2020 in Review // Talking Records with James Dillon

Yes, its time to talk records with one of our most contributors as of late – James Dillon aka Freeyourradio! He’s currently co-hosting Under the Influence podcast, “a platform for quality new artists performing originals and covers.”

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This Ship Argo – Sirens / Home

Plug your headphones in and drift off somewhere else…gorgeous.

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Wendy Eisenberg – Auto (Ba Da Bing!)

Captain Beefheart and Tune-yards thrown into a washing machine.

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Middle Blue – Weird Funk in Small Bars (Ropeadope)

This is a 7 piece band who released their first album ‘Love Chords’ in 2018. It was a mix of Jazz, soul, funk and everything in between. With musicians like Dave Sewelson, Brad Farberman and Mike Clark in the band, the only result is a great freeform album.

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Mourning [A] BLKstar – These Hands Are Up

It starts with the voice of LaToya Kent singing ‘Those hands are up, don’t kill me’, over an heavy electronic beat, bass guitar and drums. It slowly builds, both voice and music and then 2mins in the trumpets kicks in and it turns into a slow, beautiful Jazz track. Kent voice is stunning throughout, the hairs on my arms were standing up as she goes full gospel Aretha Franklin.

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And if you’ll head over to Listening section of our forum, you’ll find a ton of recommendations from James, so lets dig into those while we’re at it…

Skeletons – If The Cat Come Back

Field Works – Ultrasonic

John Dwyer, Ryan Sawyer, Peter Kerlin, Tom Dolas, Brad Caulkins, Kyp Malone & Marcos Rodriguez – Bent Arcana

Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story 1975-1993 (Strut Records)

Wood River – More Than I Can See

Parnepar – Dobar Dan, Izvolite (Doomtown Records)

And there’s a lot more where this came from. So be like James – post a review of your own and/or contribute some listening recommendations of your own.