Amos Gillespie

Unstructured Time

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Unstructured Time

The alto-saxophone wizard and composer Amos Gillespie aligns himself with some impressive company here, where a nine-part jazz suite explores finding peace in a loud and congested world. The sextet he brings with cover a lot of moods and influences, where sublime vocals are present on half the selections.

“Shades Of Red” opens the listen with Dan Thatcher’s playful bass plucking before Paul Bedal’s flowing keys enter the 10+ minutes of diverse and flowing swing sounds, and “Deconstructed” follows with Alexandra Olsavsky’s sophisticated singing guiding the initially bare but powerful climate that shifts into swift melodies and precise drumming from Gustavo Cortinas.

Moving along, “Tangerine Road” offers busier textures of sax acrobatics alongside bright piano and frisky drumming, while “Sleepless” trims the pace back amid Olsavsky’s gorgeous singing that benefits from the poetic keys and spirited brass moments.

Deeper yet, “Silence Is Your Own” illustrates incredible range from Olsavsky’s pipes as a very pretty jazz landscape unfolds, and “Juiced” exits the listen upbeat, rhythmic and aglow in punchy brass, lively drumming and fluid guitar from Casey Nielsen, which addresses the excitement of life past quarantine.

Gillespie is quickly making a name for himself with his alto-sax skills, and this strong attention to melody, structure and rhythm prove that he’s just adept at composing, too.

Travels well with: Manny Kellough And Friends- Speaking Of Jazz (East To West Coast); Gerry Eastman Trio- Trust Me

Bruce Cockburn

Greatest Hits (1970-2020)

True North, 2021

9/10

Listen to Greatest Hits 1970-2020

The Canadian legend Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed a career that’s spawned 34 releases, 13 Juno Awards, a pair of Hall of Fame inductions and worldwide acclaim. Here, we’re treated to 2 discs of some of his greatest work from 1970-2020, and it includes fan favorites as well as tracks that rose to the top of the charts.

“Going To The Country” opens the listen with Cockburn’s warm acoustic guitar and soothing, intimate singing that carries a timeless folk spirit, and “Musical Friends” follows with playful keys and well timed percussion to complement the subtle jazz nods.

Deeper into disc 1, “Silver Wheels” takes a more reflective tone as strategic brass enters the equation, while “Tokyo” offers insightful socio-political commentary where firm drumming adds much to the unique protest song. “People See Through You” exits this portion bright and melodic, with a more ‘80s rock focused display that showcases another avenue of Cockburn’s craft.

Disc 2 leads with the cozy piano and lively brass of the heartfelt “Waiting For A Miracle”, as well his mid ‘90s gem “Night Train”, which emits a hazy spirit in its subdued, poetic appeal. Near to the end, “Call Me Rose” mixes social issues, politics and philosophy in Cockburn’s inimitable formula of diverse and thought provoking song craft.

Included are exclusive notes from Cockburn, as this collection documents one of this generation’s most revered and embraced artists flawlessly. It’s an absolute must for the unwavering fan, and a great place to start if you’re unfamiliar with Cockburn’s work.

Travels well with: Jackson Browne- Downhill From Everywhere; John Hiatt With The Jerry Douglas Band- Leftover Feelings

Gypsum

Gypsum

Sonic Ritual, 2021

9/10

Listen to Gypsum

A Los Angeles outfit with an affinity for post-rock moments, the trio of Gypsum make quite an impression on this debut album, where Sapphire Jewell (guitar, vocals), Anna Arboles (guitar, vocals) and Jessy Reed (drums) cultivate some very interesting harmony and rhythm.

“Follow Me” opens the listen with a dreamy soaring, as dynamic and melodic instrumentation shows hints of psyche-rock ideas, and “Lungs” follows with a shimmering pop quality amid warm post-rock nods that give the track a very distinct climate of fuzzed out fun.

At the halfway point, “Snow White” recruits much atmosphere, where synthetic drumming and a mysterious intimacy are present and appreciated, while “Grafting” is a gorgeous display of precise drumming, angular guitar work, and a bit of mood to the ethereal landscape.

