Brennan reaches into her personal experiences to pull out a general theme of hope throughout the five songs that manages to stay uplifting and optimistic without once becoming dangerously cloying.
Based in the New Jersey town of Secaucus, Clay Joule is a singer-songwriter who makes buoyant and uplifting soft rock music. Characterised by his poignant messaging and powerful, he crafts music which is genre-hopping and adventurous yet infectious and accessible.
The keyboardist from Johannesburg’s Mabuta, Bokani Dyer has more to say than can be confined to one outlet.
As the 101st release on his own Orenda label, Polarity serves to both sum up and advance his career thus far.
To celebrate their tenth anniversary as a unit, pianist/composer Omer Klein, bassist Haggai Cohen-Milo, and drummer Amir Bresler threw themselves a birthday party, entitling it Life & Fire.
The threesome’s third LP together, Our Daily Bread keeps faith with the band’s prior explorations of spiritual and free jazz Lovano compositions.
As might be discerned from the title, faith, family, and the enduring relevance of art are on Wilson’s mind.
When it came to making In What Direction Are You Headed?, Farnsworth called on peers and younger players for a session that’s both traditionalist and postmodern.
Lit is a fantastic album that bridges genres and styles effortlessly, and it will easily appeal to both nitpicky blues heads and punk purists alike.
After a decade of nifty singles, Bay Area quartet the Ironsides finally gets around to making a full-length album.
Saxophonist and NEA jazz master George Coleman has played with more luminaries than most of us have had hot dinners.
Set to be released later this year, The Beach EP doesn’t rock the boat too much or aim to challenge the status quo, but in his own brilliantly hummable way, Harris offers a folksy, optimistic point of view that is desperately needed right now.
Without being flashy whatsoever, Rocky Roberts stands out as an important voice in classic country, and Pieces of Time has a beautifully timeless feeling.
Their names are Phil Pigeon, Jimmy Pigeon and Tommy Pigeon. They are English and the concept of their first album, Bird Brain Gang, is that they all wear pigeon masks. Musically, it flies higher than with the aforementioned birds: one thinks of the beautiful experimental England of the 70s, of no wave à la James Chance and even of kraut à la CAN period Damo Suzuki.
*Dilly Dally Alley *was formed with the intent of eternally seeking out the perfect groove, as well as repairing and re-embodying communal spaces that dissolved from the pandemic. The tunes from their debut album Make You Whole are meant to be interacted with live. Crowd games and raucous nonsense are all integral to the celebration of this music.
Singer/bassist Scott Allen has released his debut album, and after a along and entertaining run as a local musician and Twin Cities front of house sound engineer. Mixing sound for much of the last three decades, Scott’s had a front row seat/backstage pass to many thousands of great shows, cool bands and talented artists to draw inspiration from.
For Eventually, Jacob Young decided to record in a format that, amazingly, he’s never tried before: the guitar trio.
NYC-based postpunk duo A Cloud of Ravens have released their Lost Hymns album, just days after kicking off their European tour with Swedish label-mates Then Comes Silence. Mastered by ACTORS’ Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound studio, this collection of 11 tracks will reach ready ears via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe.
A mere dozen years since their last album, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, bassist François Moutin, and drummer Ari Hoenig reconvene for YOU Are the Song.
Petty Human Emotions is a remarkably sprawling and diverse work of art for a group’s debut, and points definitively to even grander things on the horizon.
Terrible and Sad is a fantastic EP that leaves you wanting much more, and it’s an audible testament to individuals climbing out of their struggles, raising the listener alongside them.
Alternative post-punk outfit The Bellwether Syndicate’s greatly anticipated Vestige & Vigil album, is out now via Sett Records in North America and elsewhere via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe. It arrives nine years after debuting with The Night Watch EP.
Keturah Allgood was born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She is a Soulful Americana artist who draws on her myriad of life experiences for inspiration. While traversing the dusty back roads and often forgotten places she taps into the heart and soul of our shared existence. Keturah believes that music has the power to bring all of us together and reminds us that love, kindness and compassion always shine through the darkness of these often trying times.
In partnership with sitarist Josh Feinberg, Rez Abbasi’s co-created Naya Baaz (“new falcon” in Hindu), a cross-cultural exchange that’s all about serving the tunes.
Modern London synthpop icon Rodney Cromwell is back with a 4-track EP of crisp and wondrous sound with The Winter Palace Remixes. In addition to the radio edit of “The Winter Palace” and one original track, this release includes several remixes, featuring the talents of two thrilling electronic acts – Norfolk electro-chanteuse Gemma Cullingford and Brighton-based synthwave act Infra Violet.
On their latest release, Nuremberg duo Nick & June seduce listeners into their own private world.
UK-France duo The Noise Who Runs present their Preteretrospective album, a 14-track offering sprung from the mind of Ian Pickering (of Sneaker Pimps and Front Line Assembly). Featuring songs from their first two EPs – curated and set in a more far-reaching context – along with six new, previously unreleased tracks.
