Releases of the Year...So Far 2024
- mischmashpod
- Jul 18, 2024
- 26 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2024
It's the half way point of the year again, so here's our two pence worth!!! This list is in no particular order and features 30 releases (EPs and albums). While we always encourage everyone to to be open minded the releases have been arranged into genre-defined sections to save you time. We 100% stand behind everyone of these recommendations!!!
Punk/Post-Punk
Mueran Humanos ‐ “Reemplazante”
Are you ready to plunge headfirst into the mysterious abyss of sound? Well, buckle up because Mueran Humanos, the electrifying Argentinian electronic/industrial duo, has just dropped their latest masterpiece: “Reemplazante”.
"Reemplazante” hit the airwaves in March 2024, and let me tell you—it’s like a sonic séance that beckons you to the edge of existence. These five tracks are more than mere songs; they’re gateways to alternate dimensions, where the veil between reality and dreams shimmers like a mirage.
Picture this: darkwave. Imagine a moonlit alley, fog swirling around your ankles, and a distant echo of haunting melodies. That’s the territory Mueran Humanos stakes out. Their music is like a cryptic riddle whispered by ancient spirits—part eerie, part enchanting.
The wizards at Album of the Year have dissected “Reemplazante” and found its beating heart. Themes of “replacement and substitution” weave through the tracks, like threads connecting lost memories. It’s an emotional scavenger hunt, and you’re invited to join the quest.Guess what? This is only Mueran Humanos’ fourth album! But hey, good things come to those who wait, right? The anticipation has been building, and now we get to unwrap this sonic gift. It’s like finding a secret passage in your favorite book—the one you’ve been eyeing for ages.Hold onto your headphones, folks! The single “Reemplazante” is the star of the show. It’s like a cosmic transmission from another dimension, complete with a mind-bending music video. Imagine David Lynch directing a dance party in a haunted mansion—that’s the vibe.In these chaotic times, we need musical lifelines. And guess what? “Reemplazante” is here to rescue us. It’s like a dark chocolate truffle for your ears—a treat that balances bitterness and sweetness. Let the shadows wrap around you; they’re surprisingly cozy.
The album kicks off with '‘Desastre Personal‘’, vocalist Carmen Burguess unleashes her inner banshee, howling about the calamity of selfhood. It’s like watching a storm gather on the horizon—you can’t look away. Tomás Nochteff’s brooding basslines provide the backbone, while reverb-soaked vocals swirl like smoke rings.And the title track, “Reemplazante''? It’s a delicate dance between innocence and sadness. Imagine floating above your own life, observing joy from a distance. It’s bittersweet, like catching fireflies in a graveyard.So, my fellow cosmic wanderers, grab your headphones, dim the lights, and let Mueran Humanos guide you through the labyrinth of existence. “Reemplazante” is an invitation to explore your own personal disaster, set to a soundtrack that’s both fearless and beautifully enmeshed.As New York poet Frank O’Hara once said, “Now I am quietly waiting for the catastrophe of my personality to seem beautiful again.” Maybe, just maybe, this album will make our catastrophes shimmer with strange allure. Check it out now!!!
Sprints - “Letter To Self”
After two EPs and building a reputation for searing and stellar live shows we now have the much anticipated debut album from Dublin Garage-Punk band Sprints!!!
But the band aren’t merely aping The Stooges or the “Nuggets” compilation bands. There are influences from post-punk (Sioux and the Banshees, Bauhaus) and Alt. Rock (early Pixies, PJ Harvey?). So that adds up to a rock solid rhythm section, dynamic song structures, multi layered guitars all centered around singer Karla Chubb’s emotive vocals and hooky chorus’.
Karla is the album’s emotional core, recounting personal struggles and existential woes delivered with both a soft touch and screw you vitriol!!!
All-in-all this is an album full of punch visceral Garage-Punk songs that could be an early Album of the Year contender!!!
Hot Garbage - “Precious Dream”
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, excellently monikered Hot Garbage burst out of the traps with volcanic, psychedelic maelstrom of guitars and with the drums and bears providing a post-punk Groove that recalls the minimalist Punk-Funk of Pylon. Is pretty much the formula throughout the whole of the album, the exception of a couple of slower, doomier tracks. It's a potent and rich mixture band does well to mine across the albums 35 minute runtime. Overall, the album is Hot than Garbage!!!
Xmal Deutschland - “Early Singles”
Before hearing this excellent compilation album I had heard of Xmal Deutschland and seen their name a few times but didn't know much about them. Turns out I shouldn't have been sleeping on this all female German Punk/Post-Punk band!!!
The album opens with the “heavy synthesizer line, rabid electric guitar… and gothic sensibilities of ‘Schwarze Welt’”. The synth on this track is particularly jaw dropping in its intensity especially as it will be a cheap or DIY mono synth. It sets both the dark but danceable tone for the reminder of the album.
Lyrical the band are defiant and often delivered in catchy chants!!! Singer and lyricist Anja Huwe takes advantage of the complexity of German to use metaphors and old fashioned words to create something Poetic. This isn't your average Punk band!!!
