Montag, 6. März 2023

March 2023 Selection

Hi all,

March is here and so is a new selection including some great rap music by Anteek Recipes and Kastaway, heavy rock by Kowloon Walled City and Sign Language, catchy tunes by Jeff Tobias and Tony Molina, great jazz grooves by Jaubi, Clear Path Ensemble or JSPHYNX and much more.

Jonas






Legendary reggae percussionist Larry McDonald and saxophonist Anant Pradhan team up for their own take of a classic, keeping the cinematic spirit alive while seriously grooving along. The track is featured on a brand new 7-Inch record.


Taken from the transatlantic rap duo's new EP, that can hang with any considerable old school hip hop record. Great combination of rappers Shuteyes from Buffalo and Dirty Hairy from London/Zagreb and jazz-influenced beats .  


Appearing on the New Zealand based group's new album Solar Eclipse released on Soundway Records. Led by percussionist Cory Champion, the band blends different contemporary jazz styles while always focusing on great grooves and electric elements.


First single and opening track of the British band's upcoming album O Monolith, which will drop in June on Warp Records. It shows the band play a convincing brand of heavy rock music with progressive elements.


Crafting beats and putting his excellent trumpet skills to use, JSPHYNX's new album Reflex will soon publish on Sekito, the label run by rapper Alfa Mist who also appears on this track. 


Catchy and brilliantly produced track taken from Jeff Tobias' 2022 Recurring Dream album. He also released an even more recent LP that sees him in a much more experimental mood. 


Taken from London-based afrobeat artist Dele Sosimi's upcoming record The Confluence. On this album he teams up with Sam Duckworth and a number of session musicians to play well crafted tunes that sit between Sosimi's African heritage and modern soul jazz elements. 


As appearing on the bands latest album Piecework that features the California-based group's signature raw and heavy rock sound.


A band that always puts a new and raw spin to anything remotely called jazz music, Irreversible Entanglements once again released a remarkable record in Open The Gates with a captivating opener that goes by the same name. Energy time indeed.


New soul single by the British singer Paul Mac Innes, released on LRK Records. It shows a catchy Motown throwback sound with great rhythmic elements. 


Second track of Chicago-based rapper Kastaway's latest album The Art of Tradition, which delivers a fresh approach trough great rhyming and dynamic beatmaking.


Just one song that shows Tony Molina's great songwriting skills, as can be witnessed on his latest album In the Fade. Short tracks, great melodies and a unique sound.


New take on the 2015 hypnotic groove Sad Nile by Philophon Records' Polyversal Souls from Berlin. The linked song might still be the old version but I figured its worth sharing anyway. 


Easily claiming the title for most beautiful composition in this month's selection, this song sees drummer and composer Jeremy Cunningham and singer Katie Ernst building up a fragile yet momentous jazz track, appearing on the 2022 album A Better Ghost. 


First single from the Toronto-based duo's debut LP Puff, that shows great songwriting and a composition that could have earned a spot on Abbey Road as well.


Highly captivating sounds from Pakistan-based band Jaubi that combines elements of classical Indian music, contemporary jazz and hip hop beat approaches. Taken of the 2021 album Nafs At Peace.


Part of the 2022 release Window Pain that features atmospheric guitar sounds and elements of hardcore rock music. 


This track is the result of electronic music duo Haiku Salut and pianist Meg Morley collaborating on a new soundtrack for a 1930 silent movie 'People On Sunday'.
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Donnerstag, 9. Februar 2023

February 2023 Selection

Hi all,

The February selection is done and features a couple of straightforward rock tunes from bands like Ghost Woman, The Point or Altin Gün, but also great jazz from Eiko Ishibashi and Alex Sadnik as well as rap music from Your Old Droog, a Walrus-faced songwriter named Pixy Jones and beautiful piano compositions from Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. In other words, quite a mix of styles as always.

Jonas






Lead track off the brand new album Anne, If which sees Canadian multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Evan Uschenko produce some impressive guitar-led tunes. It incorporates elements of 60s and 70s rock, packed it into his own straightforward and warm songwriting style.


A more laid back track from one of today's most active and skilled rappers. A recent collaboration with acclaimed producer Madlib also shows him with a more aggressive approach. 


Taken off the Portuguese band's S/T album and shows the group's signature high energy approach, incorporating various elements from geographies like North Africa and genres like psych rock and jazz.


Part of the Texas-based band's latest release Berto's Banquet which sees them experiment with catchy garage rock sounds as well as with reggae and funk elements.


After receiving praise for her impressive soundtrack for the movie Drive My Car, the Tokyo-based jazz composer dedicated a 2022 release to the Law & Order character Jack McCoy, from which this track is taken. 