Though not as prolific as, say, Robert Pollard or the late, great Paul K, Thomas Anderson writes more songs than most of us have had hot dinners.
Kevin Bowe is a writer/producer/mixer/musician from Minneapolis. He has written songs on 3 platinum records and 2 Grammy winning albums working with Johnny Lang, The Replacements, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Paul Westerberg, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 3 Dog Night, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Steven Van Zandt, Communist Daughter and John Mayall. His songs have been performed by Lucinda Williams and Bruce Springsteen.
NYC indie rock outfit Gramercy Arms presents “F*cked Up and Beautiful”, the third single from their acclaimed third album Deleted Scenes, released by New Jersey -based *Magic Door Record Label8.
For this record, pianist Renee Rosnes, drummer Allison Miller, bassist Noriko Ueda, and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen welcome saxophonists Nicole Glover and Alexa Tarantino to the fold, though they’re so well integrated it feels like they’ve been there the whole time.
Roman Angelos is the nom de plume of Brooklyn-based producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rich Bennett, developed as a vehicle to explore his obsession with library recordings of the 60’s and 70s, muzak and exotica. Exotic, dreamy, and wistful, this is the sound of a jazz sextet as channeled through synths and drum machines, creating a spacey feel.
Jennifer Harper’s music evokes a 1970s flower-child spirit with a fresh layer of uplifting pop. With her rich voice and intimate lyrics, it’s easy to fall in love with her contemplative, assured artistry.
New York-based band Nonstop To Cairo release their hook, horn, and riff-filled new album, KAI. This short, sharp and shockingly good seven-song set is fun yet intensely sincere and filled with heart and purpose. The songs feature all the right notes, ska, melody, hip-hop, funk and some harder punk moments.
For _DAY_*, Royston gets more specific, traversing twenty-four hours of quarantined pandemic time.
Sarah Morris’ fifth album of original material begins with an ending and ends with an introduction. In between, the songs eavesdrop on intimate conversations between partners, lovers, friends, and family. Produced by multi-instrumentalist Dave Mehling, and featuring long-time bandmates Thomas Nordlund, Andrew Foreman, and Lars-Erik Larson, Here’s To You sees Morris explore a more lush, celestial flavor as she sheds some of the country swagger she’s known for.
Melbourne-based synthwave artist Suburban Spell presents his new single “Bright Gold Cross”, the first taste of his forthcoming Falling Down EP, named such in direct reference to the long-term consequences of bad choices and giving into guilty pleasures.
Solo bass records have a special place in jazz history.
Britain’s Lighterthief label has announced an exciting new project. The 3 Clubmen – a new project comprised of Andy Partridge, Jen Olive and Stu Rowe – will release their eponymous debut EP on June 30. The first taste is “Aviatrix,” an avant-pop delight offering a strange, seductive blend of experimental pop, jazz and sci-fi cinema excellence.
What’s more amazing – that heavy psychedelic blues rock is a style that never goes away, or that in the right hands it never gets old?
Nashville -based songwriter Tim Easton presents “Sliver of Light”, a song that lives in the category of powerlessness over the behavior of others. Literally inspired by a personal event and the thin line that exists between life and death, this single is released via Oklahoma -based Black Mesa Records.
Nordic prog rock outfit Pennies By The Pound present their new Nothingside album, released via the Lilith label. A collection of 10 tracks primarily in prog-rock territory, Nothingside is a concept album that takes the band’s music to a fantastic new realm beyond anything they’ve released before.
For We Sick, pianist deVon Russell Gray, saxophonist Nathan Hanson, and drummer Davu Seru recorded in an empty church across the street from the Minnesota State Capitol – a building surrounded by the National Guard due to the murder of George Floyd mere weeks before.
Yusuf / Cat Stevens shares his wishes and advice with England’s new monarch. “The major message of the song is, don’t forget that there’s One above you, and be careful to look out for those who are below you,” says Yusuf.
UK indie pop outfit Jody and the Jerms present their full-length album Wonder, released via JATJ Records and arriving on a wave of rave reviews and airplay for lead tracks “Started Something” and “Insatiable”.
Their third album to date, this new collection of 12 tracks was produced, mixed and mastered by RIDE frontman Mark Gardener at his OX4 Sound Studio in Oxfordshire. Loaded with a healthy dose of melodic crystallised indie pop that is heartfelt and honest, they present endearing jangle-pop songs that are both evocative and relatable.
Withered Hand is the nom de plume of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson, who originally hails from London. On this album, Withered Hand continues to live up to his reputation as one of Scotland’s most gifted songwriters. He has garnered worldwide support and heavy airplay on tastemaker stations including BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio.
With their catalog now being reissued on collector nerds’ catnip (AKA vinyl), the time is ripe for both newcomers and longtime fans to discover, or rediscover, their distinctive genius.
ECM steps up with the Luminessence series – vinyl reissues from the label’s vast catalog, both common classics and deep cut gems.
