Kim Robins

Leave The Porch Light On

Pinecastle, 2021

8/10

Listen to Leave The Porch Light On

The bluegrass singer-songwriter and guitarist Kim Robins joined forces with the esteemed Clay Hess to produce and play on this new collection of bluegrass tunes, and there’s plenty of guests on hand to illuminate the songs penned by Paul Breedlove, Mark Brinkman and Alan Johnston, among others.

“Johnny Clay” starts the listen with precise banjo from Clay Hess and mandolin thanks to Duane Estep, as Robins’ inimitable pipes guide the cautious bluegrass opener, and “I’ll Always Be A Gambler” follows with Kyle Estep handling lead vocal duties in a smooth, melodic climate that showcases Josh Woods’ banjo prowess.

Moving towards the middle, the emotive and sublime “Memories Of An Angel” benefits much from Brennan Hess’ meticulous bass amid the heartfelt spirit, while “Annalisa” flows with gorgeous strings and Estep’s expressive vocals complementing Tim Crouch’s lovely fiddle. “You’re In The Lord’s Hands” then steps into deeper gospel territory alongside soft instrumentation and Estep and Robins’ cozy harmonizing.

Nearing the end, “Wind In The Valley” places Clay Hess on vocals in the dreamy, poetic delivery, and “I Won’t Have A Prayer” exits the listen with her band, 40 Years Late, blending their strings into a radiant and sophisticated finish.

An album recorded during the pandemic, Robins had to modify the recording process, but that allowed for so much outside talent to be present, and it makes for a very mature and memorable contemporary bluegrass listen.

Travels well with: Deeper Shade Of Blue- 20; Lorraine Jordan And Carolina Road- I Can Go To Them

Deeper Shade Of Blue

20

Pinecastle, 2021

9/10

Listen to 20

Deeper Shade Of Blue have now been a band for two decades, and this aptly titled 7th album shows that Jason Fraley (mandolin/vocals), Troy Pope (guitar/vocals), Frank Poindexter (dobro/vocals), Scott Burgess (bass/vocals), and Steve Wilson (banjo) sound better than ever, as their three part harmonies and flowing bluegrass is spread out across 12 well thought out tracks.

“Broken Lady” starts the listen with soaring vocal harmonies alongside Wilson’s warm banjo and Pope’s smooth guitar work in the timeless bluegrass delivery, and “Blue Was Just A Color” follows with the strings interacting with much beauty, where the vivid storytelling and Fraley’s mandolin skills make an indelible impression.

“Blue And Broken Hearted” lands in the middle and emits much eloquence that’s packed with soothing harmonies and sublime string interaction, while “Jared’s Rag” moves swiftly amid meticulous bass from Burgess and Poindexter’s stunning dobro, as the instrumental displays incredible musicianship. “If You Only Knew”, a late album highlight, then offers a cautious and folk influenced landscape that’s handled with the utmost care.

“Promises We Made” arrives near the end and resides in ballad territory, where soft strings highlight the heartfelt singing, and “Four Wheel Drive” exits the listen with no shortage of energy as the quintet allow each member’s respective talents to shine in the stunning bluegrass finish.

North Carolina is home to a lot of exceptional bluegrass, and Deeper Shade Of Blue are right at the top of that list. Capable of stirring, calm moments and fast, dynamic song craft that embraces all the hallmarks of the genre, 20 is yet another first rate effort to add to their glowing body of work.

Travels well with: Lorraine Jordan And Carolina Road- I Can Go To Them; Andrew Crawford- The Lonesome Season

Lorraine Jordan And Carolina Road

I Can Go To Them

Pinecastle, 2021

9/10

Listen to I Can Go To Them

Few artists will ever be as consistently great as Lorraine Jordan And Carolina Road, and here they bring us an all-Gospel album with 12 new recordings.

“Going Up” leads the listen with their flowing string work and soaring vocal harmonies sounding as grand as ever, where Jordan’s mandolin is particularly luminous, and “Brush Arbors” follows with no shortage of melody as baritone vocals take focus amid Matt Hooper’s sublime fiddle.