Taken off the band's upcoming album A​ş​k. It shows the group from Amsterdam playing a straightforward psych rock style with a certain Anatolian touch that the band is known for. 


Part of the soul funk underground classic The Sisters recently reissued on Nature Sounds. While many of Irvine's instrumental grooves received a hip hop sample treatment, this particular tune is a great and soulful vocal jam. 


Appearing as part of previously unreleased material from Ethiopian piano player Emahoy Tsege Marian Gebru on Mississippi Records. Very simple solo piano tracks with beautiful harmonies and moods as can also be heard on previous releases. 


Taken off the Walrus-faced singer's recent album Bits n Bobs which contains a selection of high quality tunes, top songwriting and sounds somewhere between the garage rock, country pop and the Beach Boys.


Taken from the rapper's recent album Church which sees him as one half of Armand Hammer experiment with raw beats and his unique rhyming skills. 


Appears on the Melbourne-based's latest album Care and shows the groups signature heavy punk sound.


Taken off the Venezuela-based group's new album Ese Puerto Existe. The album explores different moods and traditional folk elements infused with rhythmic jazz and rock elements.


High energy collaboration between Georgian producer Mishulino-led project Basement Membrane and rapper Stan Smith appearing on the album Punk Funk. Apart from this vocal-led tune, the album contains great fusion jazz grooves and broken beat elements that are no less funky.


Taken from the saxophonist's 2020 album Self-Portrait Delay on which he collaborates with a number of skilled contemporary jazz figures like Stephen Hodges on drums, Carey Frank on hammond organ and Jeff Parker on guitar. Like this tune, the album contains some very beautiful interpretations of compositions from different genres and a couple of Sadnik's own songs.
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Sonntag, 8. Januar 2023

January 2023 Playlist

Hi all,

The new year is here and with it a January selection that shows some great rap music by Wilma Vritra and Jarv, some more introspective rock tunes by Greg Freeman or Trip Fuel, Afrobeat as taught by the legends by Muyiwa Kunnuji, a full blast heavy punk track by The Bobby Lees as well as very quiet and hypnotic sounds by Black Flower or Hania Rani.

Jonas






Fresh and high energy rap music off the new album The Amalgam. Beat production, rhyming skills and guest appearances on a very high level. As I am writing this, Jarv already appeared on a new single featuring rapper Dope Knife.


Featured on his impressive debut album I Looked Out and recorded with a 7-piece band including Trumpet, Saxophone, Clarinet and more classic rock band components, while songwriting skills and passionate yet sometimes creaking vocals are the defining elements.


This 2021 song is taken from a much more recent bundle release of the two albums Once & I Had It All by Talitres Records. It seems fair that when Scott Walker once borrowed French songs for his early solo recordings, here we now have a French group borrowing from his style in a very competent way.


Part of the new album Grotto from transatlantic duo featuring composer Will/Wilma Archer and rapper Vritra. Super interesting compositions and moods.


Off the new album A.P.P. by the Nigeria-based Afrobeat/Jazz musician Muyiwa Kunnuji who has previously worked with many local legends of the Afrobeat and Highlife genre. 


As featured on the new album The Zug. The Montreal-based singer and composer experiments with different sounds and styles on this record while also doubling down on catchy rhythmic and melodic structures.


Taken off the new album Oh Death  which sees the Swedish band delve ever deeper into their very own psych rock, funk and jazz territory. 


Classic soul tune by singer Ron Preyer and one of today's premium soul bands The Soul Surfers.


New single by the Chinese rock band after the last album Departure was released 2018. Great clean guitar work on this track. Make sure to also check some other releases of the Wuhan-based label Wild Records. 


From the anticipated new full-length album Semblance by the Toronto-based soul artist Seth Nyquist aka MorMor. Super clean and catchy production.


First release of Habibi Funk Records' new collaboration with Beirut-based producer Charif Megarbane. The title track of the release Tayyara Warak is a hip-hop beat inspired groove featuring fuzzy elements and traditional melodies, invoking a city scene in Beirut.


Part of the new album Magma which shows the Belgium-based band's great approach to Ethic Jazz and Afrobeat. This particular track featuring singer Meskerem Mees has a hypnotic and magic sound that really makes you feel like waking up in the most peaceful place on earth. 


Taken off the new album Bellevue out on Ipecac Recordings, this is just one track showing the awesome heavy punk sounds and vocal badassery of this band. 


Opening track of the new trio's latest album Cold As Weiss. High energy soul funk music led by amazing organ grooves. How can anyone not like the main theme of this tune?


Not a particularly small artist anymore since joining Gondwana Records a few years ago, Hania Rani's captivating piano themes and sound experiments will again be on full display on the upcoming  album On Giacometti which is intended to be "a tender meditation on the life and art of Alberto Giacometti and family."


