Ofer Pelz & Meitar Ensemble

Trinité

New Focus, 2021

8/10

Listen to Trinité

The revered composer Ofer Pelz celebrates his 8 year collaboration with the Israeli outfit Meitar Ensemble, as they offer us 5 compositions that are carefully textured and full of experimental and chamber ideas that are pieced together meticulously.

“Backward Inductions” starts the listen with playful, dynamic keys from Amit Dolberg’s augmented piano, where Pelz’s subtle electronics add much appeal to the heavily amplified setting, and “Chinese Whispers” follows with the Meitar Ensemble offering plucked violin, ominous clarinet and sparing flute manipulated in glitchy, unpredictable ways.

The middle track, “Convergence”, pairs Roy Amotz’s quivering alto flute alongside atypical electronics from Pelz as space and echo are part of the equation, while “marchons, marchons” showcases Meitar Ensemble’s minimal capabilities, dancing keys and sharp strings that flow with a cinematic and rhythmic purpose.

The final track, “Blanc sur blanc”, exits the listen with much mystery, as keys, violin, cello, flute and clarinet all interact amid an exciting electro and acoustic formula that embraces looping and repetition.

Pelz has already paved an exceptional career, and together with Meitar Ensemble they are birthing innovative and thriving chamber music that few could replicate.

Travels well with: Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra and Reuben Blundell- American Discoveries; Daniel Lippel- Aufs Lautenwerk

Murray McLauchlan

Hourglass

True North, 2021

8/10

Listen to Hourglass

A Canada Country Music Hall of Fame inductee and 11 time Juno Award winner, the legendary Murray McLauchlan is 73 years old now, and he shows no signs of his song craft waning, as this 20th album thematically surrounds racism, privilege and economic disparity.

“The One Percent” starts the listen with warm pedal steel from Burke Carroll as complicated acoustic guitar and agile drumming thanks to Al Cross make for a timeless Americana opener, and “Pandemic Blues” follows with much beauty amid a poetic and folk influenced display of thoughtful song craft.

Halfway through, “Hourglass” displays McLauchlan’s inviting pipes alongside much beauty, while “A Thomson Day (For Tom Thomson)” moves with vivid storytelling and Victor Bateman’s subtle bass making an impression. “Lying By The Sea (For Alan Kurdi)”, another cautious tune, then showcases meticulous picking alongside a dreamy climate.

At the end, the playful “Shining City On A Hill” show a little ruggedness amid his classic country nods, and “Wishes” exit the listen with McLauchlan putting a firm exclamation point on a very well crafted and precisely delivered outing.

Few artists will have careers as long or esteemed as McLauchlan, who, after 6 decades of writing songs, again proves that he truly deserves to be the national treasure he is.

Travels well with: Catherine MacLellan- Coyote; Leeroy Stagger- Strange Path

Steve Marriner

Hope Dies Last

Stony Plain, 2021

9/10

Listen to Hope Dies Last

The Canadian bluesman Steve Marriner might best be known as the frontman for MonkeyJunk, who have enjoyed a lengthy and esteemed career, and here he’s on his own with a diverse solo album that embraces roots rock into his timeless and thoughtful formula.

“Take Me To The City” starts the listen percussively strong and with firm drumming as Marriner’s soulful pipes guide the lively rocker, and “Honey Bee” follows a stylish, bluesy display of gritty melodies.

“Coal Mine” lands in the middle and brings a warm Americana spirit that flows with both beauty and ruggedness, while “Enough” brings the volume down to balladry that recruits sublime female vocals and pedal steel to the cautious landscape. “Petite Danse”, another excellent song, then gets playful amid punchy drumming, jumpy keys and spirited guitar work.

Closer to the end, “Hear My Heart’ displays incredible harmonica alongside thumping drums, and “Long Way Down” exits the listen bare with just acoustic guitar and Marriner’s expressive pipes.

An album birthed during Covid but that draws from many years on the road, Marriner puts his multi-instrumental skills to good use here, as well as his recently acquired engineering and mixing experience, and it results in sturdy rockers and intimacy that again cements him as one of Canada’s greatest songwriters.

