge is UK Pop Singer Dua Lipa, Australian Singer-Songwriter Sia, and LA Composer and Saxophonist Kamasi Washington.

Kamasi Washington – Get Lit

There are plenty of new titles due for release this week to which I am curious to listen. Not the least of which is Funker Vogt, Kelly Jones, Kee Avil, Elysian Fields, Ibibio Sound Machine, Mdou Moctar, and The Lemon Twigs.

Kee Avil – Gelatin

My BandCamp Wishlist is currently sitting with a veritable shit-ton of New Releases coming out this week, twelve in all. I’ll pick out New York Producer Blockhead as my Tuesday Hopeful. His new album is said to be completely instrumental Hip-Hop, after last November’s feature-driven The Aux. Luminous Rubble is out this Friday.

Blockhead – Oh You Fancy

And I will be right here on Friday, giving you all the latest in high fashion and Hollywood gossip. Ta!

The New Music I’m Listening To Egregiously This Week, November 11 – 17, 2023:

Wooohoooo! What a tremendous week in New Music! A glorious mix of “Hotly Anticipated,” and “New Surprises” to get my endorphins flowing.

We have fifteen(!) titles to deeply dig. No walls, only the bridge. My supper dish, my succotash wish! Sing it, baby!

A single to start this week’s findings comes from MC and Producer Deca. The NYC Artist preaches on the frustration of life during wartime on War. Who’s going to get peace, when they’re still getting a piece?

Deca – War

The week began with raised eyebrows at the news of an album from former OutKast member André 3000. The notoriously strange person has indeed dropped a new album, but it’s not what you’d expect. The completely instrumental New Blue Sun features Dre’s newfound love; his big wooden flute. Featuring production from Carlos Niño, the ninety-minute album contains 7 tracks featuring lengthy, expository titles like, “That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control…Sh¥t Was Wild”. New Age/Ambient, and quite meditative.

A multi-instrumentalist based in Iran has amassed an ensemble to create a lush and nuanced album. Arif Mirbaghi’s Mutual Occultation breathes new life in the household, with Chromatic Harmonica, flute, and Accordion providing much of the lead. Textured Production offers the listener much to explore, and begs for multiple listens.

Nicole Brady is a pianist and composer that is from Australia, but is based on Vancouver Island. Her debut album, Lost Palace, was made in conjunction with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The eight tracks are a delicious blend of Classical and modern beat-making.

*Nicole Brady, Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Lost Palace*

Directly from my BandCamp Wishlist, but more accurately from the swinging City of London, duo VÄLVĒ has released their sophomore album. On Tiny Pilots Chlöe Herington provides lead vocals along with an arsenal of instruments, whilst Emma Sullivan brings backing vocals and bass. It’s a very agreeable journey, where harp twists and turns around tight harmonies. Brilliant.

To Detroit we go now, to meet up with Zoos Of Berlin. The Indie quintet has released Busy With People; an eleven-track album that harkens to early New Wave with deep bass and Dance grooves.

The City of Barrie, Ontario was the closest City to where I was growing up, a 40-minute drive away. It was where you would move if you were too intimidated by Toronto, but wanted to assert some independence. My sister works at the McDonald’s in the Walmart. If you’re in town, say hi to Lorri. Meanwhile, check out this compilation from Barrie Label Tarantula Tapes. Tracknaphobia Vol. 3 contains twenty-four bands from Ontario, including Peterborough’s Garbageface, Newmarket’s Bilious, and Barrie’s own Angry Spells. Spanning sounds from Garage Pop, Hardcore Punk. Hip-Hop and beyond.

Alex Walton is a Songwriter and Producer from Boston, Mass, with a brash confessional streak. The Artist wears her heart on her sleeve throughout the twenty-three tracks of I WANT YOU TO KILL ME. Don’t let the title scare you away, because first of all, it rocks and requires full volume. Secondly, the album ends with the anthemic I Don’t Want To Kill Myself Anymore.

A band from Chicago that I recommended back in February is back with another EP. Cel Ray is a feisty Punk combo that is riling up the pit at My Imaginary Sweaty Dive Bar. Piss Park is four tracks, eight minutes, no messing around!

If you were to ask me to name a country that I think is cool, I would immediately respond Czechia. I’ve never been there, and it probably has its downside, but it seems to have, per capita, the largest population of forward-thinking and unique Artists and Musicians in the world. You can give thanks for that impression, in part, to the excellent Independent Label Korobushka Records. It’s not merely the home to my favourite living Artist, Petr Válek, but it seems that every release is inspired, and just to the left of normal. Take this week’s release from Brno’s sinks. born into this only to get through this is nine tracks of punchy, crooked guitar and catchy hooks. Vocals have a slightly Emo, and oddly American sound to them. Slightly like early U2, if Jonny Greenwood played guitar. Don’t sleep on the Czech Republic!

*sinks – born into this only to get through this*

An Artist and Producer from Baltimore has been releasing a series of remixes and mashups called his Trash Series. J.Robb’s sixth volume released this week and it runs the board in terms of style and substance. Jungle beats mix with Downtempo flips of current Club hits. #NoSampleSnitching

It’s an excellent week for conscious, intelligent and experimental Hip-Hop. Including André 3000, four of my favourite MCs are back to rock my world, and I’m also discovering new Artists that fit that mould. From Ninja Tune side-label Big Dada, H31R is a duo based in Brooklyn and New Jersey. Producer JWords and rapper/vocalist maassai combine to create the terrific HeadSpace. Positive courageous vibes.

Also from NYC is a Producer and DJ known as Blockhead. The reason I’m excited for The Aux, aside from the excellent Production, is the many featured MCs. Aesop Rock, Open Mike Eagle, Billy Woods, Danny Brown and Bruiser Wolf are just a few of the great rappers making their presence known. Drop the needle!

Brooklyn’s own Homeboy Sandman has been rocking my world these last few years. His ingenious rhymes and singsong delivery place him well above his peers. His work pace is also prolific, and evidenced by his new release. Last year, Sand released a collection of tracks that he’s unable to monetize for various reasons. This week, I Can’t Sell These Either follows it up, and if you don’t know, now you know.

*Homeboy Sandman – I Can’t Sell These Either*

No surprises here, but my Feature Pick for this week is Danny Brown’s new album. Quaranta. After I discovered Brown, via his features on his Bruiser Brigade label, I’ve been eagerly anticipating a new solo album. Danny is a very astute and funny MC, with a twisted view of life, and this album has him grappling age and sobriety with his trademark sense of humour. Also featuring is the mighty Bruiser Wolf, who could use a new album himself.

Groove is in the heart! And I truly couldn’t ask for another. What about you, friends!

Take care of yourself!