Monthly Archives: March 2019
Sludgehammer – Antechamber
Release date: April 12, 2019 Label: Self-Release Heavy and groovy, Sludgehammer could be described as equal parts Soilwork/Sepultura/Pantera. A young band, Sludgehammer, plays brings a unique brand of death metal that’s heavy on the grooves. Antechamber is the band’s debut EP and opens with a killer single, No Control. The track is full of aggressive drumming and equally ferocious riffs […]
Gernot Wolfgang–Vienna and the West
Fun, varied pieces for piano, winds, strings–some jazzy. Play most!
British Guitar
Modern/contemporary British works for solo guitar–short and sweet! Play!
Scott Wollschleger–American Dream
Abstract, meandering, ambient pieces for solo piano or a mix of percussion, vibraphone, bass. Play!
Catherine Lamb–Atmospheres Transparent/Opaque
Sonic and tonal explorations, intermingling, droning, expressing how sounds can be difficult to individualize, just like the color spectrum and its shades. The Dedalus Ensemble performs (elec. guitar, winds, strings, voice).
Uri Caine–The Book of Days
Prism Quartet performs these 7 movements, sonically expressing each day of the week, telling a story with jazzy inflections. Play!
Chen Yi–Ba Yin (The Eight Sounds)
The Prism Quartet with the Conservatory Wind Symphony Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City perform this Asian-influenced work, both lyrical and dissonant.
Joel Grare–Des Pas Sous La Neige
Very interesting percussion works (cow bell, cymbals drums, etc.)–lyrical, and delicate predominantly. Play!
Tchaikovsky and Dvorak–Serenades
One serenade each of these composers, both formal, well-known and gracious performed by the Archi di Santa Cecilia. Play!
Bradford Terrence Ellis–Tooka-Ood Zasch
Prism Quartet and Mr. Ellis perform this one piece–jungle sounds morph into sax quartet with drums and marching band like rhythms continuing to change into other sound patterns.
Shift
Mostly, quiet, lyrical solo piano pieces by contemporary composers, including Libby Larsen, Sarah Kirkland Snider and Ingrid Stolzel. Play!
FAHRENHEIST – Albatross // Run to Earth Records
Describing their sound as “alt grit and pop sensibilities combining the best of west coast indie rock”; Fahrenheist’s latest album mixes garage rock with some fun vocal work. There’s a lot of emphasis on drum and guitar, with an overall energetic and upbeat feel. Standard indie rock record with some fun tracks on it. Label: Run To Earth […]
Manics – Binary EP [Dim Mak]
Straight out of new wave nostalgia we have Manics, a duo from San Francisco mixing indie pop vocals with melodic dance music. Don’t let the cover art fool you into thinking this is album yearns for simpler times– a lamentation of days gone by. Oh no, the analog synthesizer and hooks on Binary EP connects […]
Octo Octa – For Lovers EP [Technicolour]
You are welcome to heal yourself with the absolute pleasure of house music on this 3 track EP from NYC’s Octo Octa. As her “most vulnerable work to date”, it might also be some of her best. Layered, dubby, progressive– a workout waiting to happen. Release Date: March 1, 2019 Play: ALL RIYL: Jacques Greene
Vernacular
Cellist Saeunn Thorstensdottir plays these very abstract solo pieces by Icelandic composers. Plucking, squeaking and other sounds. Halgrimsson’s lyrical. Play!
Just National Guitar
John Schneider performs these great just intonation pieces by Lou Harrison, Tom Johnson and others. Yate’s works more folk, with voice.
Johannes Brahms–The Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano
Romantic, gracious pieces with a singing violin. Play!
Mark dal Porto–Peace, Nature & Renewal
A mix of orchestral pieces, duos and chorales, variable in style. Try the instrumentals!
MIchael John Fink–Celesta
Beautiful, very lyrical, quiet celesta pieces. Play all!
Arnold Schoenberg–and His 17 Fragments
Highly abstract solo piano pieces exploring rhythm, tones, articulations and the expanse of the keyboard. Interesting!
Cello Sonatas of Richard Strauss and Edvard Grieg
One concerto each by Strauss and Grieg, neither of whom is known for chamber works. Grieg struggled with his piece.
KaleidosCoping
Really interesting contemporary works for flute with piano, some oboe. Play!
Maurizio Pisati–Set7
Abstract classical guitar, solo and with accompaniment, some voice. Play!
Citizen–Solo Piano
Bruce Levingston performs pieces from different musical eras, all exploring humanity and emotions. Play!
Weval – The Weight [Kompakt]
Amsterdam-based duo Weval‘s sophomore release is heavy on skill, soft on vocals, and emotionally dark. This is the kind of genre-blending electronic music for people that don’t like electronic music. Progressive, groovy and properly mellow. Release Date: 3/1/2019 Play: 1, 3, 6, 9, 10 RIYL: TENDER,
