https://williamackerman.bandcamp.com/album/positano-songs Genre: New Age Rating: Recommended released March 4, 2022 I think of myself as someone who really likes Ackerman but considering all he’s done I’ve really done a shit job of following his career. Hell, he founded Windham Hill Records. In a way, he’s comparable to Greg Ginn once you put away your swords.Continue reading “Positano Songs by William Ackerman”
Author Archives: birddog
Creeksoft 2 by GMRadioX
https://fileunder-gmradiox.bandcamp.com/album/creeksoft-2 Released in September 2022 Genre: Country Vapor Rating: 🦦🏞🦦🏞🦦 Full disclosure since my review of his debut ( https://birdboyblizzard.music.blog/2022/01/20/creeksoft-by-gmradiox/ ) i’ve become online friends with GMRadioX but my deep enthusiasm for this record is rooted in the quality of the music; not the man. I mean, I’m keeping it objective, if that sounded weird.Continue reading “Creeksoft 2 by GMRadioX”
Call and Response by Stefan Goldmann
https://ashinternational.bandcamp.com/album/call-and-response Genre: Experimental Rating: Highly Recommended As the title hints at Call and Response is the artistic expression of reverberation. If the machines have any sentience perhaps they feel like slaves and chain gang workers from the past. Musically this also calls on more modern traditions. A 2022 release like this with this sound isn’tContinue reading “Call and Response by Stefan Goldmann”
I tell you everything, just not out loud.by .Sue Ann Harkey
https://sueannharkey.bandcamp.com/album/i-tell-you-everything-just-not-out-loud Genre: Freak Folk Rating: World Treasure I wish I were a better writer so I could really give this the review it deserves. My first exposure to this was in 1987. It came along with an issue of the cassette culture zine Sound Choice. It soon became one of my favorite records of allContinue reading “I tell you everything, just not out loud.by .Sue Ann Harkey”
Bhakti by Zoh Amba
https://mahakalamusic.bandcamp.com/album/bhakti Genre: Free Jazz Raing: Beyond Ratings – World Treasure released on bandcamp September 27, 2022 Although Amba plays tenor saxophone this album is most closely related to Cecil Taylor. Especially Dark to Themselves which was recorded at the Ljubljana Jazz Festival which puts out the best stuff. Micah Thomas absolutely fucking slays on theContinue reading “Bhakti by Zoh Amba”
Mists Of The Past by Maciej Czajkowski Trio
https://multikultiproject.bandcamp.com/album/mists-of-the-past Genre: Contemporary Jazz Rating: 🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹 released on bandcamp October 24, 2022 Multikulti Project presents eight piano driven compositions by Maciej Czajkowski. Over all the feel is moody but not aggressively pushing boundaries. There’s also a very coherent feel to the record and with only a casual listen one may not realize how diverse Czajkowski’sContinue reading “Mists Of The Past by Maciej Czajkowski Trio”
Svaberg by Pjusk,Chihei Hatakeyama
https://pjusk.bandcamp.com/album/svaberg Rating: ☁️ ⛅️ 🌧 ❄️ 🧊 Genre: Ambient released July 7, 2022 Chihei Hatakeyama is one of my favorite ambient artists. His label, White Paddy Mountain, offers dozens of good releases. Hatakeyama himself has over seventy releases. You can start wherever you please as his music is consistent and he sticks with a winningContinue reading “Svaberg by Pjusk,Chihei Hatakeyama”
BURGUNDY SMOKE by Porter Ogden
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/JASnMeq6BqvTp8oU7 Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 🎤 🎤 🎧 🎧 Released in 2022 minimalist relative to hip hop easy post spliff sunday morning production with beats designed more to not cause alarm than to excite this was released on the forever cool sic records but im not sure if its still in their catalog or whatContinue reading “BURGUNDY SMOKE by Porter Ogden”
screen time by Thurston Moore
https://thurstonmoore1.bandcamp.com/album/screen-time-2 Genre: Experimental Rating: 📖 📕 📚 📑 💻 Released in 2021 feels like thurston fired up a fatty put on some loren mazzacane connors and thought goddamn i need to do some of this often i think we think our idols of yesteryear shouldve been killed and we ignore too much with this releaseContinue reading “screen time by Thurston Moore”
