A dense fog you can sink into and never want to leave…Glacial, enveloping waves of sound meticulously sculpted from processed organs, piano, and distorted guitar feedback.
Tim Hecker – Harmony in Ultraviolet Read More »
A cohesive, intimate collection of chamber pop songs, ornate with colorful arrangements, lush production, and some bluesy guitar licks.
Style: Soul, Singer/Songwriter
Moods: Conscious, Spiritual, Passionate, Uplifting, Bittersweet, Christian, Peaceful, Political, Sentimental, Warm
Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Lyrical, Suite, Melodic
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On Read More »
Style: Chamber Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Brit-Folk
Moods: Rainy, Melancholy, Sombre, Intimate, Peaceful, Lonely, Contemplative, Pastoral, Mellow
Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left Read More »
Somber ambient-folk with layers of delicate, circular fingerpicking and sparse arrangements of droning harmonium, piano, guitar feedback and the occasional chirping crickets. The soft reverb dampens everything like a light drizzle over the American prairie
Western Skies Motel – Settlers Read More »
Recorded at Royal Albert Hall in 1966
Format: 2xLP Box Set, 200g, Includes 12″ 20-page booklet of photos and essays
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Folk-Rock
Mood: Cryptic, Poetic, Reflective, Bittersweet, Rebellious, Romantic, Surreal, Intimate
Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Live, Melodic, Simple, Raw, Solo (LP1), Acoustic (LP1)
Bob Dylan – Live 1966: The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert (Bootleg Series Vol. 4) Read More »
Style: American Primitive Guitar, Folk
Moods: Joyful, Warm, Playful, Summer, Contemplative, Rootsy, Pastoral, Nature, Loner
Musical Qualities: Solo, Acoustic, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Technical
Leo Kottke – 6 & 12-String Guitar Read More »
Primitivist acoustic guitar instrumentals in the form of droney ragas, jovial ragtime, and pastoral fingerpicking
Jack Rose – Opium Musick Read More »
The debut LP from this unpretentious songwriters’ songwriter offers a quality collection of warm & uplifting songwriting with economic guitar genius and top-notch rootsy arrangements, featuring the heavenly, dreamy reflections of “Magnolia”.
J.J. Cale – Naturally Read More »
Unlike Molina’s work with Songs: Ohia or Magnolia Electric Co, this sparse, weary record is void of guest musicians or overdubs, leaving his words alone with nothing but a damp bed of reverbed guitar or mournful, sustained piano chords supporting them.
Jason Molina – Pyramid Electric Co. Read More »
Jazzy Folk-Rock with dynamic songwriting, passionate vocals, and acoustic shredding accompanied by fluid drums, watery vibraphones, distorted keys and groovy upright bass. FFO Astral Weeks, Joni Mitchell, John Martyn, and Tim Buckley
Ryley Walker – Primrose Green Read More »
organic washes of piano and zither, analog synthesizers, wood flutes, saxophone, and the occasional free jazz drums recorded, looped, and manipulated through cassette and reel tape recorders and then masterfully woven into a cosmic tapestry of blissful, meditative drones
Botany – Deepak Verbera Read More »
The past, present, and future of jazz converge on this progressive new release from the legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette, who’s played on everything from Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew to albums with Keith Jarrett, Alice Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, and numerous other masters since the late 60?s. Joining him are two descendants of the classic John Coltrane Quartet, Ravi Coltrane on tenor and soprano sax and Matthew Garrison (son of Jimmy Garrison) on electric bass and electronics. Rather than dwell in the shadows of their fathers, these two have already developed their own powerful and unique voices which are welcome additions to the jazz lineage.
Jack DeJohnette – In Movement Read More »
This album is full of energetic, psych-prog maximalism that occasionally settles down into (relatively) slowed down, spacious grooves. I recommend this to fans of The Mars Volta or anyone looking for a manic blend of psych, prog, fusion, punk and latin influences.
Omar Rodriguez-López – Xenophanes [Review] Read More »
I highly recommend this album to any nocturnal recluses looking for a shadowy singer-songwriter to listen to during their next existential crisis. Emil’s experimental blend of hi- and lo-fi recording methods and tasteful use of psychedelic atmospheres allow his strong songwriting to take precedent, while simultaneously offering plenty of new textures to discover with each subsequent listen. Diverse range of influences include Indian classical, psychedelic rock, drone, folk, dub…the list goes on.
Holy Sons – The Fact Facer [Review] Read More »
“Day of Mangoes” is overstimulation at it’s finest. Just imagine floating down a river through an unexplored tropical paradise where every corner brings a new array of colorful sounds. Warm synths gliding over clunking piano give way to chorus-drenched highlife guitars strumming over thick synth basslines. Manipulated vocal samples emerge from nowhere and then disappear into radio static just as quickly…RIYL: Animal Collective, King Sunny Ade, & Madlib
Dead Recipe – Day of Mangoes [Review] Read More »
A couple of months before his death in 1967, John Coltrane went into the studio with drummer Rashied Ali to record some of the most free recordings he’s ever made, the freest of free jazz. Perhaps this freeness is due to the absence of other tonal instruments, leaving Coltrane untethered to harmony and 100% free to play whatever raw, unhindered creativity flows through him.
John Coltrane – Interstellar Space [Review] Read More »
Style: Art Pop, Trip-Hop, Experimental Electronic
Vibe: Breakup, Passionate, Heartfelt, Personal, Intense, Futuristic
Musical Qualities: Orchestral, Glitchy, Lush, Digital Beats
[Click for full review]