Deeper into the listen, “Jesus Hold My Hand” displays timeless bluegrass with plenty of gospel spirit in the warm climate, while “I Heard My Mother Call My Name In Prayer” trims the pace back with sublime beauty in the bare, folk influenced landscape. “Further Along”, one of the album’s best, then pairs expressive singing with bouts of swift strings as guitar from Allen Dyer and Joe Pessolano don’t disappoint.

Approaching the end, “I Cannot Bring Them Back (But I Can Go To Them)” offers an a cappella track with a tremendous amount of stirring, somewhat haunting singing as the band show that they can shine sans strings, too, and “Traveling The Highway Home” exits the listen with their trademark string interaction sounding as precise as ever, and it sure does benefit from Ben Greene’s banjo acrobatics.

An album dedicated to the Carolina Road member’s mothers, this might be their most heartfelt outing yet, and it’s not be missed for fans of bluegrass, gospel and mountain flavored song craft.

Travels well with: Daryl Mosley- Small Town Dreamer; Merle Monroe- Songs Of A Simple Life

Andrew Crawford

The Lonesome Season

Bonfire, 2021

8/10

Listen to The Lonesome Season

The multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Andrew Crawford knows his way around a bluegrass tune you won’t soon forget, and here he’s got 10 originals for us that take help from Aaron Ramsey, Tim Crouch, and Jason Moore, among others.

The title track starts the listen with warm strings flowing alongside Crawford’s heartfelt and poetic singing that benefits from harmonies and much beauty, and “How Many Miles Of Track” follows with a very mountain-esque delivery of precise strings and expressive vocals.

Halfway through, “The House That Daddy Built” is a calmer moment of sublime songwriting that meshes Crawford’s agile pipes with meticulous string manipulation, while “Land Of The Giants” gives the vocal chords a break and instead focuses on the fascinating chord progression of the instruments in a dreamy climate.

Landing near the end, “Pace’s Bluff” possesses much eloquence amid Crawford’s easily relatable storytelling, and “Fear Of The Mountain” exits on another instrumental, where the acoustic guitar acrobatics are nothing short of spellbinding and the frisky banjo plucking won’t disappoint, either.

Although he’s still a relatively new name in the bluegrass scene, with records this well done, Crawford absolutely holds his own on the Bonfire roster, and is an artist certainly worth keeping an eye on for the bluegrass inclined.

Travels well with: The Bonfire Movement- Pressing Onward; Ray Cardwell- Just A Little Rain

Single Girl, Married Girl

Three Generations Of Leaving

More Songs, 2021

8/10

Listen to Three Generations Of Leaving

A Los Angeles outfit who are well versed in folk-pop and Americana ideas, Single Girl, Married Girl thematically surround the trials and traumas of three generations of women from the same family on this 3rd album, as principle songwriter, vocalist and banjo player Chelsey Coy benefits from band members Shannon Soderlund (backing vocals), Charlie Rauh (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), John Gray (upright bass, electric bass) and Oskar Haggdahl (drums, percussion), who are joined by plenty of guests, too.

“Walking On Water” leads with warm banjo alongside poetic and expressive singing as the soulful climate emits much eloquence, and “So She Runs” follows with playful drumming, flowing guitars and a much fuller display that embraces pop friendly melodies.

Further down the line, “A Widow” glides with a bare but emotive spirit of soft, dreamy song craft, while “Scared To Move” twinkles with a near lullaby quality before drifting into a stirring and surreal execution of profound beauty that showcases Mary Lattimore’ harp. “Secret”, another exceptional tune, then flows with rugged yet pretty Americana that comes with an infectious, heartfelt energy.

Close to the end, “Control” offers a playful and upbeat rural rocker amid radiant vocal harmonies, fluid banjo and precise drumming, and “The Flood” exits the listen with glowing pedal steel from Thad DeBrock that adds much mood to the country influenced finish.

A very well thought out listen that also hosts strings by Callie Galvez (cello), Haruka Horii (violin) and Philip Kronengold’s organ, Single Girl, Married Girl might make you think of veterans like Joan Baez or more modern artists like Jenny Lewis, and their nostalgic brand of folk and appreciation of today’s pop makes for a very charming listen.