Deeper still, “Satisfied” is a bit more firm in nature, and quite pretty in its lush melodies and dual vocals, and “Disappear”, the album’s best, then weaves in and out of powerful, reverb friendly textures that hint at post-punk.

A hazily exciting first album, there’s some minor grunge stabs present, too, which only adds even more intrigue to the trio’s unpredictable and inviting formula. A striking first album, at this rate it won’t be long until Gypsum are everyone’s favorite band.

Travels well with: Church Girls- Home; Broken Baby- Late Stage Optimism

Mackin Carroll

Learning How To Swim

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to Learning How To Swim

A Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist with a very fertile imagination, this debut from Mackin Carroll is full of songs about outer space, heartbreak, and food, and it’s delivered in a way that might bring you back to the indie-rock scene 20 years ago.

The title track opens the listen with warm and intimate sounds, as Dick Carroll’s whistling and Carter Couron’s precise drumming makes for a dreamy climate, and “Black Hole Song (I Miss You)” follows with Mackin’s playful keys and versatile singing shining in both the bare and loud moments.

Approaching the middle, “Creature Of Habit” showcases Sara Mulford’s keys and Quinn D’Andrea’s backing vocals in a folk-friendly landscape, while “Intermission” strums firmly amid Couron’s drumming acrobatics. “Vampires” might be the best tune present, as it gets a bit scrappy with some nostalgic singer-songwriter appeal.

Near the end, “No Tiger” offers a charming version of timeless indie-folk, and “Hangin’ Out” exits the listen with Mackin handling all instruments in a vulnerable, eloquent and well thought out finish.

A listen that rarely stays in one place very long, garage-rock, folk-rock and alt-rock are present, and Mackin’s very distinct storytelling makes for a clever, memorable first album that is hopefully the start of a prolific career.

Travels well with: Conor Oberst- Salutations; Sea Wolf- Through A Dark Wood

Not A Citizen

13189

Some Other Planet, 2021

8/10

Listen to 13189

The creative outlet for Cristobal Jimenez Van Cauwelaert, as Not A Citizen the multi-instrumentalist and producer put much thought and care into these very diverse tracks that soundtrack his urban life between London and Berlin.

The title track opens the listen with warm beats and a late night feel that moves with a darker quality of instrumental creativity, and “Floating Away” follows with calm rhythm and a slightly ominous backdrop against hypnotic vocals.

Halfway through, the percussively strong “Sin Tus Ojos, Yo No Te Puedo Ver” is quite stylish and mesmerizing in its mysterious nature, while “Andes” glides in a dreamy, soulful haze of bass friendly atmosphere.

Nearing the end, “Empty Streets” benefits from a slower tempo, poetic singing and spirited guitar work, and “The Last Dusk” exits the listen bare, pretty and soaked in an ambient version of fusion that you can’t help but admire.

An extremely difficult listen to categorize, Not A Citizen carries traces from jazz, hip-hop, indie-rock, alt-rock and post-bop, and it makes for a very atypical but enjoyable listen that only gets better with repeated plays.

Travels well with: Gilles Poizat-Champignon Flamme; Submarine FM- Crawl

Mule Jenny

All These Songs Of Love And Death

Araki, 2021

8/10

Listen to All These Songs Of Love And Death

Although France’s Mule Jenny are now a trio, this debut was actually recorded by just Etienne Gaillochet, who plays guitars, drums, bass, keys, synth, vibraphone, percussions and sings all vocals on this very interesting version of indie-rock.

“Cross The Line” opens the listen with hypnotic guitar, as frisky drumming and smooth singing enters a complicated and playful version of math-rock, and “In The Classroom” follows with shimmering percussion and bouncy bass work, where a dreamy backdrop unfolds amid much melody.

Further along, “Every Other Rendition” moves with a meticulous, angular approach that’s textured with much appeal, while “We Won’t Make A Sound” emits glowing vibraphone alongside a more tense delivery that’s full of rowdy drum fills and soulful backing vocals.