Travels well with: Rory Block- Prove It On Me; Steve Strongman- Tired Of Talkin’

Blue Reality Quartet!

Blue Reality Quartet!

Mahakala, 2021

8/10

Listen to Blue Reality Quartet!

The 4 players here, Michael Marcus, Jay Rosen, Joe McPhee and Warren Smith, bring their respective talents to this atypical project, where a pair of horns and percussionists make for an improvisational listen that’s capable of minimal beauty as well as busy, yet accessible jazz ideas.

“Love Exits Everywhere” opens the listen with playful, ambient percussion from Rosen before soothing woodwinds enter the gentle climate, and “Chartreuse Tulips” follows with a busier approach of frisky percussion and wandering woodwinds that emit a frantic free jazz delivery.

In the middle, “Joe’s Train” showcases McPhee and Marcus’ soulful brass alongside lively drumming that gets layered in exciting ways, while “Coney Island Funk” recruits a pair of reeds to a more tame but no less interesting atmosphere of sublime musicianship.

Arriving near the end, “East Side Dilemma” moves swiftly amid saxophone acrobatics and pulsating drumming that’s not short on solos, and “Warren’s Theme” exits the listen heavy on Smith’s vibraphone as poetic flute from Marcus enters the dreamy finish.

A record where each tune takes on a new identity, the skilled musicians work together superbly on a very exciting version of free jazz, and let’s hope there’s more on the horizon, too.

Travels well with: Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter- Anticipation; Brendon Randall-Myers/Dither- Dynamics Of Vanishing Bodies

Hyson Green

The Needle And The Groove

Nub, 2021

8/10

Listen to The Needle And The Groove

An outfit made up of two brothers from the East Midlands, this time around Hyson Green take help from blues enthusiast Corey Stevens and the pop singer Korilynn for a very mature listen that thematically surrounds relationships and is never short on rhythm.

“Keep On Growing” starts the listen percussively strong as a warm, soulful quality enters the bright brass and dual gender vocals that mix together superbly, and “A Deeper Love” follows and showcases Korilynn’s expressive and pretty pipes alongside a precisely textured climate that embraces pop moments.

In the middle, the playful and agile “Time Changes Everything” points towards earlier decades with its frisky percussion and spirited guitar work, while “Never Gonna Hide” recruits a dance friendly energy that’s busy, melodic and charged in a very charming manner.

Approaching the end, “Just Call Me” is clever and memorable and not short on grooves, and “Deep Blue Goodbye” exits the listen calm, smooth and subtly touches on jazz and even R&B, too.

David and Roy Osborne, i.e. Hyson Green, thankfully don’t hide their influences like Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates and Robert Palmer, as they pen an album with a very nostalgic feel that indeed seems tailor made for the needle and grooves of a turntable and wax.

Travels well with: Gabe Dixon- Lay It On Me; Brendan James- Leap Taken

Joann Falletta And The Buffalo Philharmonic

The Four Seasons

Beau Fleuve, 2021

8/10

Listen to The Four Seasons

The esteemed conductor JoAnn Falletta is aligned with the Buffalo Philharmonic here, and showcases Nikki Chooi and Tessa Lark’s violins on 2 live recordings from Buffalo’s Kleinhans Music Hall in fall of 2020.

“La Primavera (Spring)” starts the listen with swift and agile strings that dance around floating melodies, but then enter calm, melancholic moments of sublime beauty, and “L ‘estate (Summer)” follows with cautious, mesmerizing strings that abruptly shift into fast, loud swells of grace and exploration.

In the middle, the bright and upbeat “L’autunno (Autumn)” glides with an agile and uplifting spirit, and “L ‘inverno (Winter)” exits this portion of the listen meticulous, and with a sophisticated energy that has the ability to get tense, too.

The final chapter, Astor Piazzolla’s “Las Cuatro Estaciones Portenas”, then unfolds over 26 minutes, and spans furious, even percussive moments as well as cinematic swells of intricate violin thanks to Lark’s inimitable presence.

It’s certainly no surprise that Falletta is a Grammy winner, as she navigates the compositions with unparalleled precision, highlighting the immense talent from Chooi and Lark in ways that captivate.