Xmal Deutschland fitted in well with the “Neue Deutsche Welle” in German alongside the likes of Dance Punk legends DAF and Industrial pioneers Einstürzende Neubauten. If you are a fan of those bands or Goth bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees!!! Check it out now!!! https://xmaldeutschland.bandcamp.com/album/early-singles-1981-1982
Funk
Yin Yin - “Mount Matsu”
Dutch Funk band Yin Yin have finally fulfilled their potential. After showing a lot of promise on their first two albums, their latest effort is their best to date. The grooves are stronger and the Asian-inspired melodies are much more memorable. The production on this album is of a higher quality than previous as well, mixing in modern techniques in with the 70s sound that they have become known for. I could definitely see the potential for these to be used in a broader range of DJ sets because of this. There are some tranquil moments on the album which help keep things fresh. All in all Yin Yin have set themselves up for a great year and can kick on from here for the rest of their career!!!
Orgone - “Chimera”
Orgone are legends of the LA funk scene and have been gaining a greater and greater reputation for the last 20 plus years. They have also been becoming more and more Psychedelic after early flirtations with the acid side of Rock. On “Chimera” they go all in for the first time!!! However, this isn't an out and out fuzzfest. No, like a lot of recent psychedelic Rock the band are taking a subtler approach, a quietly hypnotic and entrancing sound.
Is this heady brew made up of I hear you ask? It brings together the voodoo of New Orleans Funk, Afro Funk and Afrobeat grooves, Dub delay and mixing techniques, splashes of effects laden lead guitar and a soulfulness that is unmistakably the bands own!!!
It might take a couple of listens but you will be slowly but surely charmed by this organic Psychedelic Funk!!! Check it out now!!!
Ghost Funk Orchestra - “A Trip to the Moon”
“A Trip To The Moon” is a concept album… Wait, don't all Runaway!!! A concept about a young woman left alone on Earth by her cosmonaut partner wondering if he'll ever return or not.
Like many concept albums before it the music is heavy, complex and multi-layered. It takes influences from “soundtracks, exotica, psychedelic Surf Rock, Garage Rock, Latin Jazz” and the band’s trademark classic Soul and Funk music. I also hear hints of Dub delay and a Hip-Hop aesthetic reminiscent of former Ninja Tune stalwarts The Herbaliser.
However, this is music that never sounds unwieldy or overwrought instead it hits you instantly and drags you in. Whether it's the deep grooves, the Big Band style horns, the arresting soulful vocals or the fuzzy lead guitar you'll find something that will grab your attention. Repeat listens will continue to show you more peeling back the layers of the musical onion. This truly is the best of both worlds.
If you enjoy ambitious but accessible albums then you'll love “A Trip To The Moon”!!!. Check it out now!!! https://ghostfunkorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/a-trip-to-the-moon
Ghost-Note - “Mustard n’ Onions”
Ghost-Note started as a side project of the Jazz band Snarky Puppy. The core members of Ghost-Note are Robert "Sput" Searight (drums) and Nate Werth (percussion), who were both members of Snarky Puppy. Ghost-Note was formed by Searight and Werth as a way to showcase their combined talents in a more percussion-focused, funky ensemble. The band features contributions from other musicians as well, such as trombonist Danny Wytanis and saxophonist/flutist Jonathan Mones. While Ghost-Note began as an offshoot of Snarky Puppy, the band has since established itself as an exciting and inventive group in its own right. They are known for their "funky world" sound that blends jazz, funk, and world music influences. Ghost-Note has also developed a reputation for their energetic live performances.
With their signature "funky world" sound that blends jazz, funk, and world music influences, Ghost-Note has established themselves as a dynamic and inventive group in the music scene. The band's energy and virtuosity have captivated audiences worldwide, making them a standout act in the industry.
The new album "Mustard n' Onions" is showcases Ghost-Note's evolution and creativity, further solidifying their position as a leading force in the music landscape. Music lovers can look forward to a fusion of Funk, Afrobeat, Jazz, and percussion-driven elements that define Ghost-Note's unique style.
Ghost-Note's lineup boasts incredible saxophonists and flutists like Jonathan Mones, Sylvester Onyejiaka, and Mike Jelani Brooks, who infuse their recordings and live shows with arresting horn parts and soulful solos. The band's vibrant fusion of saxophones, flutes, and other horns, merged seamlessly with their percussion-driven funk and jazz style,will transport you to a musical paradise!!! Check it out now!!! https://ghost-note.bandcamp.com/album/mustard-nonions
Aura Safari and Jimi Tenor - “Sensory Blending”
Great music often comes from chance encounters & impromptu sessions. That's how "Sensory Blending" by Aura Safari & Jimi Tenor was born. This vibrant new album is a seamless fusion of Jazz-Funk styles.
Tenor was playing a HellYeahRecords party in Perugia, Italy when the local collective Aura Safari joined him in the studio the day before. Despite never meeting, they found a natural creative connection.