As featured on the new album Fangs by the Philadelphia-based band that is home to the two rappers Osevere and Yikes The Zero, guitarist Thaddeus Cole-Pepper and DJ Skipmode.  


Opening track of the new album You Sleep While They Watch that perfectly displays the Chicago-based  band's blend of heavy guitar sounds and melodic vocal elements.
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Mittwoch, 7. Dezember 2022

December 2022 Playlist

Hi all,

The December selection is ready and features a couple of rock tunes by Man of Moon, Deadletter or Dhidallah as well as an outstanding jazz/rap collaboration between Raw Poetic and Archie Shepp, beautiful songwriting by Evan J Cartwright, two great soul records from Timmion Records, a wildly awesome jazz tune by Kau Trio. and a lot more.

Have a nice holiday season.

Jonas





Part of a series of new of singles by the New York-based soul artist that currently publishes very strong material on Timmion Records.


Taken off the Scottish rock duo's 2020 record Dark Sea that includes a number of remarkable tunes (also check out Strangers or Rust).


The Norwegian three piece band just released a box set of three albums, each in their own way a solo album by one member. Some of it is instrumental, some of it features vocals. All of it is great.


Washington-based rapper Raw Poetic teams up once again with jazz legend Archie Shepp for this track which also marks a teaser for an upcoming Raw Poetic full-length album.  


Off the LA-based band's new Hiding in Plain Sight record that shows a very mature and well arranged approach to soulful rock tracks.


Taken off the new album In These Times, this track once again proves Makaya McCraven's status as an exceptional jazz composer and drummer.     


First track off the upcoming album Tumble in Shade. It marks the solo debut album by the guitarist and singer that is otherwise known as part of the classic rock band Garcia Peoples.


Off the Toronto-based singer songwriter's first full-length album bit by bit, this song shows his impressive ability to craft beautiful songs packed with poetic observations. 


Also on Timmion Records, this song is taken off the album Jeb Loy by the seasoned Welsh singer who always has his hands in some interesting music projects.


Latest release by guitarist/producer Cloudchord that once again showcases his ability to blend his guitar sounds with well produced beats.


Taken off the band's debut album Memorial, showcasing great and concise rock music that sounds a lot more British than you would expect from a band from Vermont, USA. 


Taken from the Belgium jazz band's new album III. There's a lot going on in this highly dynamic modern jazz tune including an intro that will surely catch you off guard.


Great rap track featuring beatmaker Parental and rapper Mattic. Taken off the album Down In The Rabbit Hole. Previous records by Parental teaming up with Pete Flux recommended as well.


A one minute peek into the great songwriting skills, creativity and humour of Dan Reeder. This song is taken from his latest collection of tunes.


Taken off the London-based band's debut EP Heat!, showing a collection of the group's unique rock tracks. 


Spiritual and rhythmic jazz from Talinn, Estonia. Meteor is the opening track of the new album Momentum.


Taken off the band's new S/T album and showing the group's great progressive rock infused sound that includes an active full horn section.


Opening track from the beat makers new album Botanica Dream.


Taken from the jazz band's 2021 album that is also named Gideon's Way. Since their debut release Two For Joy, this group has been releasing high quality records.


Jam/Space rock tune from the Japanese band's new album Sensoria.
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Mittwoch, 9. November 2022

November 2022 Playlist

Hi all,

The November playlist is ready and features heavy sounds by ASG as well as great jazz by ADHD, soul sounds by DeRobert & The Half-Truths or strangely awesome tracks like Montparnasse Musique's Bonjour. 

Discovery of the month goes to Native Rebel Recordings from London that are featured twice in this month's playlist with brilliant jazz by Chelsea Carmichael and hip hop sounds from CoN & KwAke.





Off the brand new album At Scaramouche, this track captures the dreamy and nicely arranged synth pop approach of the Canadian duo.


Skillful and dynamic combination of classic rap and high quality jazz provided by Confucius MC and Kwake Bass. The song is taken off the duo's Eyes In the Tower album and is one of two tunes in this month's list coming from Native Rebel Recordings.


Final track off the group from Melbourne's Far Enough album. Just a great tune adding a few spins to the classic punk rock formula.


Title track off the group's 2021 album that shows the band from Nancy's grooving character and experimental use of various sonic elements.  


Classic soul track featuring a great horn section and strong vocals. Single released on G.E.D. Soul Records.


Off the British band's recent Hermit's Grove album, this is a grooving and psychedelic approach to the singer's Brazilian roots.    


Easily taking the price as this month's most unique track, this duo's sounds range somewhere between African grooves and French club sounds. Appears on the album Archeology.


Stunningly beautiful jazz composition off the album The River Doesn't Like Strangers. Also appearing on Native Rebel Recordings.


Great rap track based on very agile beats. Appearing on the 2022 album The Overview Effect. 


