#talsounds

We are late but we are here. Ten releases from last week that are worth your time. Regular posting will resume next week.

Andrea Cortez - The Secret Songs of Plants (Aural Canyon)

- One of two great releases out on Aural Canyon last week. Andrea Cortez is a music therapist who “designs improvisations and compositions with harp, pedal effects and plant generated music.” The Secret Songs of Plants is a soothing introduction to Cortez’s work.

https://auralcanyonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-secret-song-of-plants

Harrington, Gustin & Zahn - Tura Lura (Cascine)

- Coming completely off the radar for me, Tura Lura is a warm instrumental album with elements of jazz and jam. A late night gem of a listen and one I will be coming back to a lot.

https://harringtongustinzahn.bandcamp.com/album/tura-lura

Mary Lattimore & Mac McCaughan - AVL (Self-Released)

- Another mesmerizing release from Mary Lattimore (harp & effects) & Mac McCaughan (synthesizers & sampling) of Superchunk. AVL is a recording from a live performance by the duo in Lattimore’s hometown of Asheville, NC.

https://marylattimoremacmccaughan.bandcamp.com/album/avl

Matthewdavid's Mindflight - Care Tracts (Leaving)

- Care Tracts comes right on the heels of Matthewdavid’s recent Umor Rex release, Experimental Bliss. Two different ambient journeys from the artist, both worth embarking on.

https://matthewdavidmcq.bandcamp.com/album/care-tracts

More Eaze - Towards A Plane (Aural Canyon)

- The second great Aural Canyon release of the week is the second great More Eaze release of 2020. Towards A Plane follows Mari, released in April on Orange Milk. Mari was an experimental pop thrill ride but Towards A Plane is an ambient emo jazz comedown. Yet another captivating release from More Eaze.

https://auralcanyonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/towards-a-plane

Sunmoonstar - Tirra Lirra (Self-Released)

- A compilation of sorts including released and unreleased material but a new album from Sunmoonstar is always something to cherish. Tirra Lirra is a lovely collection of dreamy ambient gems.

https://sunmoonstar.bandcamp.com/album/tirra-lirra

TALsounds - Acquiesce (NNA Tapes)

- TALsounds takes you on another cosmic ambient trip and Acquiesce might be her most complete and rewarding work yet.

https://talsounds.bandcamp.com/album/acquiesce

Vanessa Amara - Poses (Posh Isolation)

- Vanessa Amara’s Manos was one of my favorite albums of 2018 but Poses is something completely different. 12 songs in 18 minutes, Poses feels like a work in progress, a collection of pieces that feel in motion and alive still. Quite the misdirection release from the Danish trio.

https://vanessaamara-poshisolation.bandcamp.com/album/poses

Ryley Walker - Mirror of the Lowlands (Self-Released)

- Walker has been busy during the quarantine. He follows up his recent brilliant work with Brett Naucke with another fine instrumental EP that is a bit more true to his usual style.

https://ryleywalker.bandcamp.com/album/mirror-of-the-lowlands-ep

Woods - Strange To Explain (Woodsist)

It’s been four years since the last Woods full-length album and with spring here and summer on the horizon, Strange To Explain arrives just in time for beach & porch listening.

Video I got of experimental electronic musician TALsounds from the show I just attended. The sound quality isn’t great, but yeah.

If you think you like what you hear, check her out at the following links:

talsounds.com

Yep. I listen to them music things. Here’s some I’ve been looking at this past year:

Ariel Pink, Dedicated to Bobby Jameson. I was honestly expecting a lot worse from Mr. Rosenburg after his masterpiece pom pom. I mean, it only goes downhill from here, and Mature Themes was kind of a weak follow-up to Before Today. That said, it’s actually pretty decent. It feels like calling back to his work before he signed on to 4AD. A resurfacing of the weirdo we once knew, before he rose to some fame (and fighting with Grimes. The hell was that about? Seriously, you two, chill)

Tara Jane O’Neill, Self-titled. I dunno, I’ve always been fond of Tara’s folk work. Her work is just that little bit of thoughtfulness and strangeness I find alluring in general. I caught on to her a few years back, and her new album is pretty dang solid.

TALsounds, Love Sick. I came across this artist a couple years ago. She’s extremely talented: Imagine if Mariah Carey, after finishing opera training, decided to play with synths instead of becoming a pop star. While her voice is powerful and haunting, it’s her instrumentation that stands out: A sort of lost maze of weirdness and beauty that is amazing whether she sings or not.  This is her first big-time label release (joining, so I suggest you check it out.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, async. It’s amazing this guy’s still going. Sakamoto is one of those rare people who, after tasting some fame, decide to go into esoteric direction (Tom Waits and Scott Walker the singer being other examples). After blowing up with Yellow Music Orchestra back in the 70s, Sakamoto’s been doing crazy experimental stuff as well as film scores (He also acted in a film with David Bowie once).  This is from his latest, and it’s rather compelling.

My good pal Jesse D, EVI synth wizard, Shingles main man, one half of the mighty Grasshopper, Baked Tapes head honcho, and High Oracle of the First Church of Synthesis is coming to Chicago, so you all better show up! We got a damn fine evening planned...

Shingles(NYC) TALsounds LORD MUTE Immanence Front Shingles: On tour from NYC, the Grasshopper and Hexbreaker Quartet member rips solos on his strange electronic trumpet over ebullient synth jams for the post apocalypse. TALsounds: Hot off the release of her latest LP Love Sick, weaving synth and voice loops into haunting melodic electronic music. LORD MUTE: J Soliday and Mukqs collab for brain-breaking rapid collage music that's like crack for today's vast hoards of the attention depleted. Immanence Front: Gerritt Hatcher + Alex Grimes = electronics, strings, winds. Chicago's finest.