Travels well with: Florent Schmitt- La Tragédie de Salomé; Edward Smaldone- Once And Again

Nobody's Girl

Nobody’s Girl

Lucky Hound, 2021

8/10

Listen to Nobody’s Girl

An Austin trio that includes BettySoo, Rebecca Loebe and Grace Pettis, this debut album has all the ladies singing across folk and Americana sounds, where their backgrounds in classical training and Berklee educations come in handy as they cultivate a healthy pop dynamic into their song craft.

“Kansas” starts the listen with flowing vocal harmonies and a lush, pop friendly climate of rugged yet pretty songwriting that tips it hat to The Wizard Of Oz, and “Rescued” follows with warm acoustic guitar, well timed keys and Americana nods amid soaring vocals and a chorus you won’t soon forget.

Deeper into the listen, “Promised Land” brings pedal steel into the cautious and breezy setting, while “What’ll I Do” recruits a punchy spirit that would be right at home in today’s country-pop. “Waterline”, one of the album’s best, then blends all the 3 voices into a sublime, dreamy display of timeless, playful musicianship.

Further still, “The Morning After” enters darker areas, as gorgeous textures highlight the diverse delivery, and “Lark” exits the listen with a bare folk song that’s poetic, stirring and surrounds love and loss in a lullaby sort of way.

Michael Ramos produced the record, and brought in some of Austin’s finest including Glenn Fukunaga (bass), J.J. Johnson (drums), Conrad Choucroun (drums), David Grissom (guitar), Charlie Sexton (guitar) and Doug Pettibone (pedal steel) to name a few, as the women bring much songwriting talent and incredible vocal skills to an exciting chapter of their careers.

Travels well with: Maia Sharp- Mercy Rising; James Digirolamo- Paper Boats

Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog

Hope

Northern Spy, 2021

8/10

Listen to Hope

The veteran guitar player Marc Ribot was feeling pretty restless in May 2020, and decided to get his bandmates Ches Smith and Shahzad Ismaily together and flesh out the appropriately title Hope, in part to combat the Covid fueled depression settling in.

“B-Flat Ontology” starts the listen with Ribot’s warm guitar alongside calm, gritty singing that burns gentle and emotive, and “Nickelodeon” follows with bluesy guitar and playful drumming from Smith as plenty of rhythm and groove brings ‘80s ideas into the fold.

In the middle, “The Activist” recruits insightful rapping/spoken word into a highly creative climate, while “Bertha The Cool” emits a soulful quality surrounded by Ismaily’s bouncy bass lines, prog-rock nods and spirited guitar work. “They Met In The Middle”, the album stand out, then screeches with alto sax thanks to Darius Jones as the proficient drumming adds much to a free jazz, avant-garde adventure.

Near the end, “Maple Leaf Rage” is initially calm and introspective, with contributions from Rubin Khodeli Gyda Valtysdottir on cello, before building into an unpredictable, soaring, instrumental that’s rock oriented in an eccentric sort of way, and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” exits the listen sparse and packed with spoken word as minimalism is turned into a refined art form.

Ribot has had quite a colorful career that includes playing in many genres, and here he brings all of his life experience to punk, funk, blues, soul, New Wave and countless other ideas on what just might be the most original album of 2021.

Travels well with: The Art Ensemble Of Chicago- Tutankhamun; Grant Green- Funk In France

Gawain And The Green Knight

A Sleeping Place

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to A Sleeping Place

A folk friendly outfit spearheaded by the couple Alexia Antoniou and Mike O’Malley, Sam Weber, Michael Sachs and Derek Swink are also part of the equation, and as Gawain And The Green Knight they bring us a quick listen of ‘literary folk’, where allegory and mythology make for a very unique experience.

“A Dressmaker” starts the listen with a very playful delivery of vivid storytelling from Antoniou as swift acoustic guitar and warm clarinet from Sachs make for memorable folk-pop opener, and “Dionysus” follows with a calmer spirit of expressive singing alongside bare but impactful percussion, keys and plucked guitar.

