Style: Glitch-Pop, Art Pop, Singer/Songwriter
Vibes: Cryptic, Surreal, Mechanical, Mystical, Existential, Knotty, Warm, Alienation, Bittersweet, Futuristic, Anthemic
Musical Qualities: Glitchy, Catchy, Sampling, Distorted, Vocal Manipulation, Dense, Melodic, Electro-Acoustic, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Digital Production
Bon Iver – 22, a Million Read More »
Style: Weird Americana, American Primitive, Appalachian Folk
Vibes: Pastoral, Rootsy, Rural, Knotty, Spiritual, Meditative, Ragged, Twangy
Instrumentation: Banjo, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
Nathan Bowles – Whole & Cloven Read More »
Style: Desert Blues, Psychedelic Trance Rock, Tishoumaren, Post-Minimalism
Vibes: Hypnotic, Desert, Earthy, Psychedelic, Communal, Driving, Ritualistic
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Riffs, Improvisation, Instrumental, Repetitive, Microtonal
Instrumentation: Homemade Percussion, Plywood Crate, 12-String Guitar, Shakers, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Upright Bass, Viola, Trumpet, Saxophone (Baritone & Alto)
75 Dollar Bill – Wood / Metal / Plastic / Pattern / Rhythm / Rock Read More »
Style: Art Rock, Orchestral-Rock, Electronic-Influenced, Krautrock-Influenced
Vibe: Lonely, Sterile, Cold, Depressive, Breakup, Introspective, Sad, Sombre, Reflective, Hypnotic, Motorik
Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Polished, Orchestral, Pulse, Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool Read More »
Style: Free Jazz, EAI, Noise
Vibe: Cathartic, Visceral, Meditative, Powerful, Intense, Mournful, History, Personal, Political
Musical Qualities: Solo, Noisy, Loops, Distorted, Electro-Acoustic, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Tenor Saxophone, Effects, Voice
Patrick Shiroishi – Descension Read More »
Style: Ambient Pop, Progressive Electronic, Sound Sculpture, Downtempo
Moods: Urban, Surreal, Nocturnal, Cryptic, Mysterious, Retro-Futuristic, Hypnotic, Introspective, Motorik, Ethereal
Musical Qualities: Vocal Manipulation, Studio-as-an-Instrument. Rhythmic, Atmospheric, Lush, Sampling
Nicholas Jaar – Sirens Read More »
Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Country-Psych, Roots Rock
Moods: Reflective, Western, Road Trip, Desert, Warm, Groovy, Laid Back, Cinematic, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Dub Production, Melodic, Rhythmic
Instrumentation: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Organ, Drum Machine, Slide Guitars (Pedal Steel & Lap Steel), Harmonica, Synthesizers, Saxophone, Drums, Electric Bass
Scott Hirsch – Blue Rider Songs Read More »
Style: Neo-Psychedelia, Noise Pop, Experimental Rock
Moods: Chaotic, Anthemic, Mechanical, Hypnotic, Surreal, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Noisy, Melodic, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Dense, Repetitive
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Folk-Rock, Heartland Rock
Moods: Breezy, Warm, Road Trip, Carefree, Sunny, Uplifting, Peaceful, Anthemic
Personnel:
Steve Gunn – Guitar, Vocals; Jim Elkington – Guitar, Dobro; John Truscinksi – Drums; Nathan Bowles – Percussion, Pian; Justin Tripp – Electric Bass; Jason Meagher – Electric Bass; Hans Chew – Wurlitzer
Steve Gunn – Ancient Jules Read More »
Style: Post-Bop
Moods: Elegant, Intertwined, Airy, Longing, Responsive, Tender, Peaceful, Communal
Musical Qualities: Ballads, Improvisation, Thematic, Acoustic, Melodic, Complex
Instrumentation: Upright Bass, Tenor Saxophone, Electric Guitar, Drums
Joshua Abrams’ Cloud Script Read More »
Style: Ethereal Country, Psychedelic Folk, Slowcore, Singer-Songwriter, Dream Pop
Vibe: Enchanting, Dreamy, Hypnotic, Forest, Wistful, Brooding, Western, Nocturnal, Sensual, Lethargic, Soothing, Melancholy, Reflective, Autumnal, Ethereal, Desert, Romantic, Bittersweet, Spectral
Musical Qualities: Slow, Lush, Soft, Atmospheric, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical
Instrumentation: Slide Guitar, Vibraphone, Keyboards, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Drums, Cello
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions – Until the Hunter Read More »
Style: Spiritual Folk, Outsider Folk
Vibe: Mystical, Pantheistic, Contemplative, Uplifting, Enchanting, Intimate, Heartfelt, Forest, Ritualistic, Meditative, Morning, Warm, Storytelling
