Author Archives: birddog

https://jaubi.bandcamp.com/album/nafs-at-peace Genre: Spiritual Nu Jazz Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp May 28, 2021 It’s cool that some of this was recorded in Lahore and the ethnic flavor works in its favor but I’d so it’s conservative poppy nature, while done with sharp expertise, leaves this as a cut below Ustad Saami. I respect that theseContinue reading “Nafs at Peace by Jaubi”

https://homenormal.bandcamp.com/album/away-from-your-shadow Genre: ambient drone Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp January 28, 2021 This may not be a pioneering work of art but it’s startling beautiful. One of those that works within the established framework only to somehow find a way to do it better. This is representative of the creative and even emotional maturity ofContinue reading “away from your shadow by anthéne”

https://northernelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/winter-ashes Genre: Melodic Drone Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp March 19, 2021 Correctly ensorcelled by the Icelandic landscape, this way-up-northism that seems to be the geographical identity of an unnamed sub genre that spiritually possesses black metal, folk music, dark ambient and drone. From down here in the death metal tentacles of the Occupied MuskogeeContinue reading “Winter Ashes by Anthony Linell”

Genre: Free Jazz Rating: 5/5 Two veteran jazz geniuses join forces for, if I got it right, the sixth time. However, this is the first time as a duo. Recently, I’ve been drawn to jazz records with less musicians and not more. I mean, not exclusively, but if I’m deciding between two records I haven’tContinue reading “Daniel Carter, Matthew Shipp – Dark Matrix”

Rating: all three 5/5 and 5/5 as an artist Genre: Jazz Available in full on Spotify & Bandcamp To me the the four most exciting names in the world of jazz of the past five or so years are Mary Halvorson, Susana Santos Silva, Matana Roberts, and Jaimie Branch . All of them play, forContinue reading “Jaimie Branch Fly or Die Series: 1,2,&Live”

https://seikomart.bandcamp.com/album/miyazaki-coastline Genre: Atmospheric Rating: 5/5 It’s not like I’ve listened to everything on Seikomart but it seems the musicians are branching out and either stretching the boundaries to vapor or simply migrating elsewhere. To me, this feels like an ambient vapor hybrid bringing the better features from both genres, at least for this point inContinue reading “Miyazaki Coastline by Daibakaze”

https://phillipwilkerson.bandcamp.com/album/closer-to-silence Genre: Ambient Rating: 3/5 released on bandcamp June 5, 2021 Quality ambient

These are my favorite releases of 2021 thus far:  Proof by BLOOP (Lina Allemano / Mike Smith) Eternal Screw by ONY Lost Dreams (Chopped and Screwed) by Dj Purpberry Waterfall Arcing in the Still of Night by Tuluum Shimmering In Love & Fracture by C. Diab Burning Apricot by Carnivorous Plants Cyberdreaming by VHS SpectreContinue reading “Editors Picks”

https://bandrye.bandcamp.com/album/–4 Genre: Black Metal Rating: 4/5 Vladimir Frith, a Freddy Mercury lookalike, is the one man black metal band Рожь except he wisely invites Olga Volgina to add something I almost always welcome into a heavy metal record: female vocals – plus LOVE the last name girl!!! Fans of Hate Forest should dig this folkyContinue reading “Вечное by Рожь”

https://purpsounds.bandcamp.com/album/stay-trippy-chopped-and-screwed Genre: Screwston Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp June 1, 2021 Just for the purpose of clarification for the uninitiated: this is a remix of the record Stay Trippy by Juicy J. The style of mixing is called “chopped and screwed”. The originator of the chopped and screwed DJing style was DJ Screw who diedContinue reading “Stay Trippy (Chopped and Screwed) by dj purpberry”

https://johnlutheradams-coldblue.bandcamp.com/album/arctic-dreams Genre: Contemporary Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp May 28, 2021 If you’ve never heard Adams before I recommend starting with Become Ocean before checking this out. Unfortunately though the Become trilogy isn’t on Bandcamp. The entire trilogy is on Spotify but I think you’re ok with just Ocean or if you just don’t reallyContinue reading “Arctic Dreams by John Luther Adams”

https://jahwobble.bandcamp.com/album/guanyin Genre: Dub Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp February 5, 2021 Correcting the world’s wrongs is said to be therapeutic. I don’t know about that. A physician assistant was telling me how he adopted stoicism and learned that “giving back” is the key to self healing. I bet a six figure salary is pretty fuckingContinue reading “Guanyin by Jah Wobble & Family”