Occupying the middle is “Bridget”, where a lullaby appeal enters thanks to O’Malley’s twinkling keys amid poetic singing, while “In My Dreams, A Perfect Chair” recruits a fuller climate of thumping drums from Swink, and Weber’s bass work won’t go unnoticed, either.

“Birds & Wine” and “Fingers” exit the listen, where the former radiates frisky clarinet and backing vocals from O’Malley, and the latter finishes dreamy and gentle, and unfolds with a thoughtful, articulate display of timeless song craft.

Antoniou and O’Malley were slated to get married in 2020, but Covid derailed that, and left the pair isolated, insecure and even fearful, which led to these very creative songs. Ultimately a love letter packed with emotion and aimed at anyone alive and who has been scared to die, there’s plenty of artists playing with folk ideas, but few are doing it quite like this, which is a big part of Gawain And The Green Knight’s allure.

Travels well with: Trapper Schoepp- May Day; Sweetlove- Goodnight, Lover

Joel Frahm

The Bright Side

Anzic, 2021

9/10

Listen to The Bright Side

A trio consisting of Joel Frahm on tenor and soprano saxophone, Dan Loomis holding down bass and Ernesto Cervini behind the drum kit, this debut album showcases the outfit’s strong chemistry across all originals as they sprinkle blues nods alongside humor and emotion, too.

“Big Poppa Joe” starts the listen with Cervini’s frisky drumming as Frahm’s dizzying sax prowess enters the flowing, bright climate, and “Thinking Of Benny” follows with a subdued and stylish delivery of timeless song craft that hints at the blues.

Deeper into the listen, “Silk Road”, a Loomis original, moves with a cautious spirit of sublime brass and light drumming, while “Omer’s World” swirls with a complicated and nearly chaotic delivery that’s held together by the musician’s incredible playing. “X Friends”, an album standout, then has all 3 players engaging in playful, dynamic jazz that flows with a swift and mesmerizing execution.

Approaching the end, Cervini’s poetic “The Beautiful Mystery” emits a soulful quality amid agile saxophone and strategic drumming, and “The Bright Side” exits the listen and has Loomis’ precise bass interacting with Cervini’s frisky drumming as Frahm’s sax anchors the strong finish.

Though it’s their first record, Loomis, Cervini and Frahm have a deep history that goes back a decade at the University of Toronto, and judging by this top notch effort, they’re going to make a serious dent in the modern jazz scene.

Travels well with: Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra- Twisting Ways; TuneTown- Entering Utopia

Arabs In Aspic

Progeria

Karisma, 2021

8/10

Listen to Progeria

Here is where it all started for the Norway prog-rockers Arabs In Aspic, who, after gigging around Trondheim and releasing demos, produced this mini album as their debut back in 2003.

The title track starts the listen with a brief display of gentle guitar alongside talking, and this segues into the 8 minutes of “Sandstorm”, where eerie organ and hazy guitars align with gentle singing. Halfway through, the tune gets a bit more forceful as tumbling drums and thicker guitars layer the tune in a dense coat of prog-rock, before retreating to calm.

The back half of the record offers the spacey and classic rock inspired “Shelob’s Cave/The Great Shelob/Wizard In White”, where hard rock bouts are met with bare moments of sublime, nostalgic beauty. “Megalodon” then exits the listen, and brings much atmosphere to a very psyche and prog indebted finish of strong interplay between the members.

Available again after being out of print for years, this one’s remastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo, and does a great job of documenting Arabs In Aspic in their infancy, and clearly captures a band on their way to great things.

Travels well with: Tusmørke- Nordisk Krim; Wobbler- Dwellers Of The Deep

Arabs In Aspic

Far Out In Aradabia

Karisma, 2021

9/10

Listen to Far Out In Aradabia

The sophomore album from Norway’s prog-rock stars Arabs In Aspic, Far Out Aradabia was originally released in 2004 and out of print until now, and this reissue comes to us remastered and highlights the band’s adventurous nature that brings in a keyboard player, too.

“Arabs In Aspic II” starts the listen with some thick, throbbing hard rock as bouts of keys and spoken work enter the mysterious, psychedelic opener, and “Hair Of The Sun” follows with a dense buzzing that’s a bit grungy but also spacey as calm waves also enter the unpredictable climate.