Transient Signalling At A Distance by Tom Ward
https://rawtonkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/transient-signalling-at-a-distance Genre: Free Jazz Rating: 🎷 🎷 🎷 🎷 🎷 When and Where: Track 1 recorded by Tom Ward at Two Ships, The Nest, Hastings on 16th July 2022 Tracks 2,4,5 recorded by Tom Ward at SET Lewisham on 1st August 2022 Tracks 3,6 recorded by Tom Ward at SET Lewisham on 20th June 2022Continue reading “Transient Signalling At A Distance by Tom Ward”
Doc Watson’s Self Titled Debut Long Play
Rating: 🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂 Genre: Folk Released in 1964 Doc Watson’s debut is a powerful and interesting musical landmark. The Watson Family already had a degree of fame and had released a record. Doc had also made a splash at the 1963 Newport Festival whose lineup included, incredibly, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Freedom Singers, Peter,Continue reading “Doc Watson’s Self Titled Debut Long Play”
Are Too Many Amateur and Semi-Pro Musicians Whiny Cunts?
Times are hard. In fact, times are always fucking hard. People are fighting for their side hustles because the traditional work your way up is fucking miserable. Don’t even get at me with this liking your job bullshit. Your job, if you have one, sucks. It’s ruining your life but that’s the deal. Ruin yourContinue reading “Are Too Many Amateur and Semi-Pro Musicians Whiny Cunts?”
Shabaka: Afrikan Culture
Genre: World Jazz Fusion Rating: 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍 Released: May 2022 This masterpiece. This treasure. This thing of beauty. This is Shabaka Hutchings leaving the fraudulent world of image before substance jazz and entering the highest tier of jazz royalty. By far his best work. Makes his previous stuff sound like a joke honestly. This man whoContinue reading “Shabaka: Afrikan Culture”
Eurythmia by Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra
https://cleanfeedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/eurythmia Genre: Jazz Fusion Rating: 🌍 🇲🇱 🇵🇹 🇫🇷 🎷 released on bandcamp September 30, 2022 This is an exciting record on the fabulous Clean Feed label that features an ensemble of twelve musicians from Europe and Mali performing original compositions by French pianist, Eve Risser. Of course, Mali has a great musical tradition andContinue reading “Eurythmia by Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra”
Doctor Ross – The Harmonica Boss
Genre: Blues Rating: 🐍 🐍 🐍 🐍 🐍 1974 Doctor Ross (October 21, 1925 – May 28, 1993) is a lesser known but still famous Delta Blues artist. He was born in Mississippi and the rough authenticity of his origins resonate strongly on this album. He traveled a great deal during his life. He servedContinue reading “Doctor Ross – The Harmonica Boss”
Starlight And Still Air by Starlight Assembly
https://starlightassembly.bandcamp.com/album/starlight-and-still-air Genre: Art Pop Rating: 🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌 released on bandcamp October 22, 2021 Other reviews and hype: https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/starlight-assembly-starlight-and-still-air-cd/BNSD.062CD.html https://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2021/10/starlight-assembly-starlight-and-still-air/ https://lineamasondixon.it/en/2021/10/27/starlight-assembly-2/ The vocal arrangements sort of remind me what can be heard in contemporary opera compositions. And unfortunately I typically find that style annoying, soulless, and simply poorly done. But there’s always room for me to learnContinue reading “Starlight And Still Air by Starlight Assembly”
I get along without you very well by Ellen Arkbro & Johan Graden
https://ellenarkbro.bandcamp.com/album/i-get-along-without-you-very-well Genre: Art Pop Rating:🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃 As far as I know this as close to pop music Arkbro has ventured. I think there’s a misconception among some that this could be an easier path but that certainly isn’t the case. This is her most vulnerable and most exposed effort and those qualities are very beautiful inContinue reading “I get along without you very well by Ellen Arkbro & Johan Graden”
