Juçara Marçal – New Music Jason’s Picks

The New Music I’m Listening To Extraneously This Week, March 16 – 22, 2024:

Greetings and smellutations, cats and kittens! Hoo boy, we gots ourselves a humdinger of a New Release week, and I have twelve titles to dazzle your senses. Do it to it!

I’ve got a dancefloor filler from Brazil to start the week. A single released in conjunction with London’s Jazz Room Records features a terrific band performing Brazilian Funk. The two tracks on Goma Laca EP are performed by Afrobrasilidades. They are led by the amazing Juçara Marçal on vocals, who released my favourite album of 2021, Delta Estácio Blues. You gotta get up to get down!

And then, as if on cue, there’s a new remix album for Juçara Marçal’s Delta Estácio Blues. Fifteen tracks, taken from the original album and the follow-up EPDEB are included on DEBRMX. Remixes from the likes of Chrisman, Moor Mother, and VHOOR are giving the dancefloor a workout.

Eagle-eyed readers will note that the Juçara Marçal remix album actually came out last week. It is literally impossible to find everything that comes out in a given week, so I’ve given myself parameters within which to search for New Music. One such parameter is that once I have entered a new Release Week, I don’t include titles that came out previously in my search. Seeing as I’ve already broken that rule this week, I’ve decided to double down on it.

Another title that came out last week comes from Portugal. Ana Lua Caiano is a multi-instrumentalist and Electronic Producer. Her debut album, Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado sees the Artist incorporating traditional Folk elements with ambitious Björk-inspired Production. Charming harmonies, and yet another reason for me to continue my Portuguese lessons.

*Ana Lua Caiano – Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado*

Glass Beams is a trio from Melbourne, Australia that was founded by Rajan Silva, who immigrated to Australia with his family as a child. Ninja Tune Records has just released their second album, Mahal. Steeped in Psychedelia, it incorporates traditional instrumentation with soulful grooves.

An Artist I’ve grown fond of over these past few years exploring New Music is London Percussionist and Composer Valentina Magaletti. Between her various collaborations (Vanishing Twin, Holy Tongue, and more) and her solo work, she transcends norms on the regular. Her latest is LUCHA LIBRE; a four-song EP that takes a disorienting journey of Field Recordings and loops, before closing with the upbeat and groovy DRUM JUMP.

A noisy Punk band representing the Wyoming Hardcore scene released a “sneeze-and-you-miss-it” EP. AWFUL’s 4 SONGS clocks in at less than four minutes. It’s a sharp jolt of energy, with urgent vocals and ripping bass play.

At twelve minutes, this next release is practically luxurious in its scope by comparison. Portland’s THE CELEBRITIES is a collaboration between Joe Sussman and Kel Mason. On the seven-song Redd Karpet they channel 60’s Bubblegum with gritty garage production.

A duo from the Washington, DC area got my attention this week with their latest release. model home utilizes samplers, tape and voice to create a deliciously lo-fi atmosphere. The six tracks on NECROLYF were recorded on March 5 of this year and elicit a rudimentary Hip-Hop vibe, seeped in distortion.

Scott Harren is an eclectic and innovative Electronic Producer from Miami. As Prefuse 73, he has collaborated with the likes of Mos Def and Aesop Rock. His new album, New Strategies For Modern Crime Vol. 1 is a strictly solo effort with an evocative Cool Jazz feel for the After Party.

*Prefuse 73 – New Strategies For Modern Crime Vol. 1*

An Electronic band from Sweden released their fourth album since their 2014 debut. Les Big Byrd is led by Jocke Åhlund, and Diamonds, Rhinestones and Hard Rain contains six tracks, including two extended jams. Entrancing and absorbing.

*Les Big Byrd – Diamonds, Rhinestones and Hard Rain*

I discovered Julia Holter via the pre-release single Sun Girl for her new album. Turns out that Something In The Room She Moves is her sixth album for the LA native, and I just haven’t been paying attention. I’ve been captivated by her sweeping vocals and captivating Production.