Travels well with: Sweetlove- Goodnight, Lover. Gawain And The Green Knight- A Sleeping Place

Various Artists

The Problem Of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill & Gang of Four

Gill, 2021

10/10

Listen to The Problem Of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill & Gang of Four

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Gang of Four might just be the most influential band of the last 40 years, as evidenced by the countless covers of their songs, and the very diverse amount of artists who cite their work as inspiration.

Andy Gill, a founding member of Gang of Four and the lead guitarist, who was known for his angular playing style, died unexpectedly in 2020. He was actually working on a 40th anniversary project of Gang of Four’s 1979 album, Entertainment!, but, tragically, it turned into this tribute double album to honor Gill’s inimitable spirit.

Idles starts the listen with the jagged guitar and thumping drums of the post-punk fueled “Damaged Goods”, and Tom Morello & Serj Tankian follow with the swirling energy and bouncy bass of the iconoclastic “Natural’s Not In It”.

Elsewhere on disc 1, Helmet offers us the dense and animated “In The Ditch”, while Gail Ann Dorsey’s “We Live As A Dream, Alone” throbs with an ‘80s ambience that’s quite melodic, even pop friendly. JJ Sterry exits this portion with the quirky, electro-rock and post-punk nods of “5.45”.

The 2nd disc leads with La Roux’s version of “Damaged Goods”, where a dance friendly and synth-pop delivery unfolds, and it isn’t long until The Dandy Warhols grace us with their alt-rock and psychedelic ways as they interpret “What We All Want”.

Moving towards the end of the listen, Flea & John Frusciante featuring The Silverlake Conservatory Youth Chorale pairs group vocals from children with the meticulous guitars from Flea and Frusciantre for a very adventurous version of “Not Great Men”. The Sounds turn in the highlight from the back half of the record, where their stylish indie-rock and New Wave sensibilites illuminate “I Love A Man In Uniform” with much power amid an anthemic quality that’s not short on synth.

A songwriter and producer with a resume that anyone would be impressed with, you can tell by the immense talent on this project that Gill was well respected and universally adored.

Much like Gang of Four’s wide impact, the songs here emanate from several countries and 4 continents, and it truly spotlights Gill’s unparalleled vision that spawned hundreds, if not thousands, of bands, some of which became household names and surely could have never arrived at that point without Gang of Four having paved the way.

Travels well with: Allen Ravenstine- Electron Music; Mekons- Deserted

Information Society

ODDfellows

Negative Gain, 2021

9/10

Listen to ODDfellows

The Twin Cities legends Information Society made a sizable dent in the area of synth-pop in the late ‘80s with their smash hit, “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)”. Unlike many of their peers, the band has remained intact through the years, though with long breaks, and here they return with the original 3 members, James Cassidy, Kurt Larson and Paul Robb, as well as the latest official member, Zeke Prebluda.

“Extraordinary Popular Delusions And The Madness Of Crowds” starts the listen and dives right into firm electronics and dense beats that certainly should soundtrack a night at the club, and “Would You Like Me If I Played A Guitar” follows with a more ‘80s influenced appeal that’s filled with playful electronics, soaring pop moments and lively buzzing.

Approaching the middle, “Room 1904” flows with a punchy spirit that’s highly melodic and brings us back to their fluent New Wave nods that radiates much warm, romantic energy, while “Nothing Prevails” emits a busy and lush display of powerful synth rock and darkwave that we will never tire of. “Bennington”, one of the album’s best, then meshes post-punk, New Wave and synth-pop into the perfect blend of electro-rock.

The record remains strong until the end, where “Grups” offers a calmer side of their skill with some darker moments of unique creativity, and “The Mymble’s Daughter” exits the listen with an upbeat and summery landscape of dreamy sounds, where swirling melodies flow amid the pretty ambience.

This is the first Information Society album in 8 years, and not only is every tune here expertly crafted and embraces the timeless nature that has comprised their entire career, this is actually the first complete album to be released with a headphone version rendered in THX Spatial Audio, so the hooks, dense bass, and frisky beats sound even better.