Arriving near the end, the light buzzing of “Joy And Deception” resides somewhere between indie-rock and post-rock with a nearly meditative quality, and the title track exits the listen with a warm duet that’s intimate and soars lightly with a reflective tone.

A very complicated affair that’s rich with harmony, melodies and rarely relies on traditional song structure, this first album is quite exciting and atypical. Now Gaillochet is joined by Théo Guéneau and Max Roy, so future releases should be even more adventurous.

Travels well with: Timothée Quost-Flatten The Curve; Rifo- Betel

Gintas K

Nervus Vagus

Self-released, 2021

8/10

Listen to Nervus Vagus

The Lithuania artist Gintas K returns with an electroacoustic body of work, where voices and stories told by people of varying ages and gender flow against a backdrop of highly experimental sounds.

“Beginning, Laughter” opens the listen with glitchy computer sounds that are quite exploratory in a soundtrack to a video game in another dimension sort of way that welcomes bits of laughing, and “Rising” follows with a similar amount of creativity, where a busy, nearly chaotic setting unfolds.

Elsewhere, “Keep Walking” recruits much atmosphere to the dreamy, soothing climate, while “A Dream, Relatives Story” delivers a warm undercurrent that is populated by a storm of computer noises. “Art Story”, one of the album’s best, then bristles with a bit of an ominous quality amid an airy feeling that’s nearly spiritual.

The final two tracks, “+ all we are” and “+ toys story” are equally exciting, where the former is a flurry of sonically synthetic sounds, and the latter showcases the pure sounds of a baby’s laughter.

Gintas K has been a part of the Lithuanian experimental scene since 1994, and is well versed in digital music for film and sound installations. An artist with a truly unique vision, Nervus Vagus is yet another fascinating effort, where the spare use of voices mixed with his granular synthesis, live electronic and hard computer music makes for an experience you’re not going to hear anywhere else.

Travels well with: Body/Negative- Fragments; Peter Gilbert- Burned Into The Orange

Hans Thomalla

Dark Spring

Oehms, 2021

8/10

Listen to Dark Spring

A very accomplished collaboration between the composer Hans Thomalla and the poet Joshua Clover, this 11 scene song-opera premiered live in Germany during the pandemic, and features performances from Shachar Lavi, Anna Hybiner, Christopher Diffey, and Magid El-Bushra for a meshing of American popular song tradition and musical and theatrical avant-garde.

“This dress is not too short” opens the listen with the soaring mezzo-soprano of Lavi, and this segues into the playful keys and bouncy climate of “Song: Boys! Boys!”, as well as the layered voices of the emotive “Melchoir Gabor, he told me once he does not believe in anything”.

Deeper into disc 1, “Song: I am telling you this place is a dark wood” finds a dreamy place to reside in its stirring delivery, while “I passed, I passed, I passed!” moves swiftly, initially, before finding a sublime place to reside.

Disc 2 opens with the vivid storytelling of “Don’t You Sleep?”, which offers a bit of tension, too, and further down the line, “What are you hunting, what have you lost?” showcases divine singing amid light percussion, a chilling atmosphere and firm keys. The album exits on “Be cheerful, Wendla, be cheerful!”, where the 7 minutes covers a lot of ground from lush and majestic, to gentle and intimate.

Recorded over 5 live performances, Dark Spring captures the unparalleled skill of the performers with Hans’s precise instrumental techniques and strong nods to European composers that makes for a powerful and emotional listening experience.

Travels well with: Andrew Lloyd Webber- Symphonic Suites; Apollo Chamber Players- With Malice Towards None

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Symphonic Suites

Decca, 2021

9/10

Listen to Symphonic Suites

Andrew Lloyd Webber recruits an 81 piece orchestra for this stunning performance, where 3 of his best-loved musicals are fleshed out with meticulous attention to detail at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

“Evita” starts the listen with a very fluid and precise, melodic approach which is met with tense bouts of firm musicianship as well as soft, agile ebbs of grace and beauty.

