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