Travels well with: The Psychedelic Furs- Made Of Rain; Bizou- Tragic Lover

Slinky Vagabond

King Boy Vandals

Ma.Ra.Cash, 2021

8/10

Listen to King Boy Vandals

An outfit spearheaded by the fashion designer, author and musician Keanan Duffty and the Italian guitarist, songwriter and producer Fabio Fabbri, King Boy Vandals sees the pair taking help from current and former members of Visage, Magazine, Guns N’ Roses, David Bowie and Simply Red for this often sturdy listen that takes influence from punk and alt-rock.

“Prima Donna” starts the listen with a thick and buzzing display of gritty yet melodic alt-rock that somehow sounds indebted to the ‘90s while also being modern, and “Fear No Evil” follows with a some prog-rock ideas entering the thumping and groove friendly climate that was actually a demo Duffty wrote for Velvet Revolver.

Further along, “Falling Down” is a quieter offering of post-punk like dreaminess amid angular guitar work and a very crisp rhythm section that features Tony Bowers on bass, while “Euphoria” takes a bigger step in prog territory alongside some ‘80s appeal and David Torn’s guitar prowess. “English Country Garden” then certainly points towards the band’s British influences, where Richard Fortus’ hard rock tendencies add much to the energetic landscape.

Deeper yet, “Rocking Into An Explosion” swirls with both grit and tunefulness, as soaring vocals and spirited guitars complement the spacey ideas, and “The Beauty In You” exits the listen with a warm acoustic tune, where a poetic delivery and cozy strumming alongside gentle piano and stirring strings make just as much an impact as the louder tracks.

An album that was primarily recorded live, Duffty and Fabbri certainly know how to navigate a muscular rock tune you won’t soon forget, and the many players and vast influences makes for a listening experience that will be enjoyed by those with interests as wide as David Bowie, The Psychedelic Furs or even Buzzcocks.

Travels well with: The Psychedelic Furs- Made Of Rain; The Milwaukees- The Calling

Susana Baca

Palabras Urg’entes

Real World, 2021

8/10

Listen to Palabras Urg’entes

Now in her 50th year of making music, the esteemed vocalist Susana Baca shows no signs of slowing down, as the Peru native delivers a protest album of sorts, where sharp lyrics and gorgeous music meet at a relevant place in today’s often turbulent times.

“Le Herida Oscura” starts the listen with warm guitar, stirring strings and subtle drumming as Baca’s soulful pipes guide the cultured opener, and “Negra del Alma” follows with bright horns and well timed vibraphone complementing the festive climate.

Deeper into the listen, “Milonga de mis Amores” flows with much melody amid the folk influenced songwriting, while “Cambalache” recruits charming piano and strategic percussion as Baca’s expressive voice mesmerizes us. “Sorongo”, the best tune present, then utilizes plenty of backing vocals for the lively rocker that’s full of timeless South American traditions.

Landing near the end, “Dammerung” is initially just Baca’s stripped back voice before gentle keys enter the dreamy landscape, and “Vestida de Vida” finishes the listen with group vocals and spoken word meshing in the powerful, impactful exit.

Baca takes much help from Michael League, of Snarky Puppy, and his contributions, as well as Jeff Coffin on saxophone, certainly help make Palabras Urg’entes another glowing chapter in Baca’s body of work, where a profound intimacy and folk, jazz and pop enter her absorbing formula.

Travels well with: Dom La Nena- Tempo; Tanika Charles- The Gumption

Daryl Mosley

Small Town Dreamer

Pinecastle, 2021

8/10

Listen to Small Town Dreamer

Having spent considerable time with Daryl Mosley’s debut solo album, The Secret Of Life, this follow up was quite anticipated, and the former member of The New Tradition and The Farm Hands doesn’t disappoint, as he takes company from Tony Wray, Aaron McDaris, Adam Haynes, Justin Moses, Jaelee Roberts and Jeanette Williams for the personal sophomore outing.