Jimi Tenor is a seasoned musician known for his Psychedelic space-jazz-funk sound. He's toured the world & collaborated with artists like Japanese master Calm.
Aura Safari is a collective of bass, synth, guitar & keys players who are regulars on Hell Yeah, having released the acclaimed "Island Dreams" album last year.
The album opens with the sultry "Bodily Synesthesia" - smooth sax lines, gentle grooves & ethereal vocals. "Lunar Wind" blends jazzy keys & soulful hooks.
"Bewitched By The Sea" has a tropical, percussive vibe with majestic melodies. "My Bluebell" quickens the pace with Jazz-Funk grooves.
"Last Waltz In Perugia" features freeform sax over intricate drums. "Gimlet" brings a playful, samba-inspired rhythm & sunny flute leads. The mood shifts to laidback & carefree in "It's Too Easy To Love You" before the melodic joy of "Your Magic Touch." The dramatic "Indigo" closes with a captivating conversational sax.
"Sensory Blending" is a testament to the magic of creative collaborations. AuraSafari & JimiTenor have crafted a vibrant, musically rich album, check it out now!!!
House/Techno
Colin Newman and Malka Spigel - “Bastard”
“Bastard” is a 25th anniversary reissue of a 1997 album by Colin Newman of Post-Punk pioneers Wire. The album is now credited to Newman and his wife and regular collaborator Malka Spiegel. Initially the album may feel a bit dated. But repeat listening (especially on headphones) rewards the listener revealing a much more nuanced sound. This sound encompasses Drum ‘n’ Bass breakbeats, techno beats, radio show samples and plenty of layers of synths. This combination of Sounds really stood out both at the time and now. This is no bad thing with Newman and Spiegel combining both the sound they had developed with those that were contemporary at the time. Overall, “Bastard” is an album that will appeal to both fans of Post-Punk music and those of Electronic music, check it out now!!!
Latin American music
Grupo Irakere - “Grupo Irakere”
This album is a reissue of the important Cuban Jazz band Grupo Irakere who were influential both on Cuban Jazz and the Latin dance music scene from this album (1976) onwards.
The band was formed by pianist Chucho Valdés (son of Cuban music legend Bebo Valdes) and veteran music director/arranger/conductor Armando de Sequeira Romeu, both members of Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna in 1973. The idea was that the band would be a state sanctioned experimental Jazz band finding together both traditional Cuban Folk music (son, descarga, rhumba, bolero, merengue) with the current Jazz, Funk and Rock influences.
It's safe to say that the experiment worked!!! It brings together those Latin slinking rhythms, shronking Jazz solos and hard grooves of Rock and Funk with aplomb!!! It's a raw sound that at times recalls Weather Report and has moments that wouldn't sound out of place on Frank Zappa's “Waka/Jawaka” putting it firmly in the top tier of Jazz Fusion!!! Check it out now!!! https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/grupo-irakere
Salsa Suprema - “En La Conquista Del Mundo Latino”
The name Larry Francia might not be well known but when a label as esteemed as El Palmas Music plucks a musician from obscurity you know you need to be paying attention. The label’s hyper focus on Venezuelan music unearthed another gem from this country’s deep and rich musical history. Francia is a salsa singer par excellence growing up in San Augustin de Sor a Caracas neighborhood known for its salsa music. As young as 12 he was being recruited to record like the popular salsa singer Victor Pinheiro. His talent was undeniable even at this age. This re-issue celebrates Larry the singer bringing together 10 of his finest tracks and its end-to-end salsa bangers. Check it out now!!! https://salsasuprema.bandcamp.com/album/en-la-conquista-del-mundo-latino
Empanadas ilegales - “Creepy Mambo (Rooftop Sessions)"
Get ready for a mind-bending musical journey with Empanadas ilegales's latest album "Creepy Mambo: Rooftop Sessions"!
The story behind this trailblazing Vancouver band is as captivating as their music. Their name? It originated from a 2012 incident in Bogotá where street vendors were banned from selling empanadas!
Empanadas Ilegales blends Latin American cumbia rhythms with psychedelic & surf rock, pioneering a unique "cumbia-psych" sound that will have you swaying from start to finish.
"Creepy Mambo" was recorded LIVE on a rooftop, capturing the raw energy & infectious grooves that have become the band's trademark. Get ready for spellbinding guitar solos & raucous saxophones!
From "La Primera Pachanga en Marte" to "Batidora 3 in 1" & "Luna Modular", each track is a mesmerizing journey through Empanadas Ilegales' sonic landscape.
Their music celebrates cultural fusion, blending the traditional with the modern in the most delightful way. Get transported to a realm where genres collide & boundaries dissolve.
Whether you're a cumbia aficionado or new to the genre, "Creepy Mambo" will captivate & enchant you. It's a testament to music's power.