Beyond the dark zone by Cristiano Bocci
https://unexplainedsoundsgroup.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-dark-zone Genre: Experimental Rating: 🎺 🎺 🎺 🎺 This one’s an aggressive percussive creature. If you remember the band Crash Worship the music on here builds tension in a similar fashion. It also has a film noir cinematic soundtrack vibe. Especially when you’re watching some movie and it occurs to you that the score composerContinue reading “Beyond the dark zone by Cristiano Bocci”
DAMAGE (CHOPPED NOT SLOPPED)Shady2crazy, DJ Slim K & The Chopstars
Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤 5/5 Highest Rating This came out in June 2022 and from the numbers on YouTube and Spotify it hasn’t caught traction yet but it will. This is a top three hip hop release this year and probably the best of the three. The other two being Future’s I Never LikedContinue reading “DAMAGE (CHOPPED NOT SLOPPED)Shady2crazy, DJ Slim K & The Chopstars”
Stipple by Knobs
https://knobs.bandcamp.com/album/stipple Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Genre: Ambient released on bandcamp September 15, 2022 Stipple is an excellent ambient release that leans heavily on acoustic instruments and borrows from the genre of music known as glitch. It’s been a minute since I’ve heard a new glitch release but it’s a genre I’m fond of and when it kindContinue reading “Stipple by Knobs”
The Landing by Joystick
Rating: 🚀🛰👽👨🏻🚀🛸 Genre: Space Music released on bandcamp September 13, 2022 One of my high school teachers once declared that she didn’t know what a joy stick was and I’m quoting this verbatim “but I find the name very intriguing”. I doubt she suspected that I enjoyed that special little aside so much that itContinue reading “The Landing by Joystick”
Editor’s Picks Summer 22
These are my faves among those that I’ve reviewed so far this year. ANTIDAWN EP by Burial https://burial.bandcamp.com/album/antidawn-ep SICK! by Earl Sweatshirt creeksoft by GMRadioX https://fileunder-gmradiox.bandcamp.com/album/creeksoft W by Boris https://boris.bandcamp.com/album/w 零花 -Absolute Flower- by 剤電 https://disciplineproduction.bandcamp.com Cyberpunk 2022: Alive by Fentanyl Embrace https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/cyberpunk-2022-alive A BOY NAMED HEXD by 999 HEARTAKE SABILEYE https://999heartakesabileye.bandcamp.com/album/a-boy-named-hexd The Winter Concert by ChloeContinue reading “Editor’s Picks Summer 22”
Good To Be Back In Reality by Colin Webster / Matthew Grigg
https://colinwebster.bandcamp.com/album/good-to-be-back-in-reality Genre: Free Jazz Rating: 🎷 🎷 🎷 🎷 🎷 released on bandcamp August 20, 2022 Webster and Grigg have released a free jazz record that pushes into the realm experimental noise. Resting somewhere on the horizon bringing to mind earlier pioneers like Borbetomagus and Keith Rowe. The tracks bubble with abstract unfolding sounds. TheContinue reading “Good To Be Back In Reality by Colin Webster / Matthew Grigg”
Preserves by Street Tentacle
https://balancepointacoustics.bandcamp.com/album/preserves Genre: Free Jazz Rating: 🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷 Released on Bandcamp August 8, 2022 It’s been a minute since I’ve heard any new free jazz releases banging like this one. There’s the joke about jazz is anything with a saxophone. While that may not be true, it is true that saxophonist Jeff Chan is actually the onlyContinue reading “Preserves by Street Tentacle”
Everdream by Agape Horizons
https://underwater-computing.bandcamp.com/album/everdream Genre: Dream Punk Rating: 🛰🛰🛰🛰🛰 released on bandcamp August 10, 2022 If you call it dream punk it’s dream punk but nobody calls anything but dream punk dream punk. It carries the classic hallmarks of slush and trad vapor but there’s an extra expansive quality to it. The grooves open up into something thatContinue reading “Everdream by Agape Horizons”
Warmth Highest 