Amoeba Music

Lovely new 2023 album from this trio of musicians who all have roots in the Indian subcontinent. Aftab and Ismaily have Pakistani roots, while Iyer’s family are from India. Iyer has a storied career in jazz going back to his initial pair of releases in the mid-90s on local label Asian Improv Records, both recorded during his time studying at UC Berkeley. Aftab has 2 solo albums and some collaborations so far, while Ismaily has played on over 200 albums by various artists including 2 Foot Yard, Jolie Holland, Marc Ribot, & Secret Chiefs 3. As a group, they improvise this set, focusing inward to find a spiritual connection and landing on a minimalist musical mantra with magical dimensions. Iyer’s slowly flowering piano motifs meld with Ismaily’s supple percolating bass, while synths and electronics add subtle additional color and texture. Aftab’s voice is husky and rich, unleashing deep emotional resonance from minimal lyrical content, often simply by repeating brief lines of Urdu poetry. This is a truly gorgeous release… subtle, delicate music that rewards patient listening. Read more

Sophomore LP from this Brussels quartet, whose name translates as “junkyard” in Belgian. They expertly incorporate “junk” percussion and other cool homemade instrumentation into their exploratory psychedelic music, blending jazz & various world music traditions (esp. North African & Afro-Cuban styles) to create a vibrant, exciting hybrid of their own. Lots of flutes and other wind instruments (including many crafted from PVC pipes and the like), the thump, klang & clatter of repurposed percussion made from ordinary household objects, plus thumb piano, cymbalom-like string instruments, berimbau style instruments, and washtub bass to fill in the low end register. These instruments give them a truly unique sound, and they’re all talented enough as musicians to not have it sound like just a gimmick. All instrumental, and some neat use of odd time signatures and exotic scales too. RIYL: Codona, Uakti, Arthea, Harry Partch, and excellent local instrument builders like Tom Nunn & Peter Whitehead. Read more

This trio / collective based in the high deserts of Reno, Nevada turn in an excellent 2nd album after releasing a nice debut on this same Italian label back in 2021. They traffic in heady, well-produced, cinematic instrumental funk & soul music, with additional nods here to Exotica, Ethiopiques style jazz-funk, Afrobeat, and various other global grooves from the 1960s-70s & beyond. It sounds both classic and modern at the same time, and every track here is a groover. Lots of percussion, and also a lush 17-piece orchestra augmenting the trio’s initial productions. RIYL: The Sorcerers, Heliocentrics, Budos Band, Sven Wunder, classic exotica artists like Martin Denny & Les Baxter, soundtrack and library music, & artists on great modern labels like Colemine, Daptone, Dunham, & ATA. Really wonderful stuff! Read more

Archival release of a previously lost 2002 recording from a pair of South African music legends and a Swedish soul / jazz collective. Positive lyrics, uplifting vox, & South African style harmonies, with musical stylings that range from jazzy, souful grooves and funky afrobeat to laid back reggae rhythms. Has lots of dubby production touches, and it all sounds quite nice. Vusi Mahlasela is an African folk singer, is often called “The Voice of South Africa,” and his great early sociopolitical songs were a powerful inspiration in the anti-apartheid movement. Norman Zulu is a singer, songwriter and was also a member of South African vocal group Eyethu in the early 80s. Jive Connection are a band from Sweden who have collaborated with Mahlasela several times, backing him on shows in both Sweden and Africa over many years. The tapes for this session were only discovered recently, a classic that never was but now is here in 2023. Super groovy feelgood music! Read more

Superb collection of classic dub riddims from the classic archives of Coxsone Dodd’s legendary Studio One (aka Jamaica Recording Studio) in Kingston, Jamaica. These cuts are from 1972-1981, and appear to be mixed by engineer Sylvan Morris. Morris was one of a handful of different mixers who were featured on various albums credited to the artist known as “Dub Specialist” during the 1970s, all under the supervision of Dodd. This collection is compiled by Soul Jazz label owner Stuart Baker. A handful of tracks have some sparse vocals interspersed in them, but the rest are instrumental, featuring lots of great dubby grooves with suitably spacy effects. RIYL: King Tubby, Scientist, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Prince Jammy, and other classic dub. Read more

An eclectic set of rare and mostly unknown tunes, unearthed by noted UK record collector Paul Hillery. Packed with an assortment of obscure gems, mostly from the 1970s, but with a couple of more modern gems woven in. The 19 cuts here range from stoned psychedelia, hazy progressive folk-funk, sunny blue-eyed soul, and languid beach-tinged jazz rock, with many pieces veering between styles and blending genres at will. I don’t love everything here, but there are a number of very interesting tunes. There’s probably something here for everyone, so dig around and find your jams. For me, the latter half of the compilation is where the gems all are. Some of the records these tracks come from are extremely rare, selling for crazy prices online (if they ever even show up for sale), including some rare private press albums that were initially pressed in very limited quantities and never reissued, even during the CD boom. Read more

Brand new debut release of delicate, beautiful, mostly somber indie folk from this talented 23 year old POC singer & songwriter from the Chicago area, released in April of 2023. She’s got a wonderful way with words (she was America’s National Youth Poet Laureate from 2019-2020), and there are lots of really neat poetic turns of phrase here that caught my ears. Her lyrics contain some really striking imagery & thoughtful sentiments. Subtle, unhurried, mostly acoustic arrangements frame her powerful voice, which ranges from a lovely low register to a powerful upper range, and her masterful use of melisma adds even more nuance to these gorgeous melodies. Hard to compare her to anyone specific, but I think fans of other indie folk will enjoy this, though there’s a wonderful jazzy edge too. Produced by Kara herself, along with a Chicago based crew including KAINA, Nnamdï, & Sen Morimoto. Overall a truly great first album! Read more

Fantastic debut from this Indian musician based in Kochi, a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India in Kerala. Incredible musical range and diversity are on display here, from traditional Indian folk music & improvisational jazz elements to electronic & experimental zones, but it’s all hybridized into something truly unique. He plays sax, guitar, percussion, & synths, and crafted these unusual pieces to have a simple yet somehow lush sounding cinematic vibe. His many experiences collaborating with filmmakers, performance artists, and theatre groups is an obvious influence on the sounds here, giving them a very “visual” and tactile energy, and sometimes even sounding a bit like video game music. I find it hard to compare this to other artists, but I can say that it is highly original, very beautiful, human music that makes me feel something real. Highly recommended! Read more

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