Haiti – New Music Jason’s Picks

The New Music I’m Listening To Contemporaneously This Week, September 30 – October 6, 2023:

As I type these words I’m waiting for my Daughter at the Dentist’s office while she gets two baby teeth pulled. The darn assistant won’t let me have a huff of the nitrous!

I was right about the high quality of New Releases this week, and Drake actually pulled the trigger on his new album. It’s nearly an hour and a half long and is time better spent.

In all, I’ve come up with nine recommendations to share with all my friends. Ready, friends?

A single to get my recommendations rolling for the week comes from one of my favourite MCs, Homeboy Sandman. I’ve recommended Sand plenty in the past, most recently with with new LP, Rich. He’s released a ‘remix’ of the track Therapy, but not your average remix. Off the top of Therapy (Truth Hurts Remix), Homeboy explains, “This is the Remix…Back in the day they’d do a remix that was a whole new song, with new lyrics, and a new beat. Like The Roots did to You Got Me…” It’s completely unrecognizable from the original, with jaunty horn samples and freestyle rhymes. But be careful! At a brisk 93 seconds, sneeze and you miss it.

Homeboy Sandman – Therapy (Truth Hurts Remix)

For Artists who toil in Experimental Sound, or in the case of Rafael González and Hal McGee, “Audio Folk Art”, it’s a fine line between transcendence and navel-gazing. fortunately for us, this duo, based in Gainesville, Florida have assembled a brilliant and exciting experience with COLLABORATORY. Throughout ninety minutes, divided into six fifteen-minute tracks, the recordings created by each Artist separately, and then they “mixed the recording together using an automated random chance shuffle procedure.” The harsh noise and electronic chirping, spliced with barking dogs and conversation harken the chaos of everyday life and works great among the rest of my New Music Playlist. Recommended if you believe The Beatles’ Revolution 9 is too short.

*Rafael González and Hal McGee – COLLABORATORY*

An EP arrived this week from an Artist that I discovered August of last year. Tek Lintowe is from Åland Islands and he makes eccentric Electronic Music. On I am a evil person they’ve teamed up with California producer Pentagrvm for four moody tracks with bubbling autotune and deep bass.

*tek lintowe and pentagrvm – I am a evil person*

An anonymous Artist known only as rrao, who hails from China (Texas) released a three-track EP this week. Hara is smart Electronic Production with bounding beats that cleverly utilize tabla, and Indian samples. It’s warming up the early crowd at My Imaginary Nightclub.

Next up is a duo that I can’t help but love, despite my wife’s complaints. From the Northwest coast of California, “Cybergrind” Act Vantana Row is back with a new EP. Following up from their latest Full-Length back in May, the four-song DOGGEMFUCKEM UDONTKNOWMEWELLENUFFYET VXROW3 continues with their abrasive and abusive style of crunchy Electronic Rock, capably led by vocalist Volly. The two have a good sense of taste, and know how to most effectively destroy it. It gets my adrenaline flowing!

*Vantana Row – DOGGEMFUCKEM YOUDONTKNOWMEWELLENUFFYET VXROW3*

Whenever I see an Artist or a band refer to themselves as “Shoegaze”, it is immediately off-putting . To me, it signifies a distance from the audience, and a lack of attention. But that’s just me. You can not accuse Tokyo Artist (or band) what is your name? of simply going through the motions. The lead-off to their new album the now now and never is the nine-minute title track. It begins with a wash of synths that glitch and arpeggiate and you begging to hear voices talking. The drums and guitar come in and the animated conversation continues before it all gets shut down abruptly. The cinematic track continues to evolve and progress, and that is the main feature of this entire eight-track Instrumental LP. It’s a trip!

*what is your name? – the now now and never*

Much of what I recommend comes directly from my BandCamp Wishlist. And with it being BandCamp Friday (a tradition I hope never ends, despite a change in ownership) I’m extra proud to be recommending an artist I never would have discovered without this fantastic website. Chouk Bwa is a sextet from Haiti, and The Ångströmers are a production duo from Belgium. Together they create a thrilling combination of tribal drumming and vocals with Electronic Club infusion. Somanti, their second full-length, is a journey into deep Vodou culture and directly to a sweaty My Imaginary Nightclub.