*Julia Holter – Something In The Room She Moves*

If you’ve seen recent photos or video taken in Gary, Indiana, you’d be forgiven if you got the impression that it is a Ghost Town. Abandoned factories and houses dot the landscape. However, there is still life emanating from that particular slice of America. Jerrilynn Patton performs as Jlin, and is a Composer and Electronic Producer (and former steel factory worker). Her latest album is Akoma. Intriguing rhythm-play is at work here, with Deep Bass and many twists and turns. Guests include Björk, Philip Glass, and Kronos Quartet. It’s my Feature Pick for this week.

If you made it this far, look under your chair, you’ve won a prize! I’m only joking, but if you looked, I have to say that I worry about you sometimes.

Take care of yourself!

The New Music I’m Listening To, This Mysterious and Satisfying Week, June 11 – 17, 2022:

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope your week wasn’t a soul-sucking trudge through the dull drudgery of what life may deign to offer. I hope it was filled with light, and happiness.

In terms of New Music, I suppose it was bound to be a lighter week in findings, compared with last, seeing as they don’t come much bigger than last week’s bounty. The surprise release by Drake today (Friday) didn’t do much to sway me to him, but I was able to find se7en releases to add to my life, and maybe yours.

I’m so happy to have discovered Juçara Marçal. Her album from last fall, “Delta Estácio Blues”, is a thrilling trip through dazzling soundscapes, led by Marçal’s daring and magnificent voice. Released this week is, “EPDEB”, a fantastic four-song ep. Presumably these are songs that are leftover from the album, but much like Radiohead, these are as good, or better, than the ones she kept. Of course, if I’m to have any certainty about this, or anything, really, it will require a working knowledge of Portuguese.

An album that got my attention this week comes from Melbourne, Australia. It is the product of a mysterious vocalist and songwriter who is known only as Phia. Her self-titled sophomore release is pretty standard Singer/Songwriter fare, with a secret weapon. Phia is the founder and artistic director of a choir, called, Melbourne Indie Voices. They are a collective of seventy+ singers, and they feature on four of the eleven tracks, to dramatic effect. The album is reminiscent of Leslie Feist, and that ain’t too bad, but it does suffer from some clunky lyrics. It’s a mystery why the choir wasn’t utilized more, but if you like pretty voices with good instrumentation choices, this is for you.

I thought I knew little about Phia, but I can say with certainty that I know even less about my next pick. The only information listed for The Clue’s one-track “Demo” is “Denver, CO”. The catalogue number of DB#21 is also noted, which refers back to its label, Deluxe Bias. At this point, I invite the reader to do a Google search for, “The Clue Denver music”. Relevant results are nowhere to be found. I can only assume this is the work of a solo musician, with drum-machine, guitar, and a microphone made from a potato. The track is five songs in seven minutes, and it is a great demonstration of weirdly poppy adventure.

I was able to find a scant few details about this next pair of artists. Adam Buffington and Zach Rowden have released (what I would call) a split-single, as Mocks Folder. They are from Dillsburg, PA, and New Haven, CT, respectively. Both of the two tracks on “Schnittke Was A Lifer” are titled by the artists’ initials, which would imply that they are the performer. Whether there is collaboration is unknown (another mystery!), but each of the tracks, about three-minutes in length, are experiments in found sound, spliced with church bells, disembodied voices, and light orchestral music. If you think that The Beatles’, “Revolution #9” should have been a single (which would have been amazing), than you need to give this a listen. You’re among friends, real and imaginary.

I don’t remember if I’ve found New Music from Finland before this week, with their mountains so lofty, their treetops so tall. I’m glad to have found, from Helsinki, a bedroom Pop artist called John Ringhofer, who has been recording as Half-handed Cloud since 1999. His latest album, “Flutterama”, is filled with quirky, left-of-centre instrumentation, some tape manipulation, and ‘arty’ vocals. Precious, without being vain.

Jaimie Branch is a Trumpet player, vocalist, and composer from New York. Her “Ride or Die Live” album that came out last year got my attention, and she has a side-project that has a full-length album out this week. Anteloper is Branch and Jason Nazary, who takes care of the Electronic elements on their third record, “Pink Dolphins”. The mystery with this is, what do you call it? I’ve landed on “trippy Space Jazz”, with doses of abandon.

