Minneapolis – New Music Jason’s Picks

The New Music I’m Listening To Expeditiously This Week, September 2 – 8, 2023:

Good Day to one and all, my dear friends of mine! It’s a glorious Friday, the birds are singing, the kids are at school, and the New Music is a-flowing.

I’ve been able to find nine titles to bring to your attention today, with a couple of surprises to send your way.

I’m a little surprised to be recommending New Music from the Oldest Band In Existence, The Rolling Stones, but here we are. Mick and the geezers have a new album coming out in October, and we’ve been given our first taste of New Music in 18 years. With Angry they show us the same spry energy that has made them great, and the songsmithery is not too shabby. Could be one of their bigger hits of these last forty years.

The Rolling Stones – Angry

A Downtempo album was released this week from London Singer/Songwriter Tirzah, in collaboration with Mica Levi. trip9love…??? spotlights Tirzah’s moody voice, set to a backing of lazy beats and dreamy instrumentation.

Darcy James Argue’s 18-piece Big Band, his Secret Society, has been around nearly fifteen years, playing out of New York City. Their latest release, Maximum Dynamic Tension, is a luscious production, with big beefy bottom and shimmering high end. Musically, it is thrillingly dense and agile, with cinematic passages for the Brain Movie in your head.

*Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Dynamic Maximum Tension*

Florian Arbenz is an in-demand session drummer from Switzerland who has been releasing a series of Conversations, improvisational sessions with fellow musicians. The tenth of the series was recorded during the travel restrictions of the pandemic with fellow Swiss Artists, including Martial In-Albon on trumpet, flugelhorn and sea shell, and Nils Wogram on trombone. Moody and adventurous.

*Florian Arbenz – Conversations #10-Inland*

To finish up with my Jazzy mood for this week, Black Market Brass is a nine-piece ensemble from Minneapolis. Their new album, Hox, is a hypnotic blend of Afrobeat, Psychedelic guitar, and punchy brass to get your feet moving.

Back in 2021 I discovered a band from Brazil with one of my favourite names. Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo has returned with their sophomore releases d I’m pleased to report that Música do Esquecimento is an excellent use of your time. Uptempo, hook-heavy, and at times aggressive, with Chablau’s confident and stylish voice at the fore.

*Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo – Música do Esquecimento*

Irish singer Róisín Murphy has long been a respected Artist in the Pop field. Her warm alto voice, once as lead of the 90’s band Moloko, has graced tracks with Jessie Ware and David Morales, as well as a handful of solo albums. Her latest, Hit Parade is a collaboration with German Electronic Producer DJ Koze and is thirteen tracks steeped in edgy production and bold sonic choices. Murphy’s voice is divine.

When I made my return to New Music in early 2020, after being distracted by babies and such, one of the first Artists that I was thrilled to discover was a female DJ from Tunisia named Deena Abdelwahed. Her sonic palate is thrilling, and I’m excited to see that she has released a new full-length. Jbal Rrsas جبل الرصاص drowns The Main Room at My Imaginary Nightclub in Eastern melodies, Deep Bass and warped beats.

*Deena Abdelwahed – Jbal Rrsas* جبل الرصاص

A confessional and emotional album crossed my path this week and touched my heart. Boston Singer/Songwriter Jessica Kion has been recording and performing as Justice Cow since 2015. Her latest, my dad died is a direct testimony of the trials of growing up with an alcoholic father, and sorting out the emotions of grief at his passing. Thoughtful and touching. The production and arrangements makes this album rise above its ken, and Jessica’s voice is devastating. It’s my Feature Pick for this week.

May you have a transcendental weekend, filled with joy and bliss. I’ll talk to you again soon.

The New Music I’m Listening To With Great Aplomb This Week, April 8 – 14, 2023:

A beautiful week, is what it is! Hope the sun in shining in your sky, as I impart some musical love in your direction. I have eight new titles you can sink your teeth into. Or you can just suck on it. That’s not what I meant.

When my wife and I were married, back at the turn of the century, we went for our honeymoon to the west coast of Canada and the US. As we were sitting while the plane was taking off, the Alternative station on the in-flight entertainment played the current Canadian hit Come For A Ride by By Divine Right (which included Leslie Feist on rhythm guitar and vocals). We felt that the serendipity of the moment was special, and it became, for a time, Our Song. During that trip we made our way to Whistler, BC and playing in The Boot Pub that very night was By Divine Right. Of course we went to the show and it was great. The next morning we drove down to the ferry to go to Victoria, on Vancouver Island. Can you imagine who I locked eyes with while on the ferry, in recognition of each other? Leslie freaking Feist! You can imagine how happy I was to see her solo career take off. Her voice is magical, and she has a profound point of view, as demonstrated by her most recent album, Multitudes. She really is brilliant.

Die Letzen Ecken is an Experimental Post-Punk trio from Berlin. Led with bubbling synths and angular rhythms, their second album Talisman is confidently cool and charismatic.

A vocalist from London who is beginning to make a name for herself has released her debut EP. Across the five tracks of We Meet At Last, Kay Young introduces herself as a bold and captivating new voice who deserves all the flowers.

Joshua Abrams is a multi-instrumentalist from Chicago who has been releasing collaborative Jazz albums as Natural Information Society for over fifteen years. His latest, Since Time Is Gravity, features ten additional artists, including Ben Lamar Gay on Cornet, and living legend Ari Brown on saxophone. Enjoy the journey!