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Suite, Spoken Word, Melodic, Lyrical
Instrumentation: 12-String Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Marimba, Vibraphone, Vocal Harmonies, Gong, Percussion, Shakuhachi,
Fountainsun – Sweep the Temple Read More »
Style: Swamp Psych, Southern Gothic, Country Drone
Vibe: Haunting, Murky, Brooding, Bluesy, Adventure
Musical Qualities: Droney, Suite, Improvisation, Crescendo, Modal
Instrumentation: Electric Guitar, Organ, Grendel Drone Commander, Drums
Jenks Miller and Rose Cross NC – Blues for WHAT Read More »
Style: Psychedelic Soul, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Warm, Conscious, Existential, Reflective, Political, Angsty, Sensual, Smooth, Mellow, Ethereal, Anthemic
Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Polished, Melodic
Jim James – Eternally Even Read More »
On this mournful offering, Cave’s poetic reflections on loss, longing, and loneliness slowly float down a river of gloomy synth drones, somber strings, and sparse piano. While not exactly uplifting, the album has a sense of peace and beauty that continues up through the repeating final refrain, “and it’s alright now”.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree Read More »
Style: Experimental Rock, Post Rock
Vibe: Cathartic, Visceral, Spiritual, Brooding, Shadowy, Apocalyptic, Ritualistic, Suspenseful, Climactic, Dark, Powerful, Heavy, Cryptic, Philosophical, Surreal, Epic, Hypnotic, Sombre, Meditative, Mysterious, Monolithic, Longing, Existential, Disorienting
Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Repetitive, Dense, Crescendo, Rhythmic, Droney
Swans – The Glowing Man Read More »
Style: Psychedelic Neo-Soul, Dream Funk, West Coast Hip-Hop
Vibe: Romantic, Summer, Playful, Warm, Catchy, Groovy, Sensual, Uplifting, Urban, Warm, Carefree, Dreamy, Joyful
Musical Qualities: Lush, Rhythmic, Polished, Sampling, Melodic
Anderson .Paak – Malibu Read More »
Style: Experimental Rock, Totalism, Math Rock, Tishoumaren-Influenced
Vibe: Anxious, Complex, Energetic, Exploratory, Hypnotic, Disorienting
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Microtonal, Odd Time Signatures, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Repetitive, Minimalistic, Technical, Drones, Glitchy, Dissonant
Horse Lords – Interventions Read More »
Style: Americana, Country, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Haunting, Storytelling, Bluesy, Rustic, Melancholy, Western
Lucinda Williams – The Ghosts of Highway 20 Read More »
Style: Ambient Lounge Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Hypnogogic Pop
Vibe: Pastel, Mellow, Lush, Nocturnal, Playful, Catchy, Romantic, Soft
Devendra Banhart – Ape in Pink Marble Read More »
Style: Art Rock, Jazz-Rock
Vibe: Introspective, Moody, Passionate, Sentimental, Sombre, Conceptual
Musical Attributes: Lyrical, Complex, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Rhythmic, Progressive
Lyrical Themes: Death, Existential, Personal, Reflective
David Bowie – Black Star Read More »
Style: Progressive Electronic, Experimental
Vibe/Mood: Ethereal, Spacey, Futuristic, Mysterious, Suspenseful, impressionistic
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Instrumental, Studio-as-an-instrument (Loops, Editing, Dubs), Vignettes, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Synthesizer, Drum Machine
Style: Soul, Art Pop
Vibe: Confident, Heartfelt, Introspective, Colorful, Triumphant, Uplifting, Urban, Loner
Lyrical Themes: Conscious, Poetic, Political, Personal, Black Pride, Love, Feminist
Musical Attributes: Groovy, Lush, Headphone Album, Polished, Catchy, Technical
Jamila Woods – Heavn Read More »
Religious allegory, profane thoughts, and lustful confessions intertwine on Human Behavior’s third LP; Kedimum is a brooding suite of psychological chamber folk that introspects into a conflicted mind, struggling to reconcile matters of indoctrinated faith, natural human desires, and internalized guilt. Primary songwriter Andres Parada is joined by a sympathetic cast of vocalists to create a vivid sonic drama complete with choral vocals and spoken word passages to complement his haunting narrations. The intricate and shadowy arrangements blend distorted electronic beats with a wide array of acoustic instrumentation, including banjo, clarinet, accordian, acoustic guitar, violin, ehru, and cello.