https://extremenoiseterror.bandcamp.com/album/the-earache-peel-sessions Genre: Punk Rock Rating: 5/5 Tracks 1-8 recorded 10/11/87, broadcast 17/11/87 Tracks 9-14 recorded 01/05/88, broadcast 11/05/88 Tracks 15-22 recorded 06/02/90, broadcast 08/03/90 (Source: Bandcamp page) True blue relentlessly hard hardcore fuck you I’m punk. Mick Harris plays on the 87-88 tracks best that I can figure. If you got evidence to the contraryContinue reading “The Earache Peel Sessions by Extreme Noise Terror”

https://brckhmptn.bandcamp.com/album/roadrunner-new-light-new-machine Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp April 9, 2021 Brockhampton are my favorite current hip hop collective. I see them as the fourth major “collective” as I define it (Collective: a hip hop band with at least four members whose names are worth remembering). In chronological order it goes NWA, Wu-Tang Clan,Continue reading “ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE by Brockhampton”

https://floatingpoints.bandcamp.com/album/promises Genre: Spiritual Jazz Rating: World Treasure (transcends numerical rating) My friend, who’s a successful writer, suggested I lengthen my reviews. While sometimes less is more and music simply needs to be listened to, on the other hand he’s right. Do I have anything to say? And if not, why the fuck am I writingContinue reading “Promises by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra”

https://hiraeth-records.bandcamp.com/album/27th-floor Genre: Dream Wave Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp January 30, 2020 If you’re looking for ambient type music that forces a little more engagement this is probably what your doctor would’ve ordered if Bernie were king. This continues through as a class struggle analogy, an apt one too, in that this music gives theContinue reading “27th Floor by Passive Refraction”

Moonchild – King Crimson Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny Old Friends / Bookends – Simon and Garfunkel Lonely People – America Nothing Else Matters – Metallica My Proud Mountains- Townes Van Zandt I Started a Joke – The Bee Gees When I Was Young I Left Home – Bob Dylan

https://lambchop.bandcamp.com/album/showtunes Genre: Soft Rock Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp May 21, 2021 The title to the record is no mistake. It’s an Americana ode to the ultimate Americana. I have mixed feelings about show tunes as a genre for the same reason I often find myself frustrated with opera. I dislike when the music bendsContinue reading “Showtunes by Lambchop”

Genre: Hard Bop Rating: Jazz Masterpiece / World Treasure Release Date: October, 1966 Recorded in ‘64 at the Van Gelder Studio this was Blakey’s last recording on Blue Note. Blakey’s run on Blue Note includes some of the most important music ever recorded and if you’re new to his music the album Moanin’ is aContinue reading “Indestructible by The Jazz Messengers”

https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/white Genre: Post Punk Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp May 17, 2021 This is a fun, aggressive record in the tradition of no wave post punk noise. It never gets so involved in the noise to lose its musical sensibilities. This collection of very distinct short songs all have some kind of hook or melodicContinue reading “White by White Banshee”

https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/holograms-2 Genre: Experimental Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp May 16, 2021 The Dream Catalogue label has released back to back to back home runs. This record has the typical vapor art but sonically is difficult to categorize. It runs a loop sample of someone who sounds like a black nationalist like Farrakhan supporter and withContinue reading “Holograms 2 by 骨架的 2”

https://subsoniceye.bandcamp.com/album/nature-of-things Genre: Jangle Pop Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp January 15, 2021 Catchy cuteness from Singapore. This is the first I’ve heard of this band but apparently their other older stuff is fuzzier dream pop. I bet it’s also good.

https://eleganceofthedamned.bandcamp.com/album/breathless-in-your-radiant-light Genre: Electronic Dream Pop Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp May 15, 2021 Very beautiful vocal music. Has a unique sound but should appeal to fans of Boards of Canada and Dead Can Dance. Lush electronic landscapes that could easily be stand alone ambient. Very engaging and enjoyable music.

https://thedustdiveflash.bandcamp.com/album/brooklyn-bridge-borealis Genre: Experimental Rating: 5/5 Released on bandcamp May 15, 2021 Ortman is one of my favorite musicians and it’s important to me to be Johnny on the Spot when it comes to listening and reviewing her stuff so I’m proud I caught this on the day it was released. It’s a covid video collaborationContinue reading “BROOKLYN BRIDGE BOREALIS by Laura Ortman”