Taken off the split single Go Down Softly / The River, this track might be as soft as the title suggests but still contains a solid groove and a record number of instrumental solos packed into a 2:40 song.


Another track taken off Numero Group's current list of fantastic 90s rock reissues (see Karate). Also appearing on the band's Every Song album. 


Serious funk groove with the potential to make Herbie Hancock and Bootsy Collins jealous. It's the title track off the album released in July.


Taken off the group's latest album ADHD 8. A more classic Scandinavian jazz tune but no less impressive. 


Arguably the heaviest song in this month's playlist, Pyramid Wheels is a downtempo melodic track showing the group's consistent quality in the current stoner rock scene. Released in a split single format.


Churning out just an immense number of high quality thematic jazz tunes over the last years, Greg Foat's latest album Blue Lotus and the tune Electric Dreams is another example of his group's great work.


Heavy soul track taken off the New York-based group's album A New Kind Of Love.


Nice jazz-infused instrumental beats off Adam Scrimshire's latest album. 


Free floating jazz tune with a captivating sax sound. Off the S/T album appearing on Helsinki-based We Jazz Records. 


Slow and haunting track from Melbourne-based singer and songwriter Jess Locke. Appears on the latest album Don't Ask Yourself Why.


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Montag, 17. Oktober 2022

October 2022 Playlist

The blog is back - with a new format!

Once a month I will share a playlist of 10-20 tunes following the same selection criteria that this blog has been known for: Recent releases from underrepresented artists including all kinds of genres. I will filter out the very heavy and experimental stuff for the time being and save it for special editions.

The content will be available in 3 formats:
- Playlist on Spotify (for convenience)
- Mail Newsletter (to make sure you won't forget)
- Blogpost (mostly as an archive function)
  
Mail and Blog always feature a few sentences on the respective song including links to the album and/or other noteworthy examples.

October 2022 is the first new format month and features a mix of super brand new releases as well as a couple of other tracks released in the past few years:






Formerly known as Evolfo Doofeht (read backwards) this band has a solid track record of releasing high quality rock/soul and lately more psych stuff (like this track). This song will be part of the upcoming album The Changer. 


Part of upcoming S/T album, Lizarb (read backwards again) is the Israeli group's take on Brazilian grooves.


Just one example of many great tunes on the Australia-based rap/neo soul album Malcolm After Mecca.


Very thematically approached jazz; part of new album Honey & Groat. Previous record Kumadé recommended as well.


Fun track off the band's 2021 Came Down Different record that also features some heavier high-energy punk rock tunes.


Lead track off Open which once again shows Kutiman's versatility and skillful arrangements. 


Last song off the Scottish band's 2021 It Is What It Is album which builds up nicely. There's actually more recent material available on Spotify.


Opener to the Danish jazz band's recent Over Tage album - develops nice dynamic and just a beautiful production.


Great collaboration of two underrepresented rap greats on their brand new Don't Wait For Me to Leave record. Andrew's earlier 2022 release is highly recommended as well.


Off the second album It's A Long Road of Australia-based soul outfit that first made waves with this incredible tune.


Neither the original release date of the group's Some Boots album nor its reissue on Numero group is particularly recent but there is simply something about this sincere jazz-infused rock songs that must be shared here.


After releasing a few singles (most notably this one) the LA-based soul group recently released a full length record in Angels & Queens - Part I.


High-energy modern jazz tune by saxophonist Joshua Kelly led JK Group. Taken off the latest album Rising.


A true champion of the bedroom recorded rap genre, Scott D keeps releasing high quality throwback hip hop tunes like this one on his new record Boomin' & Bappin'.


Part of a split single, this song shows NY-based rock group Weak Signal providing a riff-driven backing for Cass McCombs vocals.


The opener to the group's 2020 Afternoon Tea at Six album, this song combines various elements and instruments of traditional Persian music to a remarkable musical experience.


Super poppy track from London-based group Fell that released various shorter EPs and singles in recent years.


Off the piano-driven jazz group's upcoming S/T Album. 


Haunting and beautiful rendition of a traditional folk tune off the 2021 album Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found.




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Donnerstag, 28. September 2017

Jaimie Branch - Fly or Die


Although Jaimie Branch is a well-known name in the American jazz scene that appeared in many projects and collaborations, "Fly or Die" is her first release as a band leader. The experimental trumpeter gathered Tomeka Reid on cello, Jason Ajemian on bass, and Chad Taylor on drums to record an interesting and innovative jazz album.

The quartet presents a selection of great and well worked out themes. But mostly this is just the starting point from which the band breaks out into dynamic and effortless jams with Branch's tumpet as the key guidance to the next exciting moment and back into experimental sonic spheres.

Get the full stream on Bandcamp.

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