Various Artists

Mind & Machine, Volume Five

Ravello, 2023

8/10

Listen to Mind & Machine, Volume Five

We’re treated to another installment of the Mind & Machine series, where the avant-garde sounds unfold from 8 composers who are among the brightest in the area of electro-acoustic sounds.

William Jason Raynovich’s “Now #256” opens the listen with Raynovich’s electric cello making for a very absorbing and moody climate of beauty, and “Kaleidoscope”, by Bill Whitley, places Whitley on electronic instruments, Elena Talarico on acoustic piano and Francesco Zago handling gongs and bells for the uniquely dreamy, cinematic delivery.

Elsewhere, Juliana Hodkinson’s “Furs” enlists foley and sewing machine from Hodkinson for a highly creative landscape of sound manipulation, while “I Am All That Is Here, I” employs Colin Kemper’s Bb clarinet for the sublime use of minimalism that drones with intrigue.

Near to the end, Daniel De Togni’s “Rain On The Wind” is populated by Amy Advocat’s bass clarinet and Matt Sharrock’s marimba via the rich and fluid songwriting, and Raynovich returns for the exit, “Now #257”, where a low ambience is full of both mystery and introspection.

An often meditative collection that tips it hat to scientific concepts, each composer carries a distinct vision that is executed with patterns that lend themselves to self-reflection.

Travels well with: David Therrien Brongo- Confluence; Avner Finberg- The Four Seasons Of Isolation

Guitarmy Of One

The Wave Files

EA, 2023

8/10

Listen to The Wave Files

The one man band of Scott Helland, as Guitarmy Of One the veteran hardcore bassist brings reverb, looping and acoustic-electric riffs to 10 very interesting tunes.

“Top Secret Agent Man On A Wire Tapped Phone At Sea” begins the listen with thumping drums and glowing guitar lines that make give the effect of a soundtrack to a spy flick, and “Jack Lord Of The Sea” follows with bright guitar progressions amid the mesmerizing drums that carry plenty of rhythm.

The middle belongs to the dreamy spirit of “The Sea And The Seventh Veil Of Surveilance”, where strong attention to atmosphere is appreciated, while “Plight Of The Searchlight” carries a darker appeal that manipulates mood amid the firm guitar playing.

Residing near the end, the more rugged territory of “Must Be The Season Of Treason” is both hazy and chugging into its diverse vision, and “Seance For The Saint” exits with a reflective tone of introspection.

Helland has an impressive resume that includes playing in Deep Wound and Outpatients, and he’s currently in the post-punk outfit Frenchy And The Punk. This Spy Rock, Surf Noir affair showcases his varied skill and inimitable playing that might make you want to watch James Bond while playing The Beach Boys.

Travels well with: The Neptunas- Mermaid A Go Go; Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks- Orange Crate Art

Marcus Persiani

In Motion

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to In Motion

The pianist, composer and arranger Marcus Persiani released a pair of records in 2023 (the other being The Proper Time), and this one’s a trio setting where Curtis Lundy and Emanuel Harrold accompany him for 8 meticulous jazz instrumentals.

The rhythmic and melodic “No Problem” opens the listen with Persiani’s dancing keys amid Harrold’s frisky drumming for the infectious climate, and “Edda” follows with a bright tone of flowing, intricate jazz that emits plenty of warmth.

At the halfway point, the intimacy of “For Heaven’s Sake” welcomes the elegant piano alongside Lundy’s cozy bass plucking that populates the emotive landscape, while “Bemsha Swing” indeed swings playful via the animated rhythm section and Persiani’s charming and exciting progressions on piano.

Arriving near the end, “La Puerta” offers a dreamy album highlight that emits so much rich beauty from the trio, and “Footsteps Blues” exits with all 3 players contributing their respective strengths with agility, precision and grace.

Persiani is as prolific as he is impressive, and both albums he released last year provide a memorable platform for his excellent piano prowess and timeless jazz song craft.

