Amoeba Music

From his early days as a trance and techno wunderkind, Holden has always been amazing at whatever styles he embraces. This new studio album by the London musician is a masterpiece of textural and rhythmic exploration, a wild ride through a post-modern landscape of electronic music with debris from psychedelic rock, jazz (lots of sax), various global music traditions (some tablas in the mix), new age music, film soundtracks, musique concrete, and much more. His modular synthesizers are at the core of the work here, lending a buzzing intensity to things, while his deft production skills subtly incorporate sounds & styles from across the globe, and across time easily & naturally. Some might say that the tracks here don’t really go anywhere, but I think that’s the point. Each one is a cosmic journey all by itself. A very eclectic release that doesn’t sound like most other modern dance music, making it more like dance music for the mind! A highly original album from a UK maverick, and a gem with lots to love. Read more

New release of soulful, funky modern afrobeat, jazz, worldly pop, and soul music by this UK producer, keyboardist, & singer originally born in Hackney, London. His family moved back to Niegeria when he was just 4 years old, moving into Fela Kuti’s communal compound. Growing up in that environment surrounded by music, Dele became a trusted Musical Director for both Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 band and later Femi Kuti’s Positive Force, so he’s now quite well versed in leading large bands and in Afrobeat as a genre. This new one finds him directing an octet of UK greats, including members of Ibibio Sound Machine, Field Music, & The Pogues (!?), among many others. Mostly sung in Nigerian language Yoruba, with a couple of tracks in English. They all feature irresistible grooves though, so you can’t go wrong regardless of your language of choice. Read more

Debut album from this 34-year old black UK singer and songwriter, featuring a variety of styles from jazzy neo soul & synthesizer-laced funk to post-modern, percussive electronic pop & mellow dubby reggae grooves. Her voice is a nice mixture of gritty and smooth, not quite pitch perfect but it is rich with emotion and pathos, and her lyrics about her life and the people in it are also quite excellent. Over 2 years in the making and executive produced by Dave Okumu (his great new album is in feature right now too), this one really goes to a lot of different zones but remains cohesive as a complete artistic statement. Overall, a very solid album of modern soul music. RIYL: Kali Uchis, Janelle Monáe, Greentea Peng, Kelela, Solange, Prince, SAULT, FKA Twigs, Jorja Smith. Read more

New ambient LP from Mike Paradinas aka µ-Ziq, who also ran the Rephlex label while it was around, and still runs Planet Mu and produces under many aliases. This new LP on Spanish label Balmat is a wonderfully rich release filled with spacy, opaque, psychedelic ambient zones, with some mellow downtempo electronica and hints of classic 1990s IDM (intelligent dance music) mixed in for good measure. It feels like a very nostalgic album, with a palpable sense of the past coming through via these instrumental soundscapes, which are heavy on woozy washes, breathy vocal pads, and swirls of watery, oceanic synths. Overall, a richly rewarding listen with a pleasant yet mysterious feeling sound palette, and as an album it really coheres as a work of art, even at 68 minutes long. RIYL: Seefeel, Bola, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin’s ambient works, Brainwaltzera, Aleksi Perälä, & the KLF’s masterful Space & Chill Out albums. Read more

Debut album by this UK jazz supergroup of sorts, paying tribute to Miles Davis’ classic Bitches Brew album. Recorded live at The Church Studios in London on December 7, 2020, it features a dozen of the finest instrumentalists on the current London scene. This includes Nubya Garcia, Dave Okumu, Shabaka Hutchings, Theon Cross, & Tom Skinner, all from notable bands such as Nérija, The Comet Is Coming, Shabaka & The Ancestors, Sons of Kemet, The Heliocentrics, & The Smile, among many more. Here, spread out over 2 CDs, we get 8 tracks of adventurous, mostly upbeat, high-energy modern jazz grooves from this sizable and prodigiously talented group. Lots of funky beats via two amazing drummers, swirling horns from a cast of killer players, snaking guitar lines, some wandering piano & keyboard patterns, grooving basslines, some surprising flute and melodica bits, and extra electronic textures which add density and depth to these instrumental gems. Some of these (especially the longer cuts) really take you on a journey. Read more