Don't miss out on this psychedelic cumbia odyssey! Let Empanadas Ilegales' infectious grooves & spellbinding melodies take you on a journey like no other. Check it out now!!! https://empanadasilegales.bandcamp.com/album/creepy-mambo-rooftop-sessions
Raul Gomez - "Instrumental"
If you're a fan of music that defies genres & boundaries, then you owe it to yourself to experience the audacious brilliance of Raul Gomez's 1977 album "Instrumental".
This visionary release from the Cuban composer/guitarist is a tour-de-force of inventive genre synthesis that was lightyears ahead of its time. From the opening notes, you're immersed in a kaleidoscopic world where Afro-Cuban rhythms intertwine with jazz, funk, psychedelic rock & disco.
The album's genius lies in how it takes the rich percussive traditions of Afro-Cuban music as its rhythmic foundation, and then audaciously weaves in an eclectic tapestry of influences.
Take the track "Quindiambo" - it opens with an infectious Afro-Cuban groove before Gomez's searing psychedelic guitar lines & a cosmic funk groove enter the cosmic dance. It's like hearing Santana collab with Parliament-Funkadelic!!!!
On "Danza Naniga", Gomez conjures a lush, downtempo atmosphere with orchestral flourishes & hypnotic percussion before it builds to an ecstatic crescendo of fiery Latin jazz soloing over a pulsing disco beat.
Every track is a magnum opus of eclectic virtuosity & visionary composition. The trippy, effects-laden cover of "Misaluba" reimagines the original as a kaleidoscopic Afro-Cuban psychedelic odyssey.
"Valle Picadura" is a high-energy fusion of punchy funk grooves & soaring jazz horn arrangements that wouldn't sound out of place on a blaxploitation soundtrack.
What's impressive is how Gomez's innovative synthesis never feels forced or gimmicky. The elements coalesce organically, driven by exceptional musicianship. This is music that grooves, astounds & transports you.
For too long, "Instrumental" has been an underappreciated cult classic, its ambition too advanced for its era. But this album's creative spirit feels vital & relevant today in our genre cross-pollination era.
Gomez was fusing past & future, tradition & innovation, setting the stage for Latin fusion pioneers. If you're a true music explorer, immerse yourself in the cosmic, groove-laced genius of "Instrumental"!!! Check it out now!!! https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/instrumental
Jazz
Takuya Koroda - “Rising Son”
Takuya Koroda originally hails Kobe Japan but moved to New York in the mid noughties to study jazz at The New School. Settling in Brooklyn he became enamored with the local music scene both in Hip-Hop and Jazz circles. Playing with Blue Note vocalist Jose James he learnt the ropes of playing in a Jazz band. It was James who encouraged him to add more of an R&B and hip-hop sensibility to his original compositions. This is where we find Koroda on “Rising Son", combining beats that feel like DJ Premier or J Dilla with the musicality of Jazz and the grooves of Funk and Afrobeat. Most impressively of all is his masterful cover version of Roy Ayers classic ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’, teasing how the intro for two and a half minutes before James begins with the iconic “My life, My life, My life, My life”.
As James said himself “No one sounds like Takuya, his tone, warmth and most of all his storytelling have inspired me for years. His writing is soulful, modern and effortlessly bridges the gap between jazz and soul and between history and tomorrow.”. This is about as good a description of rising son as one could hope to come up with. This is music for those who are attracted to warmth, groove and a soulful feel. Check it out now!!! https://takuyakuroda.bandcamp.com/album/rising-son
Hip-Hop
Dälek- “Negro, Necro, Nekros”
Prepare to be blown away by Dälek's seminal 1998 debut album "Negro Necro Nekros" - a confrontational masterpiece that deconstructs Hip-Hop and rebuilds it with industrial strength noise and avant-garde experimentation.
From the opening barrage of "Swollen Tongue Bums," you're engulfed in a dense wall of distortion, with MC Dälek's powerful vocals breaking through the cacophony.
The production is a striking fusion of harsh noise and gritty, sample-based beats, creating an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere.
Beneath the abrasive sonics are razor-sharp lyrics, delivering scathing political and social critiques with a rattling bite.
Dälek pays tribute to black activist icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, defiantly declaring "My People won't kneel" over the blistering track "Echoes
Moments of haunting beauty like the sax-sampling "The Untravelled Road" offer a respite, with abstract lyricism that is psychedelic and soothing.
"Negro Necro Nekros" demolished hip-hop conventions, seamlessly fusing genres from industrial to shoegaze, creating an all-encompassing sonic experience.
Over two decades later, this cult classic still sounds fresh and innovative, expressing the angst and urban decay of the late 90s.
Essential listening, "Negro Necro Nekros" is an uncompromising artistic statement that redefined what rap music could be. https://dalek.bandcamp.com/album/negro-necro-nekros
Heems & Lapgan - “LAFANDAR”
Now you may be familiar with the music of Heems, once a member of Das Racist and currently part of Swet Shop Boys. The Indian American has come to define hip-hop identity from the Indian subcontinent.
You may be less familiar with the music of Lapgan (his recent beat tape “History” featured in a Best Releases of 2023) fusion of samples sourced from Indian music archives and contemporary underground Hip-Hop beats. He has been building a reputation for a couple of years now after the back of his beat tapes.