Jasper Marsalis is a progeny of the great Jazz Dynasty that includes his father Wynton, uncle Branford, and grandfather Ellis Jr. With such rich Jazz genetics, you would expect a talented musician named Marsalis to continue the Jazz tradition. And in a way, he is. But Jasper is removing that famous last name from his recording projects, and as Slauson Malone 1, he’s just released his new album. EXCELSIOR steers more toward the futuristic R&B of Flying Lotus and Moses Sumney, and the multi-instrumentalist conjures Stevie Wonder at his most introspective. Deep bass drops and warbled vocals tell you that this is a recording for Warp Records, not Blue Note.

In my BandCamp adventures, an Artist that I keep coming across in various bands and collaborations is percussionist and multimedia Artist Valentina Magaletti. One of her many ongoing concerns is her trio with multi-instrumentalist and singer Cathy Lucas and bassist Susumu Mukai. Vanishing Twin has been together since 2019 and on Afternoon X, their latest full-length, they cast a downtempo spell with novel arrangements and a slight Pop scent. Massive Attack’s smartass little siblings, and my Feature Pick for the week.

Thanks for tuning in. Remember to be good to yourself, and floss your teeth every once in a while.

Upcoming New Releases (In The Name Of Love) – Week Ending Friday, October 6, 2023:

Oh boy, do we have a Release Week worth shouting about!

Even with the outside chance of the new Drake album coming out (which it probably won’t), and an even smaller chance of a new Kanye album (which I hope doesn’t come out), there are a plethora of Grade-A Artists with new titles. Indie darling Sufjan Stevens is back with a new album. Rock saviours Paramore and Electronic legends Depeche Mode both have remix projects. Current buzzworthy Artist Slauson Malone 1 is releasing his debut album, and Kanye’s fellow antisemite Roger Waters continues to ride his past Pink Floyd glory. Of course, topping them all is the comeback story of all time, Rick Muthafuggin’ Astley.

Rick Astley – Never Gonna Stop

Other noteworthy and interesting Artists with wares to peddle this week include Taliesin, Darius Rucker, Kool Keith, Pitbull, Timber Timbre, and Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar.

Dogstar – Breach

With it being the first week of the month, the rent is due. Also it’s BandCamp Friday, so don’t forget to support your favourite artists. My Wishlist is crammed with nine titles awaiting adjudication. Chouk Bwa is a six piece from Haiti who has been collaborating with a Production duo from Belgium called The Ångströmers. Their second full-length Somanti is due Friday.

Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers – Somanti

Feel free to come back to this very location on Friday (and every Friday) to share with me the fruits that the Music gods and goddesses have bestowed. It’s a fun thing that I do.

The New Music I’m Listening To While Celebrating Life This Week, October 29 – November 4, 2022:

Welcome to November, friends! Today (Friday) is the day when the friends and loved ones of my departed Mother gather together to bid a fond farewell. It’s a day tinged with sadness, but also of shared kindness, which cannot go unnoticed to my family. The world could use more of that, in spite of the reasoning that precludes today’s assembly.

*My Mom Dianne with my Daughter Abby, 2019*

New Music continues to be the balm that soothes the troubled soul, and I’ve been able to find a bounty of thirteen titles to share with you.

At long last I’m able to start my weekly post of recommendations with a Single to whet our whistles. This one comes from Singer/Songwriter Sophie Allison, who is better known as Soccer Mommy. Darkness Forever (Sophie’s Version) is the demo recording of the track, which was recorded for her latest album, Sometimes, Forever. It’s stripped back, with woozy guitar and tasteful electronics.

Soccer Mommy – Darkness Forever
(Sophie’s Version)

Lest we forget that today is BandCamp Friday. All the titles featured today are available on BandCamp. A perfect artist to exercise your wallet is a fantastic DJ and Producer from Detroit that has captured my ears these last couple of years. Dakim consistently makes terrific beats that swim in wonky waters with sweet and intriguing samples. His latest release is if you can hear me. It’s eight tracks that make you think while you attempt to dance. Mostly you’ll just shake your head and say, “Damn!”.

A Hip-Hop MC and Producer from Montréal released a terrific album this week. Backxwash comes at it hard with her new release, HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING. Industrial elements are utilized with unique affect, joined with clever rhythmic bars. Guest features include Ghais Guevera and Sadistik.