“Transistor Radio” starts the listen with warm guitar from Wray and equally cozy vocals from Mosley, where well timed harmony vocals and subtle mandolin complement the beauty, and “Hillbilly Dust” follows with a poetic quality that allows Mosley’s heartfelt pipes to shine amid strategic banjo from McDaris.

Further on, “He’s With Me” brings us back to Mosley’s gospel roots with much sincerity intact, while the flowing “The Waverly Train Disaster” displays cautious and meticulous string interaction with charming harmony vocals. Elsewhere, the playful fiddle from Haynes on “I Can’t Go Home Anymore” suits the reflective climate well, as Mosley’s universal storytelling warms the heart.

Deeper still, “Mama’s Bible” enters a more folk based climate that uses soothing instrumentation alongside Mosley’s gentle singing, and “Sing Me A Song About A Train” exits the listen swiftly with a timeless bluegrass appeal that truly showcases the immense talent present.

An artist whose vision revolves around bluegrass, country, folk and Americana, Mosley’s 30+ year career in music has yielded many awards, several number 1 singles and handfuls of great, timeless songs, many of which are present on Small Town Dreamer.

Travels well with: The Farm Hands- 4.0; Wilson Banjo Co.- Six Degrees Of Separation

Sue Foley

Pinky’s Blues

Stony Plain, 2021

9/10

Listen to Pinky’s Blues

The esteemed blues guitarist and vocalist Sue Foley never disappoints, and here with Jon Penner (bass), Chris Layton (drums), Mike Flanigin (keys) and a very special appearance from a blues legend, she delivers a well executed mix of originals and covers.

The title track gets the album off to a strong start with Foley’s soulful and powerful guitar alongside Layton’s thumping drums, and “Two Bit Texas Town” follows with plenty of rhythm as Foley’s rugged yet tuneful pipes guide the flowing blues spirit.

At the halfway point, “Say It’s Not So” trims the volume back so we can digest the full scope of Foley’s soaring voice before building into some warm R&B influences, while “Hurricane Girl” bounces and shakes with a playful energy that welcomes Jimmie Vaughan on rhythm guitar. “Stop These Teardrops” then points towards the early days of rock’n’roll as Foley’s versatile singing makes for an irresistible tune that’s impossible not to admire.

Closer to the end, “Think It Over” offers an emotive and raw moment that benefits much from Flanigin’s organ prowess, and Willie Dixon’s “When The Cat’s Gone The Mice Play is a lively finish with some funk nods as Foley puts an inimitable spin on the classic.

Now in her 50’s and well over a dozen albums deep into her body of work, although she’s still first and foremost a Canadian, Foley plays with the timelessness of the blues found in Chicago, Memphis and, of course, Austin, where she’s spent much time, and it sounds better than ever here.

Travels well with: Joanna Connor- 4801 South Indiana Avenue; Erin Harpe- Meet Me In The Middle

Rose Bolton

The Lost Clock

Cassauna, 2021

9/10

Listen to The Lost Clock

An artist with an iconoclastic approach to electronica, Rose Bolton’s abstract vision combines both organic and synthetic ideas into a precise manipulation of timbre and sonic awareness on each of the 4 tracks that make up The Lost Clock.

“Unsettled Souls” starts the listen with light ambience that glides cautiously amid a futuristic quality, and “The Lost Clock” follows with a more ominous tone initially, but eventually finds its way into dreamy waves of atmosphere and mood.

The back half of the album offers the haunting tone of “Starless Night”, which seems like it could soundtrack a movie about a space journey, and “The Heaven Mirror” finishes the listen aglow in warm keys, blurry electronics, buzzing synth and strategic strings that culminate in the EP highlight.

A very substantial listen that you can easily get lost in, Bolton’s texturing is nothing if not meticulous, and the artistic droning, cryptic drifting and sometimes downright eerie moments make this often minimal endeavor a fascinating journey.

Travels well with: Sally Decker- In The Tender Dream; Nick Storring- Newfoundout

Nick Storring

Newfoundout

mappa editions, 2021

8/10

Listen to Newfoundout

A true DIY effort, Nick Storring composed, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered Newfoundout in his home from 2017-2021, and he made good use of acoustic and electromechanical instruments, objects, and treatments, while relying very little on electronic processing.