The two met after Heems heard Lapgan's music and decided to sign him to his label Veena. The two hit it off to the point Heems delayed his solo comeback album and instead worked on what became “LAFANDAR”.
The result is an album that celebrates Indian musical tradition, modern Indian music and Hip Hop tropes alike. Who is on top comedic form as our number of the high profile MC's sprinkled throughout the album. Pop Culture references are also high on the list of lyrical content. The final ingredient in the lyrical curry is hemes reflecting on his own identity as an Indian American, this is perfectly complemented by more reflective and Moody beats provided by Lapgan in these moments.
The album whizzes by in just over half an hour and it's a delirious and delicious ride that will have you hitting the play button again instantaneously!!! Check it out now!!! https://heems.bandcamp.com/album/lafandar
Psychedelic Rock/Shoegaze
Swervedriver - “99th Dream”
Swervedriver were one of the earliest shoegaze bands of the late 80s/ early 90s. They established themselves alongside Creation Records label mates Ride and My Bloody Valentine as spearheads of that Psychedelic Rock sub genre. However, unlike those aforementioned bands Swervedriver weren't held up as 90s Rock music Legends once the dust settled on that great decade!!!
I hear you asking but what about this album? Well, Swervedriver developed across their career. After the Shoegaze of their Debut album, they embraced a more American sound on their second album “Mezcal Head” (1993) and then went full Brit on “Ejector Seat Reservation” (1995) and so arrived at “99th Dream” armed with a slew of musical skills!!!
“99th Dream” is the underappreciated album by this underappreciated band. Coming at the end of their initial run open (they reformed in 2008). Despite having been abandoned by both Creation and their American major label DGC the band trooped on. We should all be thankful for that because they produced a fantastic record!!!
The album has a come down feel which matches nicely with lead singer Adam Franklin's vocal style for the first time in their career. It also suits the fact that this was the final album of the initial stage of their career. What's most impressive is Franklin's songwriting and melodies. Some of the most impressive tracks here aren't far off highlights of the britpop era. These will take a little longer to grow on you.
All all “99th Dream” is a fantastic psychedelic rock album that exists in the quiet of the Post Britpop era. Thankfully this album that stood in the shadow of giants has finally get its day in the sun. Check it out now!!! https://swervedriver.bandcamp.com/album/99th-dream
Meatbodies - “Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom”
Chad Ubovich returns from the brink with a dark, ambitious psych-rock record. The fuzz-drone riffs are big enough to hit the rafters and there’s plenty of niche touches for the heads. Where his band first appeared 10 years ago as a high-octane punk-fueled satellite in the greater Ty Segall Universe, Meatbodies’ transportive ambitions have, perhaps not coincidentally, expanded dramatically as Ubovich has grappled with the many hard-knock realities he’s sought to escape. After spending most of his 20s on the road with Meatbodies and various other affiliated acts (including Mikal Cronin’s live band and proto-metal power trio Fuzz with Segall and Charlie Moothart), Ubovich reached his physical and mental breaking point after the release of 2017’s Alice and hit the pause button—only to replace the all-consuming mania of tour life with the all-consuming mania of drug use. Upon getting sober, he began working on Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom, in 2019, but had to abort mission partway through once COVID lockdowns took effect in early 2020. (While waiting out the pandemic at home, Ubovich and drummer Dylan Fujioka dusted off some scrappy old demos and punched them up for 2021’s stopgap mini-LP, 333.) And once it was safe to properly resume work on Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom, Ubovich lost his home and nearly his life: the house he had been living in for eight years was condemned, but not before its contaminated environs spurred a debilitating case of pneumonia that left Ubovich hospitalized for a month, to the point where his recovery involved relearning how to walk and play his instruments. So if anyone’s earned the right to check out from reality and indulge in the transcendental properties of psychedelic rock, it’s this dude. But despite all the chaos and upheaval Ubovich has endured, Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom is a testament to his clarity of vision. regularly consults the Spacemen 3 playbook for both its fuzz-drone riffs and ambient orchestrations—there’s even an instrumental interlude unsubtly titled “(Return of) Ecstasy”—but applies them to more classically styled ’60s psych-pop tunes; songs like “Billow” mirror the tambourine-rattled stoner sway of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, but rock much harder. And while Ubovich shares a mischievous melodic sensibility with his old pal Segall, Meatbodies project more of an anthemic bravado that transforms their niche record-collector concerns into mass-appealing, festival-ready rock music: “The Assignment” imagines how Oasis’ Be Here Now might’ve turned out if the Gallaghers spent more time doing acid than coke, while “Hole” is part DIY “Cherub Rock” grungegaze groover, part Laser Floyd synth spectacle. While “Silly Cybin” appears as a playful, acoustic-based singalong that matches the spirit of its punny title, there are bad-trip horrors and suicidal ideation cataloged within. But if that song establishes a stark contrast between bliss and psychosis, the cryptically titled “ICNNVR2” completely blurs it: “I carve the crosses right into my arms, in the purple drunken dawn,” Ubovich declares, before he rides straight into an incoming brass-blasted storm, much like another stoner-punk who once tried to assure us he was feelin’ alright in the midst of a raging saxocalypse that suggested otherwise. “Move,” is all the more captivating for its refusal to sugarcoat its bitter sentiments. Cut from the same blood-splattered cloth as Suicide’s “Frankie Teardrop” or The Gun Club’s “For the Love of Ivy,” the song’s menacing motorik throb and sinister aura are intensified by Ubovich’s spiteful address to a former confidant (“I can count the reasons/ the reasons we don’t talk”), en route to an extended, echo-drenched descent into madness and furious finale. So in summary, the prevailing mood seems to be one of trippy psychedelic experimentation and escapism, balanced with heavier themes of struggle, self-discovery and emotional rebirth. https://meatbodies-band.bandcamp.com/album/flora-ocean-tiger-bloom
Ozean - “Ozean”
Have you ever wondered what genre of music the album "Ozean" by Ozean falls into? This ethereal masterpiece belongs to the genres of Dream Pop and Shoegaze. Delving deeper into the music, the album showcases a unique blend of rock and pop with indie pop and shoegaze undertones. It's no surprise that Ozean draws inspiration from iconic shoegaze acts like Ride, Slowdive, Lush, and My Bloody Valentine, contributing to their distinct dreamy sound.