Halfway through, “Siseneg” brings plenty of guitar crunch before transitioning to a dreamy version of throw back prog-rock, while “Talking Mushroom” bristles with a firm, borderline intensity that benefits from wailing guitar solos and thundering drums.

The final two tracks are among the best, and include the initially calmer “Come To Me”, where bright synth and melodic singing build into a diverse retro rocker, and “Butterpriest Jam” exits the listen with indeed jam band qualities as 18+ minutes allows each members strengths to be showcased and textured precisely.

A captivating listen that takes nods to Black Sabbath and Hawkwind, Far Out In Aradabia captures the band thriving and entering more daring prog-rock territory that garnered them plenty of much deserved attention.

Travels well with: Wobbler- Dwellers Of The Deep; Meer- Playing House

The Chris Saunders Band

Dancing With The Widow St. James

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to Dancing With The Widow St. James

A cornet and trumpet player and singer, Chris Saunders is certainly well versed in jazz, but he also flirts with blues, soul and pop on this mix of originals and covers, as he takes help from Ken Cook, Rob Fordyce, Michael Aragon and Luis Carbo on the 11 tracks.

“River’s Invitation” starts the listen with a warm and cozy spirit, where Cook’s graceful keys are met with Saunders’ husky, soulful pipes and well timed horns amid a bluesy tone, and “Big Man” follows with tumbling drumming from Aragon in a cultured, timeless jazz climate.

Further down the line, the playful percussion from Carbo and jumpy keys help make “Am I Blue?” one of the album’s best, while “Lighting And A Feather” offers both a rugged and melodic approach that benefits from flowing piano and agile drumming. “Low Tide Rising On A Devil Wind” then gets reflective, emotive and even gritty as Saunders really displays his diverse vocal prowess.

Close to the exit, the frisky keys and subdued drumming of the R&B tinted “I Don’t Need No Doctor” doesn’t disappoint, and “Lullaby Of The Leaves” exits the listen swift, upbeat and indebted to the Great American Songbook in ways that will sound great decades from now, too.

A staple of the Bay Area scene for over a decade now, Saunders and his band take influences from Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Tom Waits, Dr. John and many others, as they create diverse and instantly enjoyable jazz rooted song craft.

Travels well with: Judy Wexler- Back To The Garden; Jacqui- Naylor- The Long Game

Arabs In Aspic

Strange Frame Of Mind

Karisma, 2021

8/10

Listen to Strange Frame Of Mind

A strong prog-rock outfit from Norway, Arabs In Aspic bring guitars, organs, Rhodes, mellotrons and synth to this 3rd album that was originally released in 2010 and is remastered here with the vision the band originally wanted for it.

“Aspic Temple” starts the listen with a progressive, warbly version of rock that’s both warm and mesmerizing before transitioning into the swift drumming and nostalgic rock of the organ friendly and soaring vocals that populate “The Flying Norsemen”.

Further along, “Morket” takes a thicker approach that textures ‘70s ideas with firm guitars, while “Fall til Marken” spends 7+ minutes impressing us with its precise rhythm section, soft vocals and folk rock tendencies. “TV”, a truly exceptional song, then recruits a retro flavor to both busy and calm moments of both anthemic and intimate song craft.

Rounding out the listen, the swift and rockin’ “Have You Ever Seen The Rain Pt. 2” is a wild and animated album highlight, and “Arabide” exits the listen calm, pretty and dreamy amid a pensive brand of prog-rock.

Formed in 1997 by Jostein Smeby and Tommy Ingebrigtsen, fans of Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Uriah Heep and King Crimson won’t be disappointed here, as Arabs In Aspic embrace everything we love about prog-rock and the ‘70s, and it sounds better than ever on this reissue.

Travels well with: Wobbler- Dwellers Of The Deep; Tusmørke- Nordisk Krim

Other Houses

Twins Who Fence

Aagoo, 2021

9/10

Listen to Twins Who Fence

The recording moniker of Morgan Enos, the veteran musician has had a busy few years that includes moving to two different states, getting married and buying a house. All of this transition naturally lent itself to new songwriting material, and here we’re treated to 4 very diverse and heartfelt tunes.