In the middle, “Sunset Boulevard” emits soaring strings as the stirring and exciting song craft is a triumphant cinematic experience that unfolds with a profound attention to detail.

The final track, “Phantom Of The Opera”, leads light and dreamy with the eloquent winds front and center, while the strings blend into the formula with bright and impactful percussion complementing the brass.

A fascinating listen that balances emotion, mood and warmth, Webber and company bridge music, theater and entertainment here with superb results.

Travels well with: Apollo Chamber Players- With Malice Toward None; Daniil Trifonov- BACH: The Art Of Life

Sad Daddy

Way Up In The Hills

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Way Up In The Hills

A long running outfit from Arkansas, Sad Daddy consists of Brian Martin, Joe Sundell, Rebecca Patek and Melissa Carper. Together, they laid down 14 live tracks for this 3rd album, where a very ‘pickin-on-the-porch’ vibe runs through the diverse listen.

“Arkansas Bound” starts the listen with playful banjo and warm fiddle as Carper’s rugged vocals guide the very rootsy opener, and “Big River” follows with plucked bass and spirited harmonica complementing Sundell’s Hank Wiliams-esque delivery.

“Cold Rain” arrives further into the listen, and recruits all 4 members on vocals as the emotive and poetic album highlight makes an indelible impression, while “Charlie Pickle” embraces bluegrass nods, where a playful landscape makes for an occasion you could dance to. “Up In The Hills”, another excellent track, then emits a soulful stirring quality thanks to the hypnotic banjo, light drumming and eloquent singing.

Deeper yet, “Wild Road” offers a gorgeous acoustic fueled tune where Sundell’s infectious singing is met with breezy melody, and the reprise version of “Arkansas Bound” bookends the listen with country, folk, bluegrass and jam band ideas populating the eclectic finish.

The quartet’s decision to head to the hills and record sitting in a circle in a cabin makes for a very organic, old-timey affair that welcomes bits of ragtime, blues and jazz to Sad Daddy’s inimitable brand of Americana.

Travels well with: Pokey LaFarge-In The Blossom Of Their Shade; Dori Freeman- Ten Thousand Roses

Carn Davidson 9

The History Of Us

Three Pines, 2021

8/10

Listen to The History Of Us

An outfit spearheaded by the alto saxophonist Tara Davidson and the trombonist William Carn, The HIstory Of Us sees Carn Davidson 9 utilizing their 7 horns and diverse roster to further expand on their JUNO award worthy sounds.

“Finding Home Suite: i. A New Life” opens the listen with much warmth as the soulful brass is textured with both emotion and playfulness that includes a solo from Kevin Turcotte, and “Finding Home Suite: ii A Mother’s Song” continues the setting with precise and sublime interaction between the brass that benefits from a trombone solo thanks to Carn.

“Goodbye Old Friend” lands in the middle and offers a soft and reflective moment that’s full of heartfelt song craft and dreamy flute thanks to Davidson, while “Suite 1985 i. The Epitaph- For Mom” benefits much from Andrew Downing’s well timed bass amid the solo trumpet by way of Turcotte.

“Suite 1985: iii. Wisely If Sincerely” exits the listen and showcases incredible chemistry between the horns and winds, where Davidson’s soprano sax solo complements the Scottish heritage of the album highlight.

An often powerful and stirring affair, this 3rd album from Carn Davidson 9 explores themes of loss, family and migration, and there’s certainly no lack of melodic, harmonic and rhythmic devices to be enjoyed across the atypical chamber jazz listen.

Travels well with: Wild Blue Herons- You & I; Jazzlab Orchestra- LOGUSLABUSMUZIKUS

Jaco

Trace

Self-Released, 2021

9/10

Listen to Trace

A Birmingham, Alabama artist who sure has been prolific these last few years, Jaco returns with another batch of his ‘90s influenced rock that touches on grunge, power-pop and alt-rock.