Looking back at the captivating history of Ozean's music career, we discover a dream pop/shoegaze band hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1990s. With band members including Eric Shea and Lisa Baer, Ozean left a lasting impression with their Cocteau Twins-esque dreaminess and overall shoegaze sound. Despite only playing one live show, the band's focus on recording music in member Mike Prosenko's bedroom paved the way for their unique sound to resonate through the years. In a heartwarming turn of events, Ozean resurfaced in 2017 with a previously lost 3-song EP, leading to a vinyl reissue in 2024 dedicated to the memory of the band members. While Ozean's discography may not include a full album titled "Ozean," their rediscovered shoegaze recordings continue to captivate modern audiences, showcasing the band's enduring legacy.
Delving into the meanings behind Ozean's evocative lyrics, tracks like "Fall" and "Scenic" offer profound insights into longing, separation, and the human experience. "Fall" paints a poignant picture of yearning and emotional distance, with lyrics that speak of dreams, wishes, and the desire to reconnect with a distant presence. Meanwhile, "Scenic" delves into themes of melancholy and loss, capturing the pain of farewells and the search for solace amidst solitude. Exploring the minds behind Ozean, interviews with Eric Shea and Lisa Baer shed light on their musical influences, recording process, and the band's preference for studio work over live performances. From guitar musings in garages to the allure of four-tracking in bedrooms, Ozean's intimate approach to music creation resonates through their atmospheric shoegaze sound. Embark on a musical journey with Ozean's ethereal tunes, where dream pop meets shoegaze in a harmonious blend of nostalgia, emotion, and sonic beauty. https://moonsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ozean
Post-Rock/Experimental Rock
Church Chords - “Elvis, He Was A Schlager”
So when this album dropped into my Bandcamp feed I had no idea what it was but was intrigued by the title. Schlagar is a German word that describes Light-Hearted and simple pop music of the 1960s and 70s, for example Tom Jones. So yes, there's certainly an argument that late period Elvis is schlagar.
Anyway, onto the album itself. It features an impressive cast of musicians from America's Experimental Rock underground (Jeff Parker, John Hermdon, Eric Slick) brought together by drummer, producer and composer Stephen Bueno . However, the sound of the album takes both Jazz and European influences such as the motorik rhythms of Krautrock and Electronic music of the 1970s and 90s. As a consequence the album is Groove heavy and features a number of excellent dissonant guitar solos from the likes of Nels Cline (Wilco). There's also an air of Mystery that pervades the album largely through the use of delay and reverb but also through the tone and languages used by the rotating cast of vocalists (Kristen Slipp, zzzahara etc).
Maybe the album's most impressive feat is that it was recorded over a period of eight years and with such a diverse and disparate cast of musicians all collaborating and contributing. This really could have been a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. However, Stephen Bueno manages to hold everything together while allowing the musicians to express themselves fully and realize his Vision completely!!! What started as a failed recording session blossomed into a potential Album Of The Year contender, check it out now!!! https://churchchords.bandcamp.com/album/elvis-he-was-schlager
Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti and Frank Rosaly - “Mestizx”
A Transcendent Celebration of Mestizx Identities
The debut album "MESTIZX" by Ibelisse Guardia and Frank Rosaly is a revelatory tour de force. This deeply personal work is a poetic meditation on decolonization, ancestral roots, and embracing mixed cultural identities.
Ferragutti and Rosaly, partners in life & art based in Amsterdam, have created a musical universe defying rigid genres. At its core are traditional Latin rhythms & folk instrumentation of their Bolivian, Brazilian & Puerto Rican ancestries.