*Natural Information Society – Since Time Is Gravity*

A brand new collaboration between New York’s producer and multi-instrumentalist Leon Michels and legendary MC of The Roots Black Thought has been unleashed. Along with the Philadelphia lyricist, El Michels Affair’s Glorious Game brings twelve tracks of fire.

*El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game*

Prof is a rapper and producer from Minneapolis that looks uncannily like Music Reviewer Anthony Fantano. Maybe Fantano will take note of Horse, which is a fancy-free and fun release that contains features from both Method Man and Redman. I’m feeling a Solid 7.

Montreal’s Kid Koala is probably my favourite turntablist. Between his solo work and with Deltron 3030 and Gorillaz he has always been consistently innovative. His new album, Creatures of the Late Afternoon, infuses a more Rock attitude to his Hip-Hop template, across twenty tracks.

*Kid Koala – Creatures of the Late Afternoon*

I confess that I got into a bad habit of skipping over certain genres of Music that haven’t been paying off for me. An artist that taught me to do my due diligence is knocking my socks off this week. Joe Young is a Reggae singer from Bristol, UK. His high tenor voice is truly out of this world, and ranks with the best. His new album, with backing band The Co-Operators, A Distant Beat, showcases Young’s voice with winning production that tastefully incorporates Electronic elements. My Feature Pick for the week.

*Joe Young & The Co-Operators – A Distant Beat*

HR tells me that I should apologize for my choice of words, but you know what? They can suck on it as well. It’ll serve them well.

Be good to yourself!

The New Music I’m Listening To This Bouncy Trouncy Flouncy Pouncy Week, January 7 -13, 2023:

We have ourselves a proper New Release Week, my friends! A hearty mix of New Music has been unleashed and I have nine titles to trade and share. Fun fun fun fun fun!

I found an Experimental Electronic Artist from Brighton, on the southeast coast of England this week. The anonymous musician chooses to be known as Shit Creek (and who could blame them?) and their latest release is a four-track full-length. Time Is The True River is built upon droning loops, with synthetic accoutrements, and is a pleasurable listen.

José Guerrero hails from Valencia, Spain. As Senthulà, he composes and performs Downtempo Dance Music. His album, El Pasaje del Aumento is six tracks of smart and respectable Club Music with syncopated African rhythms and dubby bass. The sound of the near future.

We head to the U.S. now. An unusual album came out this week from The Great State of Vermont. A multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer named Henry Birdsey has written and recorded eleven Laments For Rhodes Piano In Just Intonation on a microtonal electric keyboard. I’m taken by beauty in dissonance, and this is a perfect demonstration. This solo performance contains the sparsest of rhythm, merely tonal inflections droning and crashing into one another before naturally dissipating. A simple formula that works for me.

*Henry Birdsey – Laments For Rhodes Piano In Just Intonation*

Now we go to Chickasha, Oklahoma, where we find Rapper and Producer zombAe. He is a member of a band called Rural Internet, and his self-titled side project has been releasing Music since this past October. His second ep, Illegal Music Vol. 2: Oops All Trap Metal is eight terrific tracks in fifteen minutes of lo-fi skittered beats and nauseous loops. zombAe’s flow is playful and loose.

*ZombAe – Illegal Music Vol 2: Oops All Trap Metal*

In the city of Detroit, Michigan, there is a burgeoning Hip-Hop scene of innovative producers and quality MC’s. Leading this charge is rapper Danny Brown, and his Bruiser Brigade Records. His stable of talent is on the cutting edge of Hip-Hop. I’m pleased to have something new from MC ZelooperZ. It’s a five-song ep called Might Not Make It and it’s chock full of bangers.

Minneapolis’ Jeremy Nutzman knows that his given name lacks in star power. Doesn’t look right on a marquee. This left-of-centre Electro R&B artist from The Music Scene That Prince Built has released his sophomore album as Velvet Negroni. Bulli is atmospheric and groovy, and extracts from a similar vein to Moses Sumney. Bubbly bass riffs and broken beats drive this album that is filled with ear worms.

“Yes, yes, Jason, this is all well and good,” my inner critic begins, “but what of the Rock? Show me the mosh pit!”. Leave it to Australia to provide all of our Punkly needs. QUNQS are from Perth, and have released their self titled debut ep. QINQS EP is five hard driving Post-Punk songs with an Outlaw Country bend in ten minutes. Sweaty and raw.

Back in August I featured an album from a Punk band based in Poland. BZDET is back with a dozen new songs. DALEKO OD OK expands their oddball aesthetics with stabbing guitars and synthesized atmospherics.

This week I discovered an artist from Nagareyama, Japan, just to the Northeast of Tokyo. Hikaru Yamada is a composer and producer and she leads a trio that are called Yamada and The Librarians. Synthesized instruments are the foundation to the havenots 2nd savannah band, their fifth full-length of original material. Lush and beautiful vocals from Kaede Anasako and ermhoi and terrific rhythm-play and sonic palette make this a winner. It’s my Feature Pick.

*Hikaru Yamada & The Librarians – the havenots 2nd savannah band*

I hope you are able to luxuriate in your happy place this weekend. As for me, I’m going to bask in all this great New Music while I join my good buddy Eeyore in our search for sunlight. You haven’t seen it, have you?

The New Music I’m Listening To On Another Championship Week, September 3 – 9, 2022:

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.”

Björk – Atopos

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.

Catherine Graindorge feat. Iggy Pop –
The Dictator

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.

*Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen*

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!

*Alice Dreamt –*
*The Visions of Dear Perfection*
*(Or, The Candy Land Generals)*

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!