Monthly Archives: July 2021
Moto Eterno
Contemporary works for cello, violin & piano. Excellent!
Sufjan Stevens – Convocations
Release Date: May 6, 2021 Label: Asthmatic Kitty Records For all of the hits, Sufjan Stevens‘ back catalogue is full of experimental and conceptual tracks. Convocations may be his most experimental work to date. A record that hangs on the fringes. Full of grief following the death of his father, this is two hours, 49 tracks, […]
QUIET TAKES – SAN FIDEL (EP) [SELF RELEASED]
Moody aquarium sounds with sweet, languid harmonies and lush synth backgrounds. Self-described “music for feelers” that evokes the experience of being wrapped in a warm, soft blanket. Really beautiful, sad, and slow. Give it a spin for a pensive moment. FCC: None TRY: 2, 3, 4 RIYL: Azure Ray, Bat for Lashes, Cat Power, Feist, […]
COME CLOSER – PRETTY GARBAGE [PIRATES PRESS RECORDS]
A solid set of tracks with driving guitar beats and singalong choruses. Give it a spin to find your favorite, or try one of my picks below! Don’t forget to get the clean versions of tracks 4, 5, and 8 if you want to play on air. FCC: 4, 5, 8 (clean versions available, email […]
ADULT MOM – DRIVER [EPITAPH]
Gorgeous indie rock from Adult Mom on this latest album. Watch out for FCC warnings on several of the tracks, but otherwise enjoy beautiful harmonies and catchy hooks. Play! FCC: 5, 7, 8, 9 (Clean version of 5 available, email blues@wruv.org TRY: 2, 3, 10 RIYL: Girlpool, Frankie Cosmos, Mitski, Soccer Mommy
De Profundis
Nice mix of abstract, modern & contemporary works for various saxophones. Play!
Jurgis Karnavicius–String Quartets nos. 1 & 2
Gracious, Romantic quartets by Lithuanian violist/composer. Play!
Konstantia Gourzi–Anajikon
Composer/conductor Gourzi’s pieces are lyrical and strident, one quartet, one duet and one orchestral piece on this CD.
Poul Ruders–Dreamcatcher
Mostly strong works, eerie, tense but lyrical, with accordion and symphony.
Michael Waldrop–Time Frames
A mix of percussion instruments, with strings and other instrments on some pieces–jazz and classical, gracious and lively marimba! Play!
Balmorhea–The Wind
A mix of classical, New Age, and folk, for guitar and piano with other accompaniment.
Louis Karchin–Five Compositions
Varied, contemporary works for symphony, solos or duos. Play most!
Amelia Kaplan–String Music
Expressive contemporary works for strings with piano and/or clarinet.
Curtis K. Hughes–TULPA
Ranging from strong vs. lyrical, abstract pieces for percussion, string ensemble, winds. Play!
Vagn Holmboe–String Quartets Vol. 1
Strong, vibrant string quartets, all modern
Kalevi Aho–Solo
Modern and contemporary works for solo winds or strings, otherworldly, meandering, abstract and mostly lyrical.
Jeremy Haladyna–Pok-Ta-Pok
Subtitled “Sky Games from the Mayan Cycle’”, these are pieces inspired by the composer’s Mayan studies, and quest for Mayan music. Abstract, some eeriness, with percussion, organ, piano or harpsichord.
Sound Visionaries–Debussy, Messiaen, Boulez
French composers linking impressionism, mysticism and modernism. Boulez’ more abstract.
French Duets
Pieces probably written for children or to invoke childhood—impressionistic, lovely!
The Sound of Black & White
Armenian & American works for piano, many recognizable and popular, by Khatchaturian, Gershwin and Levant.
Dark Matters–Carillon Music of Stephen Rush
Carillon bells & other instruments making really interesting and different sounds. No church bells ringing here! Play!
William Schrickel’s Heavy Rescue
Modern works, varying rhythmically for double bass, strings and some clarinet. Laura Karpman’s inspired by Jaco Pastorius. Play!
Joseph Fennimore–Blow
Music for winds & piano, from mostly older recordings, so some sound tinny. Sextets to duos with various combinations of instruments. Play!
The Isolated Cellist
A collection of solo cello works from Baroque to contemporary. Nice mix of European/Great Britain traditionals and compositions.
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor–Uncovered
Afro-British violinist/composer born in 1875, these are gracious string quartets influenced by Brahms & Dvorak, with piano. Play!
WRUV Reviews 