But from these familiar foundations, they construct something utterly startling & new - seamlessly weaving free jazz, avant-garde, electronica, ambient, folk, punk & more into an eclectic tapestry. Rosaly's propulsive drumming meets Ferragutti's multilingual vocals.
On the anthemic "Descend", Ferragutti's defiant lyrics issue a call for renewal by dismantling colonial mindsets, envisioning "reshaped identities". The haunting "Invocaçao" invokes ancestral spirits through spiritual interplay of marimba & piano.
Despite weighty themes, "MESTIZX" finds lifeline in communal, celebratory music inducing movement & trance. The propulsive "Turbulência" draws from Afro-samba rhythms, while "Destejer" features piercing cornet leads & Spanish refrains about "unweaving homogeneity".
By blending the familiar with the startlingly new, Ferragutti & Rosaly create a profound statement on the mestizx experience - the nuanced "in-betweenness" they occupy as individuals of mixed indigenous & colonial ancestry.
The album's title, a non-gendered version of the Spanish colonial slur for "mixed person", reclaims & embraces the transcendent liminality at its heart. This is defiantly anti-colonial music subverting rigid boundaries & identities.
In giving voice to deeply personal narratives, they've crafted a musically daring work challenging us to envision reshaped possibilities for cultural synthesis. "MESTIZX" is a revelatory celebration of mixed ancestries.
At its core are the traditional Latin rhythms rooted in their ancestries, providing a grounding base. Yet these are seamlessly blended with avant-garde & improvisational jazz elements, creating startling fusions gradually escalating in intensity.
Ferragutti's multilingual vocals in Spanish, Portuguese & others articulate the nuanced experience of navigating mixed identities transcending rigid boundaries. Her poetic lyrics give profound voice to themes of decolonization & ancestry.
The instrumentation is equally diverse - marimba, piano, cornet, flute, percussion - reflecting the cultural synthesis. By blending familiar Latin rhythms with fresh fusions of jazz, avant-garde, folk, electronic & punk, "MESTIZX" creates a unique sonic landscape.
Through this interweaving of influences & instrumentation, Ferragutti & Rosaly have crafted a musically & thematically resonant statement deeply rooted in their personal stories as individuals of mixed indigenous & colonial ancestry.
"MESTIZX" sonically mirrors their ethos of cultural synthesis & their exploration of liminal mestizx identities. The blending produces a vibrant, defiant celebration of transcendent "in-betweenness".
In giving profound voice to their narratives, Ferragutti & Rosaly challenge us to reimagine possibilities beyond imposed limitations. "MESTIZX" is a revelatory work embracing the radical act of existing in an identity that transcends all boundaries. Check it out now!!! https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/mestizx
Emperor's New Clothes - “Surreal Estate”
After nearly 3 decades trapped in purgatory, the ambitious & eclectic "Surreal Estate" by experimental rockers Emperor's New Clothes has finally seen the light of day. The story behind its creation & long-overdue release is a fascinating one.
The seeds were planted in '96 amidst a lineup shakeup that reinvigorated the band's creative spark. Contrasting styles - from Luke Hannam's "intense groove & dark post-punk" to Andy Knight's "free jazz & avant-garde" - fused into an inspired vision of blending disparate genres.
Enter producer Trevor Jackson, whose hip-hop/sampling aesthetics & obsession for eclectic sounds (avant-garde, dub, no wave & more) provided the ideal ingredients for the band's kaleidoscopic ambitions. His influence was pivotal in realizing their bold sonic alchemy.
Jackson deftly fused organic & electronic elements, integrating Knight's "subsonic samples" with live instrumentation into a "gloriously twisted mix." But he did more - fostering an improvisational studio environment where raw creative energy could shine.
His open-minded approach allowed contrasting styles to organically coalesce into "inspiring new combinations." And his adept manipulation of sounds - chopping, pitch-shifting, time-stretching - provided the final alchemical touches in crafting an immersive sonic landscape.
The result is a dizzying, genre-blurring kaleidoscope where improv energy meets studio craft. One moment you're in ambient atmospheres, the next a whirlwind of fractured beats, pulled back into a groove underpinned by Knight's jazz melodies. A constantly shape-shifting experience.
While its belated release is bittersweet, "Surreal Estate" transcends constraints. It's adventurous, forward-thinking music finally receiving its deserved moment. For sonic explorers, this long-lost labor of love is a revelatory experience that still sounds radically fresh. Check it out now!!!
Electronic Music
Ana Lua Caiano - “Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado”
Ana Lua Caiano combines traditional Portuguese music from the countries ‘70s revolutionary period, traditional group singing with musique concrète and the influence of Electronic Music innovators Bjork and Laurie Anderson.
On first impression, the music feels overly stuffed with rhythmic and electronic ideas. However, there's clearly something about this music which reveals itself when you return to it. Ana Lua Caiano herself reveals that it always starts with a vocal melody and this becomes clear with each new listen. It’s these interweaving vocal melodies that keep you coming back. The fact that they can withstand and outshine the barrage of percussion and experimental electronics sounds is impressive!!! Because of this this music reminds me of classic Missy Elliott another artist known for their strong melodic writing and experimental sonic approach.
