Single Reviews: 13 April 2023: Daniel Luke, Samatha, Aarktica, The Saddest Day, Tom Jobus
Photo by Barthelemy de Mazenod Daniel Luke – Chatterbox neoclassical Dublin-based composer Daniel Luke deals in straightforward solo piano compositions that are quick, airy, and in search of beauty, as evidenced on his recent single “Chatterbox,” which segues from merry-go-round-like nausea to a more classically beautiful ostinato, all in underContinue Reading
Marcus Herne – Forms Redux (EP Review)
London-based composer and producer Marcus Herne adapts practices from classical minimalism, experimental sound design and electronic music to create an ultra-environmental sonic atmosphere on his latest EP, “Forms Redux”, which serves as a continuation of his 2021 release, “Forms,” and explores the delicate balance between the beauty and brutality ofContinue Reading
Rémi Fay – Funambulist (Album Review)
Father of the smartphone Steve Jobs offered some remarkable quotes during his lifetime, but perhaps none encapsulated his ideology of ‘less is more’ than: “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” This minimalist approach to problem solvingContinue Reading
Le Grand Salon – L’Architecture de l’Impermanence (EP Review)
Québecois-born, Pittsburgh-based composer, violonist, and producer Pier-Luc Boivin has been operating as Le Grand Salon since 2015. His latest EP, “L’Architecture de l’Impermanence”, is a bold and experimental take on contemporary classical composition that will challenge and reward listeners with its tense harmonies, intricate textures, and haunting melodies. The EP’sContinue Reading
Single Reviews: 10 April 2023: Negative Field, Dame Zina, Quiet Sonia, Oliver Say, The Illustrative Violet
Photo by wuyihale lin Negative Field – Stack V experimental The uncompromisingly intense sonic explorations of Texan artist Negative Field may be simply constructed, but they are multivariate in the impressions they make. On the recent single, “Stack V”, the producer, real name Brad Angotti, serves up what soundsContinue Reading
Harlow’s Monkeys – When the World for Humans Ends (EP Review)
On the spoken word of “The Body Keeps Score”, the opening track of When the World for Humans End by San Franciscan indie rock collective Harlow’s Monkeys, the listener is treated to a dulcet harbringer which lays out the philosophical raison d’être of the EP; late-stage capitalism means theContinue Reading
Brent Watkins – Distant Worlds (Album Review)
Accepting our own insignificance can be a challenge. In a capitalistic structure where we’re told we all have value (if we work hard, that is), gazing upon the night’s sky and seeing how small we pale in comparison may not be an easy exercise for the ego. However, accepting ourContinue Reading
Rogue Jones – Dos Bebés (Album Review)
Welsh musicians Bethan Mai and Ynyr Morgan Ifan, known as Rogue Jones, not only make music together but also make babies. While this may sound like an odd way to introduce a review, it’s a unique aspect of the duo’s lives that has influenced their latest album, Dos Bebés. OverContinue Reading
Single Reviews: 28 March 2023: Native Son, Romi O, Boris Rogowski, B.B.d00M, Guillem S. Benet
Photo by Lukas Rychvalsky Native Son – Good King Pleasant alternative New York-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, and visual artist Ano Chrispin goes by the nom de plume Native Son. On his most recent single, “Good King Pleasant”, Chrispin showcases his incendiary singing voice, playful sense of melody, and clean productionContinue Reading
Tag Cloud – Present Nature (Album Review)
The difference between country and city living is quite drastic. A bucolic setting affords one much space for reflection and provides a connection to nature, while the city gives one a sense of excitement and connection to people. No surprise then, that the countryside provides inspiration to artists. From WaldenContinue Reading