A friend was talking about all the news that we're not hearing about lately, the shocking and violent things occurring in parts of the world that don't revolve around COVID cases or 45's latest bumblings. Later that day we saw the footage from Beirut, something that was too big to ignore. I don't have anything to say about it, and there's nothing to say really. Help if you can. Of course it's Bandcamp Day too. Cause the pandemic hasn't gone away either.
Evidence of Yesterday - Stay Away From The Unoriginal Cloned Minds
I came across this guy via K15's Bandcamp page and was initially wowed by a beautiful drifting track entitled 'Consequences'. This slightly older release is even more impressive, however, a suite based on "sonic explorations of Social Distancing". The sound of distant recorded speech and train bells emanate throughout, with drifting sonics passing through filters across the audio spectrum.
Pursuit Grooves - Sustainable Movements For A New Age
An Environmental Beat Tape, this one is originally from Earth Day 2009 but was recently unearthed (huh huh) by its creator, who also recently appeared on Ciel's Rinse show. It's boomy and bappy, warm and fuzzy, with titles like 'Fear of Genetic Engineers', 'Canvas Tote Bags', 'Nuclear Rainbows' and 'War Crimes in Space'. I especially love the funk and bounce of 'Fresher Than Yours' but the whole thing is an enjoyably lazy trip.
FRKTL - Excision After Love Collapses
The latest album from FRKTL continues in her history of blending cavernous sound art with hints of unknowable melodies. Fascinating and powerful, it's the kind of music that doesn't even bear speaking about, it should just be absorbed and observed, loud.
SAINT ABDULLAH - IN GOD'S IMAGE
Booming sounds from a pair of New York-based Tehran-born brothers, this is a fascinating release that merges raucous electronic sounds with field recordings and Iranian singing, wobbly samples and squibbly radiophonic frequencies. "Heretical combinations collide senses of antiquity and contemporaneity, resisting the many orientalist reads on Iranian culture and politics."
Nazanin Noori - FARCE
This isn't out till the end of the month but on the day that's in it I thought I would share... The two tracks, clocking in at 80 minutes total, were envisioned as an enraged argument (or a "modular heartbreak") unfolding between two groups of people about a pothole in the road, told from the perspective of the road, and then the pothole. What a concept! Sounds great too, from the nine-minute preview that's up there now. Searing, terrifying, exhausting, intensive sounds that pull at every fibre of your soul.
Stefan Ringer - Expressions EP
Stefan Ringer teams up with partner (and celebrated DJ/writer) Ash Lauryn for this vibrant ode to dancing. I'm not sure but I think this could be Lauryn's vocal debut? Either way she's a natural. 'Lets Get The Rhythm' is light and choppy but still carries weight. 'How I Like It' runs off gurgling arpeggios before dropping in weird syncopated synth stabs as Lauryn talks about how she likes it. The music. Right? Finally, 'Me' gets fast and dirty.
DarkTwaine_ - The Hainted
First of all, great name. Second, Hainted is southern speak for haunted, apparently. There's a track in here that uses the same sample as Dr Octagon's 'Waiting List', but in a completely different mode. The whole thing is weirdly affecting.
Nexcyia - Red Water
This is a really beautiful track, ebbing and flowing like delicate emotions.
Darian - SR35: Surprised Emoji EP
More bangers from Sorry Records. I shared a mix from Darian a few weeks back and this mix is... banging. 'Cracks' feels like mid-90s prog house over raw drum machine patterns, while 'Spinz' almost reminds me of early Underworld. In short. Banging.
Time Cow - Travels
Equiknoxx's Time Cow dropped this one last week. Three tracks of straaange music. 'Can't Be Found', featuring the vocals of Exile Di Brave, sounds like the villain's theme from a 1930s Disney film. It's almost comical yet retains a genuine air of malice. Exile Di Brave's performance is equally gripping. The SO$A-featuring Ben UFO starts off on a more straightforward tip but still manages to sound like futuristic race car tunnel music by the time its "chorus" comes around. The title comes from a sample that found its way into the mix, which I can't actually identify to be honest. Finally, Shokryme & RTKal bring furious energy to the clip-clops, unhinged flutes and crowd roars of '32'.
VA - Transcendental Movements Vol. 1 (IDO Records)
Here we have a fairly huge compilation from Valentino Mora's IDO, with tracks from Konduku, Neel, Donato Dozzy and Lanoche among others. From start to finish it's full of that deep and sumptuous sound that's just on that thin line between ambient and dub techno, and it's a joy to behold.
Amazondotcom & Siete Catorce - Vague Currency
This release is a made up of a pair each of solo tracks from the artists and one collab. They're all freaky and jerky percussive jams, with fascinating drum patterns and bizarre synth sounds. Really gets you in the brain and the chest.
A Young Person's Guide To Hustling (In Music And The Arts)
Digital Artist Book by Lawrence English
Not music, obviously, but worth a look. Lawrence English gives his advice on making your way through the thorny worlds of music and the arts.
L.Paradise - Palingenesis [YD012]
This one has such undeniable machine groove that I couldn't not share it. Two tracks of slightly angry club sounds with that paranoid menace that city life brings. Remixes too.
SPECIMENS - Café Songs
I've slowly been making my way through this one as I go about the house tidying up jigsaws and Lego sets, doing the washing up and folding clothes. It's a lovely recording featuring plaintive sax and piano, dedicated to essential workers with its proceeds going to groups "fighting for and supporting the black community, these are The Black Curriculum, UK Black Pride, Detention Action & Southall Black Sisters".
VA - ISOLATION AND REJECTION VOL 2 (Front & Follow)
This is a brilliant concept, bringing together tracks that were made for benefit comps but were then rejected. There's folk-laden ambient, modular noodles, twisted electro and lots more, and this is just the second in a series. It is itself a benefit comp, with its proceeds going to The Brick in Wigan, which offers services to people who are homeless, in poverty or facing debt.
Mr. Mitch, Milo MB & Oscar MB - Songs With My Sons
During lockdown, Mr Mitch has been teasing the timeline with tweets about making music with his young sons. Now we have the results, and they're delightful. Treated vocals about coronavirus and random wailings clash against the bass you might except from this grime master. It's a cute project AND the music is good.