“Dome” starts the listen with 12+ minutes of adventurousness, where percussive noises, dense ambience and glowing electronic manipulation make an impression, and “Dome Extension” continues this path with rhythmic drumming that nearly lands in tribal territory.

The middle tracks are quite interesting, and include the dreamy landscape of “Khartum”, where a bare intimacy is explored amid intriguing cinematic moments, while “Silver Centre” finds a haunting place to reside that erupts into a buzzing, busy display of sonic prowess.

Arriving near the end, “Vroomanton” offers a dense beat and plenty of atypical alluring and booming sounds, and the title track exits the listen with a surreal backdrop and cascading finish of familiar noisemakers that you just can’t quite place, but want to hear more of.

This is Storring’s 7th album, and it features more emphasis on wind, percussion and atypical ‘instruments’, including a dog whistle and a driver’s license. A listen that’s impossible to categorize, just enjoy it for it is, whether it’s the prog-like moments, psychedelic nods, experimental texturing or seemingly other worldly gestures.

Travels well with: Sally Decker- In The Tender Dream; Jorma Tapio & Kaski- Aliseen

Jessica Ackerley

Morning/mourning

Cacophonous, 2021

9/10

Listen to Morning/mourning

The Canadian-American guitarist Jessica Ackerley has recently been involved in some well received collaboration albums, and here she returns with a solo effort where her stunning guitar vision unfolds with an ambient, exploratory and atypical version of jazz.

Ackerley starts the album with the hypnotic manipulation of “Henry”, where a warm presence aligns with mysteriousness in her dizzying, avant-garde approach, and “Inner Automation” continues the creativity with quivering and playful dynamics, but also lands in calmer areas of flowing beauty, too.

Deeper into the listen, “Departure Into Sound Memory” has Ackerley plucking her guitar in very unusual and alluring ways, while “mourning” displays swift chord progressions amid firm strumming that gets a bit intense. “Untitled 3” then moves calmly, with much emotion, initially, before segueing into some fascinating free jazz that’s as charming as it is complicated.

Rounding out the listen are “Coaxial II” and “Morning”, where the former shifts unpredictably in Ackerley’s meticulous demeanor, and the latter exits on a bare, reflective and heartfelt moment of sublime songwriting.

Recorded over 4 years at various times, Ackerley sorts through the grieving process of losing two of her mentors, Vic Juris and Bobby Cairns, and she honors the influence they had on her craft with radiant, inimitable and intimate song craft that makes an immediate and lasting impression.

Travels well with: Van Stiefel- Spirits; Collage Project- Off Brand

Alex Eddington

A Present From A Small Distant World

Red Shift, 2021

9/10

Listen to A Present From A Small Distant World

The Toronto composer Alex Eddington makes quite an impression on this debut album, where he runs the gamut of moods with Kristin Mueller-Heaslip on vocals, Jennifer Tran holding down saxophone, Elaine Lau and Joseph Ferretti playing piano, and Daniel Ramjattan brings his guitar. Eddington also handles electronics, and it makes for a very experimental version of classical music.

The title track starts the record with text from Jimmy Carter as a vocally soaring and musically atmospheric setting is cultivated, and “Sonnet XVIII” follows with soothing singing that shows incredible range in its a cappella nature set to Shakespeare’s words.

Tran’s saxophone prowess is on display alongside the curious spoken word, well timed piano and highly diverse 20 minutes of “Time Will Erase”, while “Dennis Lee Songs” alternates between bouncy and playful and intimate and bare. “The Stolen Child”, one of the album’s best, then showcases agile keys from Lau that shifts moods constantly amid the strong vocal acrobatics that illustrates W.B. Yeats’ prose.

Approaching the end, “Scintillator” delivers an almost robotic like presence initially, before spotlighting the many facets of Mueller-Heaslip’s distinct soprano voice, and “Intersteller/To the Makers of Music” exits with sublime beauty and a dreamy quality that almost seems like a lullaby and benefits much from Ramjattan’s guitar.