*Backxwash – HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING*

Another rapper and Producer from The Americas joins my personal party. Davon Bryant is from Washington, DC, and performs as dreamcastmoe. Sound Is Like Water is his third full-length, and it’s a stylish mix of Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronic Dance and Jazz to keep you moving.

To wrap up my Rap findings for the week, I have Nashville’s R.A.P. Ferreira. Ferreira has been at it now for about a decade, and his style is steeped in Jazz and Poetry, and conscious as hell. His latest album 5 to the Eye with Stars is earnest and pleasing.

*R.A.P. Ferreira – 5 to the Eye with Stars*

For an about turn of face, let’s go now to England. Drummer Tom Skinner has come out with his new solo album, Voices of Bishara. The member of The Smile and Sons of Kemet has released a beautiful and meditative six tracks that spotlight Skinner’s skills for band arrangement and unique phrasing. Shabaka Hutchings and Nubya Garcia feature throughout the album.

A Modern Classical Musician and Composer from Hull, England named Daniel Elk has released a new Piece commissioned and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Consolations In Travel is an eleven-plus minute meditation on Car Trips the composer would undertake as a child, and the music that accompanied these trips. Performed alongside the traditional instruments are joined with cassette loops that add an ominous and off-kilter mood.

A 5-Song ep came out this week from a solo Musician from Washington State known as hazel. Their recording alias is Twinkle Park, and touched, or been touched by is short, sharp, poppy tracks that make bold and exciting use of Auto-tuned vocals. The drum-work is stunning.

Twinkle Park – touched, or been touched by

A band from Dublin, Ireland who refer to themselves as Avant-Garde Punks have put out an angry and thought-provoking album that speaks to the sins of the Catholic Church. Meryl Streek’s 796 is so-titled in reference to the number of bodies of children that were found in one burial site in Ireland, a crime all-too-familiar to those of us who live in Colonial countries. Menacing strings accompany the band, and the lyrics leave no doubt as to who “the real enemy” is.

Another change of gear, as we head now to Denmark for the first time since I began writing about New Music. Svaneborg Kardyb is a duo from Aarhus (in the middle of Aarstret), featuring keyboards and drums. On their latest album Over Tage, they are accompanied by guitar and trumpet. Together they have created a beautiful soundscape for the mind.

An artist that I’ve enjoyed previously is back again this week with another ep. Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers hail from Haiti and their sound is an amalgam of traditional and modern. Ayiti Kongo Dub #2 is three tracks made for lower level of My Imaginary Nightclub, where I host Tribal Raves. Footwear optional.

*Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers –*
*Ayiti Kongo Dub #2*

Yet another artist I discovered not too long ago is London’s Archie Fairhurst. As Romare, he released one of my favourite albums of last year, Home. His newest release, Fantasy, is awash in varying styles and voices. It is smart and engaging.

Another big week in Music, and I still have one more title to put in front of your pretty eyes. This one also comes from London, by an artist I was unaware of until the run-up to the album which has become my Feature Pick for this week. Where I’m Meant To Be is the second album from Ezra Collective, a Jazz quintet led by drummer Femi Koleoso. It is a light and lively 14 songs determined to get your body moving. Guest vocals from Kojey Radical and Emili Sandé are highlights.

*Ezra Collective – Where I’m Meant To Be*

I hope you may have been able to find something that helps you brings joy to your life. And hey, call your mom and tell her you love her. I’ll talk to you again soon.

The New Music I’m Listening To This Outstanding Week, April 30-May 6, 2022:

Welcome to May!

The month has come to a terrific start, continuing a run of multiple weeks with ten or more new titles to add to my life. I have twelve exactly, in fact. Anyone who says there is no good music anymore should just stop talking forever.

*“Muzzles For Stupid People”, my failed election promise.*

Seeing as it is Bandcamp Friday (the day of the month when Bandcamp waives their 15% when you buy direct from the artist), it’s a good time to show some love for the Experimental section on the site. I’ve discovered so many excellent artists there, and while there may be debate regarding what “experimental” actually means, the exploration within all is evident.