Lovely first release from this duo of world music legends from different regions. It blends the gorgeous kora playing of Malian maestro Diabate with some truly beautiful kamancheh, setar, & vocals from the Iranian master musician Kalhor. They take elements from each of their respective traditions and styles and blend them together quite seamlessly, finding ample common ground in the improvisational interplay that is common to both of their repertoires. There is lots of subtle, nuanced playing from both, along with several breathtaking moments that prove what a treat this collaboration is. A really wonderful pairing, and the many magical moments here reward patient listening, especially on a couple of the longer pieces. Deep stuff from a duo of top notch performers. Read more

Excellent collection of funky grooves from this South African group from the 1970s. You can hear classic US funk and soul influences, along with specific African styles. Highlife is present to some degree, but you can especially hear the South African genre mbaqanga (itself a fusion of Zulu traditional music with other regional styles such as Marabi & Kwela), along with western elements from rock, jazz, funk, and soul. The Movers were super prolific during their heyday, releasing over 20 albums and roughly 100 singles from 1970-1981. They also backed a handful of other artists on their own albums during that time. Lovingly curated by the fine folks at Analog Africa, this release gives us 14 of their best cuts from their golden era. Short, catchy, groovy tunes with simple chord progressions and upbeat vibes, with tasty lead licks on guitars and organs. Imagine a South African version of Booker T & the MGs or the JBs. Great stuff! Read more

Stupidly small pressed LP on the Lolipop label from these San Diego lo-fi cuddlebums...the title track is one of their best songs...right up there with Outrageous Cherry as a great band That started off with a low profile & then limboed even lower...newcomers, Crimes Of Passion (2013) is their best! Read more

Reissue of this damn fine chronicle of a truly groundbreaking UK female band, all the way from their musically incompetent beginnings to the creation of their classic LP "Cut" and beyond...chaos & freedom colliding with massive personalities resulting in some brilliant music in their short but stellar career. Tip: check out guitarist Viv Albertine's amazing "Clothes Boys Shopping" bio too! Read more

Yeah, I know...another book about women in punk? This one suceeds becauseit's about the struggle for creative control, all the way from the 70s (Fanny, Suzi Quatro) to the post punk explorers such as Alice Bag, Nikki Corvette, & Penelope Houston...great & mostly unseen pix too! Read more

Tuxedomoon, Flipper, Thinking Fellers Union, Caroliner, even Faith No More & The Residents...congrats to Headpress books for documenting the next wave of (mostly) losers that came after the Fab Mab wave of SF punk...thorough & beautifully written, this is a great record of a scene that maybe was unique to SF in its artiness & uncomprised vision...it's an education. Read more

Like Sniffin' Glue in the heyday of UK Punk, Garage was the bible of the most fertile period of New Zealand Underground Music, roughly 1982-86 (The Clean, The Pin Group, Chills etc. etc...). Props to Hozac Books for putting out this fine volume. It's about rock'n'roll fans (who happen to be musicians), by a fan, and for fans...even if you don't know it yet! Read more

Minimal London-based indie rock trio. This debut album is really nice and chill but also kinda groovy and catchy... idk, I love it! Guy/girl vox are a big PLUS. Read more

Oakland doom metal band. Sooooo fucking sick. So heavy. Every song title has the word Hell in it and they just played a show at a Round Table Pizza. Not really sure what's cooler than that! Read more

Oakland industrial-ish noise rock. Tied with Praying as Coolest Band in the Bay. They're loud and angry and have some really cool moves when they're on stage. This is their debut album. BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. (I love this band <3) Read more

LA black metal project made by the mysterious M. On this one, he brings in some heavy goth/deathrock influences. It's really sick, I promise! Read more

Two massive drone metal legends collabbed on this back in 2006 and it finally got reissued for Record Store Day this year. It's mostly pretty dreamy and atmospheric with some heavy parts here and there. Really good, highly recommend! Read more

A dazzling display of shoegaze electronica with breakbeats sprinkled throughout. This record truly feels like the future. Read more

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One of trap music's biggest artists microdoses during the pandemic while listening to copious amounts of Radiohead and King Crimson. After that, he thinks it would be a great idea to make a psychedelic record, even though everyone in his circle told him it’s a bad idea. Hey Lil Yachty, they also told Marvin Gaye and Brian Wilson they were creating commercial suicide. Moral of the story? Dream big. Read more