“I Blow My Mind” starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar before firm drumming and some psychedelic ideas enter the melodic and gritty landscape, and “The Byzantine” follows with a thicker delivery of Brit-rock ideas mixed into the crunchy indie-rock energy.

“Wanna Get High” arrives at the halfway point and trims the pace back with calmer moments of beauty mixed with some alt-rock tension, while “21st Century TV” thumps with a rugged, soaring quality that carries an anthemic spirit amid some lo-fi tendencies.

Moving towards the end, “Play Dead” emits a playful, upbeat, indie-pop feel that’s as contagious as it is memorable, and “Wanna Feel Sad” exits the listen cozy and intimate and with no shortage of summery strumming, too.

A record that manages to remind us of both Rivers Cuomo and Bob Mould, 3 albums in 3 years is no easy task, and Jaco accomplishes the feat with much diversity from his sonic palette that you’ll likely be smitten with on the first listen.

Travels well with: Bob Mould- Blue Hearts; The Persian Leaps- Bicycle Face

Anthony McGill & Gloria Chien

Here With You

Cedille, 2021

8/10

Listen to Here With You

A stunning collaboration between the clarinetist Anthony McGill and the pianist Gloria Chien, the pair interpret the works of Johannes Brahms, Carl Maria von Weber and Jessie Montgomery on this very sincere effort born out of a ‘shared expression of beauty and friendship’.

Brahms’ “Sonata in F minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 1” opens the listen with the keys and clarinet interacting with much grace and adventurousness, as the 4 movements unfold with often quick movements that showcase the precise playing from the duo, and “Sonata in E-flat major for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 2” follows with the tonality of the clarinet explored with sublime and fascinating playing.

The back half of the listen offers the heartfelt and stirring “Peace”, where the two rework the Montgomery piece with a very soothing and poetic demeanor amid the world premiere recording of this piano and clarinet version, and von Weber’s “Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 48 finishes the listen with a swift and dynamic meshing of fluid melodies and divine chemistry between McGill and Chien.

McGill holds down the principal clarinet of New York Philharmonic and Chien often performs with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Together, their vast skill recruits classical and chamber prowess that makes the most out of every second present here.

Travels well with: Dover Quartet- Beethoven Complete String Quartets Volume 2: The Middle Quartets; Will Liverman- Dreams Of A New Day

BD Gottfried

Onion Doves

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to Onion Doves

A veteran musician whose diverse skills make for a very exciting and charming listen, this 9th album from DB Gottfried is a layered and timeless listen that comes with substantial songwriting and strong attention to lyrics, too.

“Truth, Such A Rarity” opens the listen with warm keys and crisp drumming as Gottfried’s expressive singing guides the very diverse brand of rock, and “Bathing With The Sinners” follows with precise piano alongside modern pop ideas.

Entering the middle, “Followers Of Disarray” enters dreamy areas of stylish, prog-rock influenced song craft, while “9th Line Beauty” shimmers with much beauty amid synthetic drumming and a lush climate. “Three Stories High” then buzzes with an electro-pop feel that’s still very much grounded in Gottfried’s technical prowess.

Approaching the end, “Appetite For Change” resides in darker areas of dramatic, textured sensibilities, and “Neuropsychopharmacology Jello” exits the listen with spacey nods, much exploration and cinematic swells that are as mesmerizing as they are mysterious.

Certainly revolving around pop at its core, Gottfried is no stranger to blues, prog-rock, artistic moments and even more sturdy variations of rock on this unpredictable and unforgettable body of work.

Travels well with: Wave 21- Brace Yourself; Twin Flames- Omen

Early Internet

You’re Just In Time To Miss Everything

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to You’re Just In Time To Miss Everything

The recording moniker of the Seattle based artist Dean Stafford, as Early Internet he blends dream-pop and indie-rock into a diverse formula that’s full of swirling, mature melodies.