Although this might be his first album, Eddington has a wealth of experience playing with many ensembles and holding residencies in his home country. On this very adventurous endeavor, he presents a collage of sounds, many emotions and plenty of inimitable skill that you won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Tim Brady- Actions Speak Louder; Allen Ravenstine- Rue Du Poisson Noir

Agave/Mobley

American Originals

Acis, 2021

8/10

Listen to American Originals

The countertenor Reginald L. Mobley is in fine company here, as Agave, i.e. Aaron Westman (violin, viola), Anna Washburn (violin), Katherine Kyme (violin), William Skeen (cello), Kevin Cooper (guitar) and Henry Lebedinsky (organ and piano) are on hand for the rich, timeless pieces that explore much culture.

“Resignation” starts the listen with strings and keys interacting with much beauty as expressive vocals guide the cautious opener, and “Tú Mi Dios, Entre Pajas” follows with a very pretty display of flowing vocals and agile strings that mesh with much precision.

Elsewhere, “Taedet Animam Meam” offers plenty of grace and warmth, while “Sympathy” gets a bit more tense via the bright story telling and firm piano. “Tobacco”, the album’s best, then discusses all the pros of tobacco in a charming, upbeat 50 seconds.

On the back half of the listen, the sublime “The White Rose” gets dreamy amid the soft strings and gentle keys, and “Songs To The Dark Virgin” exits the listen with power and emotion meeting at a very meticulous intersection.

Mobley and company offer a very worldly listen, where they celebrate composers from the last few centuries from all over the Americas who are of color, and they do it with much poise in its chamber, classical, orchestral and baroque appeal.

Travels well with: Paul Cohen- Heard Again For The First Time; James Dashow- Synchronies

See Through 4

Permanent Moving Parts

All-Set!, 2021

8/10

Listen to Permanent Moving Parts

A project spearheaded by the composer and bassist Pete Johnston, the other 3 of his See Through 4 cast includes Lina Allemano (trumpet), Michael Davidson (vibraphone), and Jake Oelrichs (drums), who all bring a wealth of talent to this experimental version of jazz.

“Underground Over Night” leads with the brass and vibraphone interacting playfully as the frisky drums and bass complement the fun opener, and “Everything Happens Once” follows with a calmer approach that’s quite progressive in a free jazz sort of way.

“Quietly Fading Fast” lands in the middle and emits strategic bass alongside the soulful trumpet and subtle vibraphone, while “Possible Daytime Dreams” swiftly glides with a bouncy spirit of seemingly improvised dynamics.

Moving towards the end, “Surrender Before Then” comes with a unique energy that’s kinda blurry, sort of dreamy and entirely unpredictable, and “Familiar Second Thoughts” finishes the listen with a light and delicate delivery where all the players showcase their respective skills in a very soothing execution.

Johnston’s See Through series has winded some very interesting roads including prog and chamber ideas, and here we’re treated to atypical jazz flourishes that are as clever as they are atypical in their post-bop exploration.

Travels well with: Rebecca Hennessy- All The Little Things You Do; Tim Brady- Actions Speak Louder

Tim Brady

Actions Speak Louder

Redshift, 2021

9/10

Listen to Actions Speak Louder

The revered Canadian guitarist and composer Tim Brady takes on a very daring project here, where he spreads out his diverse vision across 3 discs that mix solo guitar pieces, orchestral nods and chamber ensembles that seamlessly flow together with incredible attention to detail.

Disc 1 leads with the precise and hypnotic guitar of “Simple Loops In Complex Times”, which unfolds across 3 movements of quivering, dreamy and meticulous songwriting that packs an emotional spirit into the gorgeous climate. “At Sergio’s Request” follows with no shortage of atmosphere in a mysterious, cinematic delivery, and “Uncertain Impact” exits this portion with a more firm quality that segues into fascinating guitar acrobatics, where the Instruments Of Happiness ensemble are on hand.

The middle disc is just one long track, as “Triple Concerto: Because Everything Has Changed” meshes Helmut Lipsky’s moody violin and Shawn Mativetsky’s tabla and percussion with Brady’s guitar and programming for a very distinct orchestral journey that’s also ambient and quite captivating.

