Kee Avil – 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!

Upcoming New Releases (A Man After Midnight) – Week Ending Friday, December 1, 2023:

A hearty hello, as the chilly winds blow! Winter has happened all over us around these parts, which is certain to make all the skiers happy. As for me, my annual fantasy of moving my family to Brazil is in full effect.

New Releases continue to flow at a steady rate, but there are no Billboard Botherers to speak of. The closest we’re getting this week is Legacy Artists Peter Gabriel and Kenny G.

Peter Gabriel – Live and Let Live (Dark Side Mix)

There are a few Artists of interest to check out, including Mike Shinoda, Atmosphere, Field Medic, Kee Avil, Kate Rusby, Gene Loves Jezebel, DJ Haram and Dove Cameron.

Dove Cameron – Sand

My BandCamp Wishlist is sitting with a paltry three titles awaiting release. Today I’ll spotlight a new project from UK writer and producer A.G. Cook. Thy Slaughter’s debut, Soft Rock comes out on Friday. The preview singles are not, in fact, Soft Rock, but aggressive Synths banging against Pop hooks. Featured guests include Caroline Polachek, Charli XCX and others. Curious.

Thy Slaughter – Sentence

Be sure to come back on Friday for my weekly recommendations. They’re sure to be a treat!

The New Music To Which I Am Listening – Friday, March 11, 2022:

It seemed a little quieter this week compared to the last couple of weeks, in terms of New Music to add to my life. It’s always about the quality though, never the quantity, as thrilling as it can be. In total, I have seven titles for yourself and mine this week.

The week began with a Bandcamp release for an album that came out nearly two years ago. It escaped my notice until now, and therefore it still qualifies as “New Music”. Please save all questions until the end. I’m not exactly sure what Nina Harker is, but my guess is that it is the solo project of an artist named Valentin Noiret, who hails from Lille, France. This self-titled debut album is experimental in its combinations of sounds, the various languages it uses, and its loose adherence to form.

Sunday came with a debut ep from a young trio from Paducah, Kentucky. Their band name is probably my favourite pun name since The Beatles. Off With Their Meds is your standard guitar, bass, and drums set up. The five-song “ep” is filled with fun mathy time signatures, and snarling and smart vocals. Think early R.E.M., if Michael Stipe was less mumbly.

Those of you who know me probably know that I enjoy singing along to music. I also enjoy hip hop, which sometimes uses language that I’m not comfortable using. So I’m very sure to edit, with varying degrees of success.

Why do I mention this before my next recommendation? Simply because my internal censor has been awoken. And this next project is instrumental hip hop! TUAMIE is the name of an artist based in Atlanta, GA. The credits on Bandcamp for their new album “N****r With A Seizure” list a number of producers, including Skyzoo and Fly Anakin. It’s 22 tracks in 41 minutes of downtempo hip hop, and clever loops.

A Contemporary Classical composer and producer from Montreal has caught my attention. Raphael Reed is also known for his soundtrack work, and his new ep, “Reversal”, is cinematic in style. Beautiful and melancholy.

Keeping in the Classical realm, I am a noted sucker for choral acapella music. When done right, is the fastest route to the tingles in my spine. And it is tingling today, with the release of German Composer Daniel Smutny’s “Velouria – a Madrigal in six parts for 24 voices a capella”. It is performed by SWR Vokalensemble, a vocal ensemble based in Stuttgart, and conducted by Marcus Creed. There are some demanding passages for these singers, with clashing tonality, that builds a beautiful sonic landscape.

*Daniel Smutny/SWR Vokalensemble, Marcus Creed – Verlouria*

Back to Montreal again for something different. Vicky Mettler is a musician and producer who has worked with many in the local experimental music community. After a couple of singles, she has released her debut album as Kee Avil. “Crease” contains compelling vocals, served on a bed of curious production.

To finish off this week, an album that I believe may prove to be one of my favourites of 2022. However, any time I see that an artist has self-identified their music as “psychedelic”, I’m automatically suspicious. Thankfully, Jameszoo’s new album, “Blind”, transcends that tacky moniker. The Dutch artist known as Mitchel van Dinther has created a fascinating soundscape, steeped in Jazz, and utilizing old analogue synthesizers. It’s from the good people at Brainfeeder, the quality label owned by Flying Lotus. Genuine delicious weirdness.

A lovely week for one and all! Be good to yourself, and do what you can to help others.