Human Behavior – Kedumim Read More »
“The five-piece band synthesise contemporary classical forms – most often recalling Steve Reich or Philip Glass – and marry them to the looseness and improvisational nature of jazz and the dynamics of head-nodding electronic music. Stateless is at once both carefully composed and freely flowing. The compositions included here are more about rhythm, texture and contrast than definable melodies and harmonic structures.” – Scott Wallace [Sydney Scoop]
Tangents – Stateless Read More »
Released in 2016 on Polydor Records Format: LPx2 Style: Modern Soul, Future Garage, Art Pop Vibe: Sad, Heartfelt, Reflective, Lonely, Intimate, Futuristic Musical Attributes: Lyrical, Digital, Melodic, Beats, Ballads Themes: Breakup, Love, Personal
James Blake – The Colour in Anything Read More »
Released in 2016 on Polyvinyl Records Format: LP, translucent purple vinyl
Deerhoof – The Magic Read More »
This heavy drone rock feels like a journey through some haunted terrains and forests in ancient Europe. Monolithic fogs of synths and electronic soundscapes drone on for minutes at a time, occasionally being infiltrated by psychedelic guitars and pummeling marches of drums and bass. Given the cohesive ark, determined focus, and fluidity of the album (without as much as a pause between tracks until track 7), it was surprising to find that most of the songs are studio-enchanced improvisations pulled from 2014 tour recordings.
Recommended for fans of motorik drums, the thick drone of early Earth or Sunn O))), psychedelic guitar noises and fuzzy stoner rock riffs.
Ulver – ATGCLVLSSCAP Read More »
LP, R&S Records, 2016 Recorded 2007-2015
nonkeen – Oddments of the Gamble Read More »
Released in 2017 on International Anthem Recording Co. Recorded June 2016 Format: LP
jaimie branch – Fly or Die Read More »
Released in 2016 on Domino Records Format: LPx2, includes poster and lyric Booklet
Blood Orange – Freetown Sound Read More »
Released in 2016 on Don Giovanni Records Format: LP
Moor Mother – Fetish Bones Read More »
Released in 2016 by Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
Wrekmeister Harmonies – Light Falls Read More »
Released in 2016 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
Tortoise – The Catastrophist Read More »
Ryley Walker’s virtuosic fingerpicking and intricate folk-rock songwriting vibe heavily with a backing band of Chicagoan jazz musicians, including upright bass, drums, Rhodes and electric guitar. The first LP of this release is a studio album of jazzy folk rock songs for fans of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks or Tim Buckley’s Happy Sad, while the Bonus Lp of this “Deep Cuts edition” is a 40 min live improvisation on one of the album cuts that probably beats anything on the studio LP. It’s rad to be able hear both the concise, song-centric studio side and the loose jammy side of this exciting artist in the same release.
Ryley Walker – Golden Sings that have been Sung (Deep Cuts Edition) Read More »
A far cry from the sparse folk usually recorded by Will Oldham, “Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties” finds his intimate voice and warbly acoustic guitar enveloped by the cosmic drones, blooming synths, airy flutes, and hypnotic tape loops of Chicago new age trio, Bitchin Bajas. The lyrics are essentially fortune cookie mantras and, while there’s a chance they’re tongue-in-cheek, it’s difficult not to smile and feel a brightening of the spirit when hearing uplifting phrases like “Your hard work is about to pay off, keep on keepin’ on” or “you and your whole family are well” get repeated over and over. This collaboration is a soothing, heartwarming listen and a refreshing change-of-pace from Oldham’s tendency towards melancholy and solemn lyrical content.
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Bitchin Bajas – Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties Read More »
After 20+ years of using his introspective songwriting as a playground for psychedelic lo-fi experimentation, underdog hero Emil Amos hands the production reins to John Angello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) for his most polished album yet, capturing the best aspects of 70’s rock classics without ever feeling cliché. The hi-fi analogue production brings a newfound clarity and depth that allows Amos’ songwriting and instrumental performances to bloom; the choruses are anthemic, the atmospheres are darkly psychedelic, and his lyrics are just as philosophical and contemplative as ever.
Holy Sons – In the Garden Read More »
The brooding, atmospheric synth-pop of Poliça’s third LP finds Channy Leaneagh’s passionate vocals once again supported by prominent bass grooves, driving dual drummers, and occasional string and horn arrangements, all mapped into intricate, quantized webs of programmed beats and synthesizers by co-leader/producer Ryan Olsen. Lyrically, the album centers around themes of isolation, fading love, and as well as more political topics such as police violence.
For fans of Portishead, The Knife
Poliça – United Crushers Read More »
18 years after their last album, golden-era hip-hop legends A Tribe Called Quest return with a fresh, progressive take on their signature sound. Featuring André 3000, Talib Kweli, Anderson Paak, Kendrick Lamar, and Busta Rhymes
A Tribe Called Quest – “We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service” Read More »
“Classic creative bop melodies and golden era beat memories woven into a vibrant new thread of psychedelic soul jazz”
Jeff Parker – The New Breed Read More »
On his Warp Records debut, the eccentric rapper crafts an album of shadowy hip-hop that expresses a unique creative vision. His bipolar, extremely personal lyrics fluctuate from paranoid agoraphobia and self-deprecating reflection to uninhibited hedonism and braggadocios swagger, sometimes in the course of a couple lines. Highly recommended for fans of Busdriver, Aesop Rock and other psychedelic hip-hop artists
Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition 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 »
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 »