The final portion offers us “Revolutionary Songs” and “As It Happened”, where the former showcases gorgeous soprano singing amid mesmerizing guitar and subtle cello, and the latter uses spoken word and many voices for a collage of sounds that are dizzying, almost spiritual and extremely unconventional.

You’re not likely to hear anything like this anywhere else, as Brady and company dabble in electroacoustic sounds, classical moments, artistic qualities and unparalleled guitar playing, and the lengthy booklet that comes with the 3 disc package makes for an even better experience of Brady’s inimitable sound manipulation.

Travels well with: Allen Ravenstine- Rue Du Poisson Noir; Warp Trio- Warp Trio’s Pandemic Disco Fantasy

Various Artists

Landslide Records: 40 Years

Landslide, 2021

9/10

Listen to Landslide Records: 40 Years

I’d say that celebrating the 40 year anniversary of a record label with a double disc collection of some of the best and brightest to appear on the label is a grand idea, and Landslide Records have done just that with a diverse collection of household names as well as lesser known but equally great outfits in the area of roots, blues, jazz and many more genres.

Tinsley Ellis & The Heartfixers start the listen with the soaring, gritty and rhythmic blues of “Drivin’ Woman”, and it isn’t long until Damon Fowler treats us to the warm and rugged “Make The Best Of Your Time”, where Mike Kach’s keyboards make an indelible impression.

Further into disc 1, Sean Costello’s “Motor Head Baby” offers a raw and dynamic rocker that showcases Costello’s soulful pipes and meticulous guitar playing, while Geoff Achison delivers an atypical version of Americana on “Skeleton Kiss” that’s poetic and soothing amid the breezy melody. Dave Bartholomew exits this disc with a playful jazz tune that’s got plenty of brass and vocals to highlight the fusion of “Jazz Fest In New Orleans”.

The 2nd disc is equally great, and includes “Mr. PC”, which is a swift and detailed blues rocker from The Derek Trucks Band, as well as the eclectic rock of “Travelin’ Light” thanks to the always impressive Widespread Panic.

Further along, The Brains deliver the New Wave nods of “Dancing Under Streetlights”, and the rockabilly fun of “Little Honky Tonks”, courtesy of Steam Donkeys, is just as exciting. Deeper still, Jan Smith’s “Woman Your Guitar” displays incredible guitar playing from Smith and Jeff Vogelgesang’s precise mandolin as some folk ideas arrive in her Appalachian influenced song craft.

Few labels will ever last as long as Landslide or accumulate a roster as revered. If you’re a fan of the label, these 33 songs will remind you of all the things you love about their southern focused artists, and, for the first time listener, prepare to be exposed to handfuls of superbly created and timeless music that characterizes the spirit of the south perfectly.

Travels well with: Mary Lou Fulton- We’ll Tell Stories; Zac Harmon- Long As I Got My Guitar

Dave Miller Trio

Just Imagine

Summit, 2019

8/10

Listen to Just Imagine

A longtime Northern California pianist with an affinity for the work of George Shearing, Dave Miller brings along Chuck Bennet and Bill Belasco for these reworked tunes that Shearing once played.

“One For The Woofer” gets the album off to a bouncy, key friendly start with playful rhythm, and “You Took Advantage Of Me” follows with a quieter setting of piano acrobatics and crisp percussion.

Elsewhere, “I’d Love To Make Love To You” finds the listen settling into a romantic mood of elegance where Miller plays block hand style (a nod to Shearing), while “A Foggy Day” recruits sublime beauty in its cautious delivery.

Near the end, “Careful” finds a frisky place to reside with plenty of percussive experimentation, and “All My Tomorrows” offers a busy display of dynamic instrumentation. “Just Imagine” ends the listen with soulfulness and timelessness in the emotive keys.

Miller and company unleash many solos and spirited song craft on this fine album, as he generally keeps things short and to the point with his esteemed jazz delivery.

Travels well with: Rebecca DuMaine And The Dave Miller Combo- Chez Nous; Wayne Wallace- The Nature Of The Beat