Side A leads with “Wind Chimes”, where cautious acoustic guitar and expressive, poetic singing enter the folk influenced climate alongside light drumming, that, later on, brings in a fuller presence, and this segues into the thicker, fuzzed out “Twins Who Fence”, which alternates between thumping alt-rock and shimmering post-rock.

Side B starts with the jangly and crisp “Lower School”, which recruits some lo-fi indie-rock sensibilities into the fold, while “Invited Enemy” exits the listen with much beauty, where a quick guitar solo and dreamy backing vocals add even more appeal to the warm, agile finish.

The last few years have been the longest break from music that Enos has taken since he picked up a guitar as a teenager, and now that he’s settled, let’s hope more songs are on the horizon, cause his well thought out formula brings bare intimacy and crunchy rock together in ways that might remind you of Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh or even a grittier version of Dashboard Confessional.

Travels well with: Christopher Sky- What It Is It Isn’t; Emily Davis And The Murder Police- Never A Moment Alone

The Tell

Somewhere Right Now

Reclaim, 2021

10/10

Listen to Somewhere Right Now

A collaboration between the Las Vegas multi-instrumentalist and singer Noah Dickie and the Los Angeles composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist James McAlister, as The Tell the pair create a unique yet familiar brand of rock where Dickie’s folk roots and McAlister’s sonically buzzing influence bring us on a very charming adventure.

“Clap Clap” starts the listen with punchy drumming and precise guitar work as subtle synth and smooth vocals reside somewhere between modern indie-rock and post-punk from decades ago, and “Burning” follows, where a calm buzzing and firm piano add much to the fuzzed out tension.

At the halfway point, “KT” flows with a very stylish and diverse approach that embraces some pop nods to the playfulness, while “Love Blood, California” gets a bit more abrasive amid a busy display of throbbing bass, eerie synth and dynamic guitar and drums that puts a very enticing spin on alt-rock.

The record ends with the darker appeal of “Thoughts And Everything”, which is textured precisely alongside traces of folk-rock that enter the dense delivery , and “Outgrown” exits the listen calm, soulful, even intimate, where a dreaminess surrounds the thoughtful finish.

McAlister and Dickie take help from Josh Dickie (drums), Tyler Chester (piano, mellotron, bass, guitar, synth) and Luke Vander Pol (bass), on select tracks, as they approach the greatness of bands like The National, The Hold Steady or Mansions on this truly fantastic album.

Travels well with: Editors- The Weight Of Your Love; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- Specter At The Feast

Piper Street Sound

Black Eyed Peace

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to Black Eyed Peace

Spearheaded by the Atlanta producer Matt Mansfield, as Piper Street Sound he brings us another EP of very detailed song craft, where dub, rocksteady and reggae ideas place much emphasis on guitar melodies while taking help from Andy Bassford (guitar), Brian Daggett (drums), Will Scruggs (tenor sax) and Jonathan Lloyd (trombone), to name a few.

The EP opens with the title track, where playful drumming, bright brass and charming keys are met with soothing guitar lines as reggae and ska nods enter the spirited climate, and “A Shadow In August” follows with a laid back groove amid a dreamy delivery of cautious, thoughtful instrumentation.

The back half of the listen includes “Stonesteady” and “Icemilk”, where the former benefits from lively drumming and well timed trombone, while the latter showcases sublime guitar lines alongside strategic trumpet and a very inviting atmosphere of cozy, agile melodies.

Mansfield plays several instruments here, and along with his exceptional help they make use of every second across 4 tracks that illustrate Mansfield and Bassford’s technical collaboration that’s not short on solos and will satiate any reggae fans interest in rhythm and easy going tempos.

Travels well with: Reggae Angels- Remember Our Creator; Honey Made- Brand New

Wanderlust

All A View

Self-Released, 2021

9/10

Listen to All A View

If you’ve been around for awhile, you might remember the Philadelphia outfit Wanderlust from their major label stint in the ‘90s. Their robust guitar work, pop hooks and agile songwriting from frontman Scot Sax had the band opening for The Who and touring with Collective Soul, though by 1998 they had dissolved.