“Blankets” opens the listen with a hazy atmosphere as thumping drums from Ben Masters and airy singing glide across the reflective climate, and “Burn The Bed” follows with post-punk nods buried in the indie-pop melodies.

“Prove Me Wrong” lands at the halfway point and pairs moody guitar with synthetic drumming amid an introspective tone, while “Clinging To A Dream You Don’t Want To Leave” moves quicker with Caroline Loveglow’s gorgeous pipes adding much appeal to the electro-pop nods.

The final two tracks, “Nursing Back A Wing” and “I’m Glad You’re Happy” don’t disappoint either, where the former touches on the early days of alt-rock as bare moments are met with more firm bouts, and the latter builds from a faint beginning into an emo like catharsis not unlike Mineral on prozac.

A very impressive debut, these 8 songs end entirely too soon. Though similarities to Pacific Northwest legends like Death Cab won’t be hard to spot, Early Internet covers much territory in the area of indie-rock, and it makes for a moody, exciting and absorbing listen.

Travels well with: Daydream Three- The Lazy Revolution; Sleepersound- Idle Voices

Canadian Brass

Canadiana

Linus, 2021

9/10

Listen to Canadiana

When it comes to brass quintets, it just doesn’t get much better than Canadian Brass, who interpret 11 timeless songs here while injecting their inimitable presence with much care as they illuminate the work of K.D. Lang, Rush, Bruce Cockburn and many more.

“Je Me Souviens”, by Lara Fabian, opens with the warm and soulful brass moving elegantly with precise interaction, and “Senorita” follows with no shortage of melody and spirit as the outfit turn in a cozy rendition of the Shawn Mendes tune.

In the middle, “Both Sides, Now”, welcomes Ingrid Jensen on trumpet as a dreamy setting unfolds in the Joni Mitchell classic, while “Laugh Now, Cry Later” benefits from Nathan Schram’s beats as much atmosphere flows amid a lush and bright execution that does justice to the Drake original.

Further along, “Best Part”, by Daniel Cesar & H.E.R., illustrates a strategic restraint where the horns and percussion interact with incredible skill, and “Halleluhah” finishes the listen with gorgeous musicianship and stirring dynamics as the trumpets, sax and trombone cultivate a very unique presence on a commonly covered gem that has never sounded quite like this.

It’s certainly no surprise that Canadian Brass have sold over 2 million records and have charted in every decade they’ve been together, cause their keen attention to detail and radiant chemistry make each selection they choose an adventure in rich, moving song craft.

Travels well with: Sergei Kvitko- MOZART. Post Scriptum; Victoria Bond- Illumination: Piano Works Of Victoria Bond

Mabilene

The Other Side

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to The Other Side

A Houston artist who is well versed at songs about love, heartache and self-discovery, Mabilene makes the most of these 10 tracks with orchestral and pop ideas entering her charming brand of Americana.

“Against The Wall” opens the listen with both grit and melody as Anders Fleming’s thumping drums complement Mabilene’s soulful singing, and “Carolina” follows with a dense delivery that benefits from graceful strings and agile guitar thanks to Jeremy Fetzer to accent the poetic vocals.

The title track lands in the middle and offers pretty singing from Mabilene amid the lush, rootsy climate, while “How Glad I Am” enters dreamy territory as the songstress shows much range alongside stirring strings.

Landing near the end, “Old Magnolia” resides in folk areas of eloquence and grace where the intricate acoustic guitar suits Mabilene’s wise voice superbly, and “Another Vanished Year” finishes the listen bare, heartfelt and full of the sort of timeless songwriting that populates the entire listen.

An excellent debut, the chamber arrangements, pop friendly melodies and, of course, her stunning vocals, make The Other Side an exceptional debut and a sign of even better things to come for this rising talent.

Travels well with: Lilly Hiatt- Walking Proof; Josie Bello- Have Purpose Live Long

Memphissippi Sounds

Welcome To The Land

Little Village, 2021

8/10

Listen to Welcome To The Land

The duo of Damion Pearson (vocals, harmonica, guitar) and Cam Kimbrough (vocals, drums, guitar), as Memphissippi Sounds the pair bring influences from their Memphis and North Mississippi backgrounds into a very exciting and well thought out brand of blues.