This is no truer than with my first choice for the week. Serbian-born Marija Kovačević is found in Brooklyn, NY. The latest of her many projects is a very interesting one, with the title, “Music For Broken Violins vol. 1”. The title does give the plot away, somewhat. Nine tracks, conveniently numbered rather than titled, in numeric order. Each one is an exploration of found sound. But is it the instruments that are broken, or is it the music? It might just be the listener.

*Marija Kovačević – Music For Broken Violins vol. 1*

One of the freer sounds I’ve heard recently comes from a band from San Francisco. Skullture is the name for the guitar and drum duo of Chris Sollars and Lee Lavy. Both share vocals on the thirteen tracks of their self-titled full length, which take direct attack on the many evils in the world. They play with wild abandon and scorching feedback. It’s like if The Black Keys went off their hyperactivity medication. My friends, it is thrilling.

If Skullture doesn’t prove that Rock & Roll is alive and well, we can look to my next choice from Spain. Prison Affair is a band(?) from Barcelona. They speak Spanish there, don’t you know. However on their new release, “Demo 3”, there are four songs, sung in English, clocking in at less than seven minutes in total. At first sniff, they seem like your run of the mill Punk band, until the introduction of synthesizers gives it a unique twist.

I’ve been singing the praises of Australian Rock & Roll, but what has caught my ear has mainly been from the School of Punk. Shirking that trend is Melbourne’s The Stroppies. This quartet, as demonstrated on their latest album, “Levity”, are from a class of high-quality music arrangement, and jangly twelve-string guitar. Terrific vocals.

It’s just a short kangaroo jump from Australia and you’ll arrive in Japan, if I am not very much mistaken. From the overlooked city of Kyoto comes a female quartet, called Otoboke Beaver. I only mention their gender because it plays so prominently in their lyrics. Their new album, “Super Champon”, features songs like, “I Am Not Maternal”, and “Dirty Old Fart Is Waiting For My Reaction”, making it clear that these are not the quiet, demure, geisha girls that my racist ass envisions. Smart, fun, manic, snarling and exciting.

The female energy continues with a trio from London. Deep Tan are a band with a pointed sense of humour that makes me cheer. Their second ep, “Diamond Horsetail”, features five angular songs, including one, “Rudy Ya Ya Ya”, inspired by the disgraced former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani. Get up!

Stepping away from all that guitar-based goodness, I have found an Italian bass player and bandleader named Rosa Brunello. Her new album, “Sounds Like Freedom”, is an electro Jazz record with fantastic percussion.

A new record company from France, Les Disques Bongo Joe, has been hitting it out of the park with excellent quality music from various parts of the world. It continues this week with a debut release from Turkey by a trio named Lalalar. “Bi Cinnete Bakar” is fifteen tracks of high energy exotic sounds. Destination: Dancefloor.

We’re off the even more exotic locale of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for my next choice. JOYFULTALK is the performance name for Jay Crocker, an Electronic Producer/Composer. On, “Familiar Science”, his third album, he uses six other musicians to flesh out his sound, with twitchy drums and tasty arrangements.

I haven’t seen anything from the country of Haiti since I’ve returned to New Music. The closest I’ve come came this week with Haitian-American Layla McCalla. Based in New Orleans, she has amassed a band a great musicians to pay tribute to her roots. Using snippets of conversations with family members, “Breaking The Thermometer” brings us into a world of proud hardship.

*Leyla McCalla – Breaking The Thermometer*

I’ve got some quality Hip Hop to end this fantastic week of New Music. Isn’t it wonderful?

From the Hip Hop hotbed of Dublin, Ireland, comes Jermiside & The Expert. They’re an MC and producer duo that have been recording for about ten years. Their new album, “The Overview Effect”, harkens back to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, but is focused sharply on a better future.

*Jermiside & The Expert – The Overview Effect*

My final choice for this week is also my Feature Pick. It’s another MC and Producer duo, but this is of an intercontinental nature. Will Archer is a producer and writer from England, who is known for his work with Celeste, Nilüfer Yanya, and others. Hal Donell Williams Jr. is an LA-based rapper who goes by Vritra. Together they are Wilma Vritra. Their debut album, “Grotto”, is conscious Hip Hop, with brilliant production. Can’t lose! Captivating album cover too.

Thank you for staying with me. I know I do tend to go on. I hope you found something to add to your life. Hope you have a tremendous weekend. And I really hope that you’ll take good care of yourself. I’ll talk to you again soon!