It is hard to do justice to Ana Lua Caiano with words. This is because it is visceral as well as complex music. You can sit and analyze it but you'd be hard-pushed to dance to it and sing along to it. It would be the weirdest thing you will dance to this year but you will dance to it!!!
Ana Lua Caiano is one of those parallel pop-stars, someone who you wish to be successful though you hope will never change. This is just the beginning but she's already demonstrating a range of musical skills that suggests world-beating potential!!! We await what will come next with bated breath. Check it out now!!! https://analuacaiano.bandcamp.com/album/vou-ficar-neste-quadrado
Afrobeat/Afro Funk
Oluko Imo - “The Glory of Om”
Born in 1951 in Laventile in Trinidad & Tobaco Oluko Imo was always destined to become a great activist and artist. Born into a musical family he played in The Blue Vails from a young age. Meanwhil there was political anrest in Trinidad & Tobaco including a violent police crackdown on peaceful antiracist protests. This would ignite Imo’s interest into the black power revolution and his west africa heritage. This would eventually him meeting afrobeat innovator and political activist Fela Kuti in New York in 1979. Kuti recruited him bassist in his new band Egypt 80 this collaboration lasted in the 1990’s and deepend Imo’s connection to his west-african roots and instoked the fire of his political activism.
This culminated with Glory of Om in 1995 which was written in Lagos Nigeria and recorded back in New York. It brings together afrobeat rhythms with vocal ! melodies and deliveries that are unmistakably Caribbean ! across the album Imo calls for unity and positivity and discusses the injustice across the post-colonial world.
Overlooked at the time Glory of Om shows of Trinidad’s rich musical history and showcases the musical relations of West Africa and the Caribbean. This first time re-issue highlights the importance of this music, let’s hope it gets more recognition moving forward. Check it out now!!! https://olukoimo.bandcamp.com/track/seeking-for-the-right
Various Artists - “Togo Soul 2”
Togo Soul 2 follows up French label Hot Casa original 2016 compilation and continues to shine a light on the lesser known names of West African music. While the use of the word soul could be a bit misleading, this is certainly soulful music. The influence of traditional Togolese music and that of other West African nations like Ghana and Nigeria is strong throughout the compilation. There is no doubt that many will find a lot to love here and will be left with a smile on their face!!! Check it out now!!! https://hotcasarecords.bandcamp.com/album/togo-soul-2
Alt. R&B
High Llamas “Hey Panda”
Sean O’ Hagan’s High Llamas returned after 13 years of musical wilderness,with an album which was inspired by a TikTok Panda. While “Hey Panda” bears the hallmarks of a classic High Llamas album but there are also some new influences and elements. These influences include a heavy dose of Alt. R&B including Solange and Dirty Projectors, the Hip-Hop swing of J Dilla and a sprinkling of Glitchy Electronics.
While the High Llamas were known for a lush and atmospheric sound these new elements bring yet more depth and detail. It’s incredible that after over 30 years O’Hagan manages to find both new depth and new musical directions. Check it out now!!! https://thehighllamas.bandcamp.com/album/hey-panda
Contempary Classical/Experimental Music
Jeremiah Cymerman - “Body of Light”
Jeremiah Cymerman is a sonic alchemist, pushing boundaries of what music can be for 2 decades. Emerging from NYC's improvised scene, his unconventional clarinet approach defied convention.
Collaborations with pioneers like John Zorn, Toby Driver & Mario Diaz de Leon shaped Cymerman's avant-garde sensibilities, blending acoustic & electronic elements into immersive, genre-transcending soundscapes.
But with 'Body of Light,' Cymerman ascends to new realms. From the opening 'Of the Body Subtle,' his clarinet takes on an otherworldly quality, weaving intricate sonic tapestries that emanate from higher planes.
The title & tracks like 'Knot of Breath' evoke spirituality & the human experience, reflecting Cymerman's exploration of esoteric concepts. But 'Body of Light' is a visceral, all-encompassing experience demanding your full attention.
As it unfolds, Cymerman's clarinet dances & contorts, soaring celestially then plunging into the unknown. Layers of synths, electronics & percussion create an ever-shifting, rich tapestry of sound.
What sets it apart is Cymerman's ability to imbue even abstract sonic explorations with emotional resonance. A palpable yearning for something beyond the physical permeates every breath.
In lesser hands, such lofty concepts could seem pretentious. But Cymerman's mastery elevates 'Body of Light' to the truly transcendent - a triumph of the boundless human spirit to create & explore.
For those willing to surrender, this album is a revelation - a mind-expanding odyssey through sound & spirit that will leave you forever changed. Cymerman has crafted a masterpiece. Check it out now!!! https://jeremiahcymerman.bandcamp.com/album/body-of-light
Indie Rock/Indie Pop
Daga Voladora - “Los manantiales”
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