Monthly Archives: November 2015
Drive-By Truckers – It’s Great To Be Alive (ATO Records)
Coming off the heals of months of touring in support of their latest studio album, English Oceans, released just last year, the band felt that 2014 was a new peak in the life of DBT. It’s Great To Be Alive captures the energy reputation of DBT as a “live”band. This album shows Drive-By Truckers in […]
Sun Club-THE DONGO DURANGO (ATO Records)
The first full length album from Baltimore’s Sun Club is a whirlwind of sonic exploration that starts fast and never lets up. Sounds like a punk band who spent their time at the beach being influenced by everyone from the Beach Boys to the Pixies to Animal Collective. An enjoyable album with interesting time changes […]
Eliza Rickman-FOOTNOTES FOR THE SPRING (Self-Released)
The second full length album from Eliza Rickman which showcases her hauntingly high voice that carries such a sweetness to it while always having a touch of sadness tucked somewhere deep within. Diverse arrangements highlighted by Jason Webley’s strings are accompanied by a multitude of other instruments from a vast array of musicians, giving each […]
Philip Glass–Glassworlds Vol. 2
His complete etudes ranging from suprisingly intense to lyrical. Play!
Anna Thorvalsdottir–In the Light of Air
Ambient, somewhat dark pieces for viola, electronics, percussion and other instruments.
Origins–String Quartets
A varying mix from different cultures, ranging from intense to witty. Koumatsu’s Japanese Folk Song Suite No. 2 is lovely.
Frederick Kaufman– Stars & Distances
Mostly robust works for orchestra, neoclassical to eclectic over the composer’s lifetime, thus far.
American Duos
Mostly intense, contemporary pieces for violin & piano, sample.
Fantasia–Solo Flute Music of the American Continent
Latin American works, modern & contemporary. Lovely, play all!
Saintseneca – Such Things
Columbus, OH band Saintseneca’s latest album Such Things is a great collection of lo-fi, melodic folk punk songs, with sitar flourishes on a few like “The Awefull Yawn” and “Necker Cube”. Lots of catchy, enjoyable songs on this album, but the clear standout is “River”, which pairs grim lyrics with a buoyant lead guitar riff. […]
Pure Bathing Culture – Pray For Rain
Pray For Rain is the sophomore album from Pure Bathing Culture, a duo consisting of Vetiver members Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman. On this album they worked with producer John Congleton to make something a little different and the result is less straightforward dream pop than their debut Moon Tides and more of a fusion […]
Balthazar – Thin Walls
Thin Walls is the latest album from the Belgian band Balthazar. They recorded this album with British producers Ben Hillier and Jason Cox. The opening track is one of the more immediately accessible songs on the album, sounding like a mix of Arcade Fire and the last Arctic Monkeys album. There’s a bit of Lou […]
Sally Beamish–The Singing
Contemporary, somewhat intense pieces with accordion, trumpet, or sax. Play most!
Don Gillis– 5 Piece Combo–for wind quintet
Wind quintet pieces, jazz and folk tinged, very American. Play!
Julia Wolfe–Anthracite Fields
Inspired by the misery of the coal fields of PA, works outlining the brutality of children and adults working to provide energy for “Appliances”.
Giya Kancheli–Chiaroscuro
Two, long, somber, ethereal and beautiful works for violin and chamber ensemble inspired by human’s ugliness and the desire for something else.
Leo Brouwer–Music for Two Guitars
Pieces composed over the composer’s life thus far, contemporary, lively, play!
Composed
Improvisations of know works for flute with electronics (looping) and one of the flutist’s own works. Play!
Ketil Hvoslef–Music for Guitar
Modern and contemporary pieces for guitars and strings. Nice! Play!
Plot: Music for Unspecified Instrumentation
Classical/avant percussion works from 1930 on. Sample.
WRUV Reviews 