A reunion happened in 2011 and a new record in 2012, and this installment of the Wanderlust story actually came about when Sax found unfinished demos that needed to be completed so that the record that never was, finally is.

The title track starts the listen with a warbly version of pop and rock, as spacey moments, dreamy vocals and even more forceful bouts end up residing somewhere near prog-rock and jam band fun, and “Black Currant Jam” follows with some classic rock nods as fluid drumming and soaring backing vocals add much to the melodic landscape that’s both gritty and tuneful.

Near to the middle, “2 Million Pieces” is a calmer track, where vocal harmonies, a drum machine and some gospel nods enter the gentle climate, while “Corduroy Moon” brings folksy acoustic strumming and a nostalgic appeal that we will never tire of. “Trick Of The Light”, one of the album’s best, then recruits a soulful quality to the flowing, breezy retro rock that could have been penned in any decade since the ‘60s.

Close to the end, the warm pedal steel of “Bored And Blue” complements the reflective tone well, and “Inspiration” exits the listen with timeless folk-rock that’s a little jangly and a whole lot exceptional as the band finish just as strong as they started.

All 4 members of Wanderlust- Sax, Rob Bonfiglio, Mark Getten and Jim Cavanaugh, have remained active playing music since Wanderlust formally ended decades ago, and you can certainly tell as All A View is superbly delivered, and it’s clear that the chemistry that ignited them as youngsters is still very much present.

Travels well with: The Jayhawks- XOXO; The Long Ryders- Psychedelic Country Soul

Kevin Daniel

Been Here Before

Self-Released, 2021

9/10

Listen to Been Here Before

Kevin Daniel made me a fan pretty quick with 2019’s Things I Don’t See, and this follow up album continues his diverse and fluid song craft as his early days of jazz and blues are never far from the well thought out Americana of Been Here Before.

“Single In The Center” starts the album with gentle electric guitar and Daniel’s rugged yet smooth vocals guiding the organ friendly, subdued rootsy rocker, and “Don’t See The Light” follows with a busier display of bright horns, swift drumming and rural melodies populating the country rocker.

There’s 12 tracks present and not a dud in the bunch. The middle tracks are among the best, including the impactful female vocals of the a cappella “Lovemares”, while the cautious “My Oh My” works folk and soulful ideas enter the retro climate. “Blame Me” then brings a bluesy flavor to the listen, where Daniel shows us the depths of his strong vocal prowess.

Approaching the end, the playful shuffling of “Horizons” flows with a mountain-esque appeal that’s rhythmic and instantly memorable, and “Dial Up Pain” exits the listen with his unique brand of Americana that welcomes brass, keys, drums and guitars to the eclectic and playful finish.

Although he lives in Brooklyn, Daniel’s formula sounds right at home in Nashville, as he blends country, folk, roots, jazz, blues and rock’n’roll into a really entertaining, fun and relatable sophomore album that, if you listen to once, you’ll listen to 10 more times, if not more.

Travels well with: Joe Bourdet- Meadow Rock; Mare Wakefield & Nomad- No Remedy

The Music Of Akemi Naito

Within My Soul

Ravello, 2019

8/10

Listen to Within My Soul

The New York composer Akemi Naito turns in an impressive first album on the Ravello Label, where she takes inspiration from words and turns it into creative art

The first selection, “Emily Bronte: Though Life And Death, A Chainless Soul” is broken into 7 parts as keys flow alongside the mezzo-soprano vocals that range from talking to operatic delivery.

“The Woman In Dunes For Solo Percussionist”, which was inspired by Kobo Abe’s novel, follows with a dramatic delivery of pure emotion as innovative percussion highlights the affair.

“Five Waka Poems By Saigyo” ends the listen with marimba acrobatics as the University Of Illinois Chamber Singers deliver a sublime performance that is nothing short of awe inspiring.

A beautiful transformation from poetry and prose into textured song craft, Naito is beautiful, adventurous and imaginative across this extremely accomplished outing.

Travels well with: Mira J. Spector- Daytime & Night Songs; Maija Hynninen- Dawn Breaks