A band that has too much hype to be mysterious is Woodstock, NY’s The Bobby Lees. This four-piece has a pedigree that precedes them; they signed to Mike Patton’s Ipecac Recordings, was pitched by Patton’s A&R man, Henry Rollins, and hyped up by none other than Debbie Harry. The Bobby Lees are likely on a lot of people’s “Next Big Thing” list. If they’re not, their new ep, “Hollywood Junkyard”, will give them good reason. Take no prisoners, confident and powerful, this is ROCK, kids, and it’s my Feature Pick for this week.

*The Bobby Lees – Hollywood Junkyard EP*

Mmmm…so satisfying. We’ve got a lovely mix of dreamy introspection, mixed with bold instrumentals, and a healthy helping of crunch. I don’t know where it stands in terms of nutrition, but I feel full. How about you?

Remember to take care of yourself, and I’ll talk to you again soon.

Upcoming New Releases – Week of June 17, 2022:

Last week was such a blowout of all my expectations, that I’m hesitant to predict how busy this week will be.

In terms of big name draws this week, there is not much to speak of. The rapper Logic has a new album on Friday, as does Alanis Morrisette.

She rocks Saddam Hussein’s ass.

I’m looking forward to hearing the new titles from Bartees Strange, Binker Golding, and J. Rocc. My BandCamp Wishlist has twelve titles awaiting release and final approval. Not all will make the cut (I think), but I am especially looking forward to the full releases from The Bobby Lee’s, Elaquent, and a new ep from Juçara Marçal. Marçal was responsible for my favourite album of 2021, bar none.

Juçara Marçal – Um Choro

It’s important to note that this Friday will be another BandCamp Friday. The app will be donating its share of the day’s sales to the NAACP, in honour of Juneteenth. It will be a lovely day to make your life better, with the power of music. I do hope that you will check back with me on Friday, so that I may steer your ears to beauty. Be well, friends, real and imaginary.

Postal Love, May 2022: (with PRIZE inside!)

Welcome to my new monthly feature that I just made up, wherein on the first Thursday of the month, I show off all of my new merchandise from musical artists, from the Royal Mail, and the USPS, and my own Canada Post (and beyond).

I also received a package from FedEx today, but that was cat food.

*Lucy Purr, the vicious attack cat, must be appeased.*

Also! I’ve made a personal decision to stop buying vinyl, cassettes, and CD’s, due to the plastic and whatnot. So I’m only going to get things I can use (or most likely, wear), from artists. The music files are digital, they’re really all I need, but I love wearing merch. So you’ll witness the end of my record collection in not too long a time from now. Bookmark this page. Alert the media.

*Yours truly, fashioning my stylish shirt from France’s* Ruby My Dear

So I’m on the prowl now for useful merch. No more tchotchkes shitting on the shelf. Show me your t-shirts, your hoodies, your boxers AND your briefs, your tote bags, your hookahs, surprise me!

Anyway, here’s some vinyl I’ve received lately…

Juçara Marçal’s fantastic solo debut, “Delta Estácio Blues”, continues to be my favourite album of 2021. After a 6-month delay, this record now joins my collection. This one comes hard.

Linqua Franqa’s debut album, “Bellringer”, was only released a couple of weeks ago, and has arrived in my meaty palms already. Conscious hip hop of the highest calibre.

The two-piece experimental group Avvitagalli’s full-length debut was only released last Friday. It’s a beautiful package with a deluxe photo booklet inside. A great souvenir of some very bold and adventurous sounds.

El Khat’s brilliantly funky “Albat Alawi Op.99” has become a front runner for my favourites of this year. A heady mix of the organic and the electronic.

You have to get your ears around all of these, and one lucky person will get a FREE download of the El Khat album! Check the photo below to find a unique code. Please comment when you claim it, to minimize potential disappointment.

I’ll be back tomorrow with all my new release picks for Bandcamp Friday!