“Who’s Gonna Ride” starts the listen with plenty of rhythm and soul as the gritty yet tuneful pipes guide the lively energy that addresses George Floyd, and “Groove With Me” follows with a calmer pace as well timed harmonica and thick guitar indeed cultivates plenty of grooves.

Halfway through, “You Got The Juice” get a bit dreamy as spirited guitar and soft singing makes for a very memorable album highlight, while “Crossroad” blends the agile drums, warm harmonica and emotive singing into a very southern blues affair.

Nearing the end, “Saturday Morning” thumps with a head bobbin’, toe tappin’ appeal that’s quite stylish and hypnotic, and “Look Out For The Wolf” exits the listen with a more bare strategy that’s no less powerful in its precise and genuine delivery.

Essentially combining the best blues ideas from Tennessee and Mississippi, Pearson and Kimbrough are equally adept at penning political songs about today’s trying times, just as they are surrounding themes of romance, and their raw, timeless song craft resonates with tremendous skill here.

Travels well with: Zac Harmon- Long As I Got My Guitar; Chickenbone Slim- Serve It To Me Hot

Yumi Ito & Szymon Mika

Ekual

Hevhetia, 2021

8/10

Listen to Ekual

The esteemed vocalist Yumi Ito returns with the multi-instrumentalist Szymon Mika by her side, and together they bring plenty of color and texture to 7 songs that might bring to mind Gretchen Parlato, Theo Bleckman or even Joni Mitchell.

“Minha flor” opens the listen with Mika’s exquisite guitar playing alongside Ito’s pretty, expressive singing as jazz and pop meet in a very artistic way, and “Float and drift” follows with a dreamy, absorbing display of poetic beauty where Ito’s impressive range is explored amid the meticulous acoustic guitar.

In the middle, “Data beta” displays Mika’s mesmerizing ronroco as Ito showcases incredible scatting skill, while “Longing”, the album’s best, offers agile and warm melodies populating the stirring landscape.

“Running” and “Yumika” exit the listen, where the former benefits from minimal drums, twinkling guitar, whistling, and, of course, Ito’s stunning pipes, and the latter showcases proficient scatting in a very playful finish to a very adventurous record.

An album that’s nature-esque at its core, the pair cultivate sweeping harmonics, timeless melodies and much exploration on this very well thought out and easily enjoyable body of work that bridges classical, jazz, pop and art leanings like few others could.

Travels well with: Kilian Kemmer Trio- Und Zarathustra Tanzte; Cecilie Strange- Blikan

Fred Argir

No Pushover

Self-Released, 2019

10/10

Listen to No Pushover

The Minneapolis songwriter and instrumentalist Fred Argir returns with another batch of gritty rock tunes where power and melody are intertwined with thoughtful, sometimes subdued grace.

“Beggar’s Anthem” gets the album off to a pounding start of guitar driven rock that indeed thrives with an anthemic spirit amid the soaring melodies, and “Not Much To Do” follows a similar path with some classic rock nods and playful rhythm on the crunchy tune.

At the middle, “Watching The Day’s Slip” shows restraint amid the groove filled, incendiary atmosphere, while “The Wall” illustrates cautiousness and traces of Americana in Argir’s thundering formula.

Deeper cuts bring us the mesmerizing guitar work of “Lies On The Brick Wall”, which pushes and pulls with lush tension, and “Every Day’s A Friday Night” ends the listen with a memorable rocker where the spirit of Minnesota legends like Soul Asylum and The Replacements linger.

Argir plays just about everything on this record, and his songwriting is top notch from beginning to end. An extremely prolific artist, Argir is no stranger to quality music, and No Pushover is among his best to date and hands down one of the best rock albums of 2019.

Travels well with: Bob Mould- Sunshine Rock; Paul Westerberg- Eventually