We live in a time of great darkness and isolation. Swarms of meaningless signals and machines vie to dominate our lives, attention and world. Malign processes and cruel situations are the norm throughout much of our modern experience and the technologies that once held the promise of peace, liberation and understanding have, by and large, delivered their opposites. 

And though we may wish to believe that ‘things are getting better’, the obvious fact is that they are getting worse, in new ways, faster and more invisibly than our ancestors were capable of imagining. Many of us feel the terrible urgency of the plight of nature, the animals, our relationships... and the ecology of our world being buried beneath the endless toxicity of our common ‘modernity’.

 And millions of us walk alone in great darkness. It is not the first time that dire situations have plagued humanity; but we were born in a time when we must bear witness to ‘the great adversity’ that has become the hallmark of our societies and their precipitously misguided priorities. This grim darkness touches each of us uniquely, and it is entirely natural and human to feel demoralised... or even terrified by these matters. 

BUT this is not our only option, nor shall we fall quietly into oblivion or despair; for in great hardship we are called to learn and relate in ways that would otherwise almost certainly elude us. The heroism implicit in our essence recognises such times as a call to action, to kindness, to mutual concern and deep awareness. 

The truth of our situation cannot be ignored, but it can become a catalyst that calls forth the noble virtues embodied in our humanity. In times of great darkness, great kindness is more powerful, more healing, more reassuring... and absolutely essential. 

Though we are challenged or even demoralised, we carry within us the essence of our ancestral places, allies and forebears. Let us recall to mind their dreams, bravery, compassion and skillfulness... and be thus reassured and equipped to bring forth the beauty and nobility that is the root of our being in this time — together, with and for all people, the animals, the living places... and whatever the future may bring. 

May we together inspire each other to make of this darkness a time of powerful remembering, learning, caring, and perhaps... medicine. 

 ~ Darin Stevenson-

Be Brave by The Strange Boys

Cruel World by Active Child

Red Cave by Yeasayer

The first part just fits so well with our Immortal Family and poor Booker being left to be on his own for 100 years 💔💔 and the second part about them finally seeing all the good they’ve actually done in all their years on this earth, and how it’s impacted the world for the better 😭❤️

Here’s my monthly list of albums released in April I was feeling, and some other discoveries made during the month.

I’ve been real slow getting these out but looks like May I can catch up

Previous Month’s Lists: January, February, March

You can find my list of my favorite albums of 2019 here And my list of my favorite EPs of 2019 here

Best:

Active Child - In Another Life Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: All Eyes On You / Weightless

Alina Baraz - It Was Divine Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: Off The Grid (Feat. Khalid) / More Than Enough

Allan Rayman - Christian Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative

Proof: Blush / Eye to Eye

AWOLNATION - Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders Genre: Alternative / Rock

Proof: The Best / Mayday!!! Fiesta Forever // Bonus: Drive (The Cars Cover)

BOSCO - Some Day This Will All Make Sense EP Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul

Proof: Attention / Take Off

DaBaby - BLAME IT ON BABY Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: LIGHTSKIN SHIT (Feat. Future & jetsonmade) / BLAME IT ON BABY

Diana Gordon - Wasted Youth EP Genre: alt-R&B / Hip Hop

Proof: Rollin / Wasted Youth

Duke Dumont - Duality Genre: Electronic / House / Dance

Proof: Overdrive / Together (Feat. How To Dress Well) // Bonus: Therapy (Will Easton Remix) / The Power (Leftwing:Kody Remix) Feat. Zak Abel

dvsn - A Muse In Her Feelings Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul

Proof: Dangerous City (Feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Buju Banton) / A Muse

Elah Hale - Room 206 EP Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: My House / Impatient

Empress Of - I’m Your Empress Of Genre: R&B / Pop

Proof: Bit of Rain / Love Is A Drug

Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters Genre: Alternative / Indie Rock

Proof: Shameika / Heavy Balloon

Jeremy Zuccker - love is not dying Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: somebody loves you / not ur friend

JOYRYDE - Brave Genre: Electronic / Dance / Dubstep

Proof: ON FIRE / 4AM

K CAMP - Kiss 5 Genre: Hip Hop / R&B

Proof: Tatted Up (Feat. Fabo) / Trill Love (Feat. Wale & Joe Trufant)

Kali Uchis - TO FEEL ALIVE EP Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: i want war (BUT I NEED PEACE) / TO FEEL ALIVE

Kaskade - Redux 004 EP Genre: Electronic / House / Dance

Proof: Love Like That (Feat. Dani Poppitt) / Find Love // Love Like That (BYNON Remix) Feat. Dani Poppitt / Chains (w/ Project 46)

Kiana Ledé - KIKI Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul

Proof: Chocolate. (Feat. Ari Lennox) / Labels. (Feat. Moneybagg Yo & BIA)

Krewella - zer0 (The Remixes, Pt. 2) EP Genre: Electronic / Dance

Proof: Anxiety (Prince Fox Remix) Feat. Arrested Youth / Like We (BEAUZ Remix) Feat. Yung Baby & Alaya

LOONY - JOYRiDE Genre: R&B 

Proof: iN CODE / WHiTE LiE

Loote - heart eyes EP Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: This is How U Feel / All The Fucking Time // Bonus: teamwork., Loote & John K - Wasted Summer

Manatee Commune - Crescent Lake EP Genre: Electronic / Chillwave

Proof: Majestic Diver / Pools

mxmtoon - dawn Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: fever dream / lessons

Purity Ring - WOMB Genre: Synth Pop

Proof: pink lightening / i like the devil

rum.gold - aiMless EP Genre: alt-R&B / Soul

Proof: Waiting For (Feat. Jamila Woods) / Call It What You Want It

STRFKR - Future Past Life Genre: Synth Pop

Proof: Second Hand / Pink Noise

The Strokes - The New Abnormal Genre: Alternative / Rock

Proof: Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus / Not The Same Anymore

Subtronics - Scream Saver EP Genre: Electronic / Dubstep

Proof: Lullaby (Feat. Virus Syndicate) / Blow Stuff Up // Bonus: NGHTMRE & Subtronic - Nuclear Bass Face (Feat. Boogie T)

Thundercat - It Is What It Is Genre: Soul / R&B / Jazz

Proof: Black Qualls (Feat. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington & Childish Gambino) / Funny Thing

Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes - What Kinda Music Genre: Indie Pop / Soul / Jazz

Proof: Nightrider (Feat. Freddie Gibbs) / Last 100

TOPS - I Feel Alive Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: I Feel Alive / Colder & Closer

Trivecta - Everyday EP Genre: Electronic / Dance

Proof: Leave It All Behind (Fat. Fagin) / Wasteland

The Weeknd - After Hours (Remixes) EP Genre: alt-R&B

Proof: Blinding lights (Chromatics Remix) Feat. Johnny Jewel / After Hours (The Blaze Remix)

Yaeji - WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던 Genre: Synth-Pop

Proof: SPELL 주문 (Feat. YonYon & G.L.A.M.) / WAKING UP DOWN

Bonus:

Krewella - zer0 (The Remixes, Pt. 1) EP Genre: Electronic / Dance Released March 2020

Proof: Good On You (MOTi Remix) Feat. Nucleya / Greenlights (MADGRRL Remix)

Others: