Challenge - write a review in 140 characters or less about a release (or even releases) listed below
Since all rules are made to be broken, any reviews above 140 characters are accepted as well - as are reviews of releases not mentioned on the list
Matteo Ciminari - Fried Hippocampus (Chant Records) - via Gary Rees
Palberta - Palberta5000 (Wharf Cat Records) - via Jeremy Shatan
Luke Stewart - Luke Stewart Exposure Quintet (Astral Spirits) - via James Dillon
Transpacifica - Forst (Self Released)
Snow Palms - Land Waves (Village Green) - via Gary Rees
The Home Current - Not Our Kind of Vertigo (Polytechnic Youth)
Michael Grigoni, Chihei Hatakeyama, Stephen Vitiello - Earth Awhile (White Paddy Mountain)
Nonconnah - Songs for and About Ghosts (EJRC)
Heavy Cloud - Memory Drift (Mailbox)
Ian Cat - The Incidentals, Vol. 1 (Self Released) - via Frogkingart
Ex-Hyena - Artificial Pulse (Self Released) - via Bill Barnett
Mainliner - Dual Myths (Riot Season)
Blanck Mass - In Ferneaux (Sacred Bones)
Melvins - Working with God (Ipecac)
Talons' - New Nightmares (Bark and Hiss) (h/t Lord of Overstock)
The New Obsolescents – The Superceded Sounds Of… (Castles in Space)
Vapour Theories - Celestial Scuzz (Fire Recordings) - Bardo Pond guitarists, brothers John & Michael Gibbons - via James Dillon
Mouse on Mars - AAI (Thrill Jockey)
Brijean - Feelings (Ghostly)
A Winged Victory for the Sullen - Invisible Cities (Artificial Pinearch Manufacturing)
A bit of Raincoats-induced fun with added math-rock precision and shiny vibes. One of 2021's early bright spots, this trio will be making me happy for some time!
@admin Ian Cat - Incidentals Vol.1 I didn’t get this until I hit “Mage in Exile” and I thought, okay, western soundtrack! Each of these tracks has a distinct flavor, at first it reminded me of a later Frusciante solo record. I’d love to hear this over some end credits.
Ex-Hyena - Artificial Pulse (Self Released)
This Boston duo touts their music as "dystopian dance music," but while certainly rhythmic, they never break out into a full-on dance beat. The key is in one of the tags they've chosen, "nocturnal" - there is a definite nighttime vibe to the atmospheric synths and calm vocals. (Though the instrumental "Evening Report" approaches industrialism.) Their approach brings to mind John Ruskan's 1982 minimal-wave classic LP "I Am A Model." Not just another retro-synthwave album.
Matteo Ciminari - Fried Hippocampus (Chant Records)
A remarkable guitar-led ensemble delivers quirky & lively jazz. It features a mix spanning traditional chamber jazz to experimental fusion. Sometimes Miles and sometimes Zappa, musically ingenious from start to finish. Plus a hint of theremin. But not your grandma's theremin.
Snow Palms - Land Waves (Village Green)
Dreamy patterns precisely dreamt. Reich in the electronic age. Optimistic & mischievous. Maximal pleasure even if minimal isn't your thing.
Luke Stewart - Luke Stewart Exposure Quintet
From the very first moment i heard the drums from the amazing Avreeayl Ra and the bass groove from Stewart on the opening track 'Awakening the Masters', i was going to love this record.
I was aware of Luke's brilliant bass playing from his work with James Brandon Lewis Trio, Irreversible Entanglements and Heroes Are Gang Leaders, so i knew this album would be special. I guess it also help's that Edward Wilkerson, Jr, Ken Vandermark & Jim Baker make up the rest of the band.
By the time the album ends with the 23-minute “The Scene”, i knew i had just listened to a masterpiece.
Give this your full attention, i promise you will be rewarded, i promise.
......Stunning.
Luke Stewart Exposure Quintet came out October 23 via Astral Spirits.
https://wfubaa.bandcamp.com/album/luke-stewart-exposure-quintet
Vapour Theories - Celestial Scuzz
Vapour Theories is the Bardo Pond side project of John and Michael Gibbons.
The album was put together from hours of improvisational recordings the brothers found from past work from the two projects.
There is alot of fuzz, noise and feedback as demonstrated on the opening 13 and a half minute track 'Unoccupied Blues'.
But there are also gentle, melancholy moments like the second track 'High Treason'.
They even do a Stunning version(my view of course) of the Brain Eno track 'The Big Ship'.
2021 feels about the right time for this album to have been released.
Vapour Theories - Celestial Scuzz came out 26th February via Fire Records.
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