Travels well with: Marcus Persiani- The Proper Time; Emmet Goods- Another Level

Marcus Persiani

The Proper Time

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to The Proper Time

The pianist, composer and arranger Marcus Persiani brings his influence from legends like Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, and McCoy Tyner for these 9 well thought out tracks that bring in some excellent help.

“Little Mouse House” leads the listen with Wayne Escoffrey’s lively sax amid Byron Landham’s agile drumming, as Persiani’s glowing keys radiate much warmth, and “Blue Dress Rehearsal” follows with Kenny Davis’ flowing bass amid the melodic key progressions for a more intimate climate.

Further along, “Forecast Blues” welcomes George Coleman’s tenor sax to the timeless jazz spirit that’s aglow with rhythm and harmonics, while the dreamy “Before You Go” spotlights Joe Magnarelli’s cautious brass that suits Persiani’s emotive keys.

Approaching the end, “Voodoo Call” makes great use of David Gibson’s firm drums and Patience Higgins’ soaring tenor sax for the frisky delivery, and “Roundhouse” exits with Persiani’s fascinating key acrobatics that are complemented by the animated bass and booming sax.

This is 1 of 2 albums that Persiani released in 2023, the other being In-Motion, and it’s first rate instrumental jazz that employs a wealth of talent for some highly memorable tracks.

Travels well with: Charles Pillow Large Ensemble- Electric Miles 2; Emmett Goods- Another Level

Jocelyn Gould

Sonic Bouquet

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to Sonic Bouquet

The inimitable guitarist Jocelyn Gould is versed in swing, blues and bebop ideas, and that’s all present here as we’re treated to 9 tracks that take help from Randy Napoleon, Virginia MacDonald, Will Bonness, Rodney Whitaker and Quincy Davis.

The frisky “Trailblazer” opens the listen with Bonness’ lively keys and Davis’ fluid drumming complementing the smooth guitar playing, and “Tender Is The Night” follows with Whitaker’s infectious bass lines adding much melody to the breezy climate.

Further along, the meticulous guitar playing of “The Kicker” helps cultivate the many grooves of the playful mood, while “Last Of The Rounders” gets dreamy and intimate via MacDonald’s well timed clarinet and the harmonic rhythm section.

“Is That So?” and “Napoleon’s Prelude” exit the listen, where the former features more firm drumming and mesmerizing guitar work, and the latter is a radiant display of dynamic interaction from the guitars, keys and drums.

A listen that seems like a live performance, the tracks were laid down in just one day, and it makes for a colorful, rich and sometimes obscure execution, where some of the brightest in the area of modern jazz again impress us with their command of their instruments.

Travels well with: Will Bonness- Is This A Dream?; Rodney Whitaker- Oasis

Paramorph Collective

All We’re Made Of Is Borrowed

Redshift, 2023

8/10

Listen to All We’re Made Of Is Borrowed

The duo of An Laurence and Kim Farris-Manning, as Paramorph Collective they embrace ensemble, band and chamber sensibilities, and these 9 tracks recruit experimental, ambient and spoken word artistry to the affair.

“Elegy” opens the listen with soft singing and warm classical guitar that showcases text from Alex Poch Goldin with much beauty, and “All we’re made of is borrowed” follows with delicate piano and poetic storytelling that uses both tense and bare moments with a subtle power.

Halfway through, “Still holding” employs classical guitar, synth and voices with a distinct, mysterious mood of eloquent songwriting, while “Fruiting bodies” presents electric guitar, custom organ and synth for the atypical droning that radiates feedback and timbre in an unconventional fashion.

Arriving near the end, “Though and Desire” showcases the fluid, sometimes rumbling keys amid the sublime singing of the album’s best, and “as medicine” exits with a highly creative, cinematic appeal of technical sound manipulation.

A listen that’s often peaceful and touches on healing, this is a luminous debut, where Rodney Sharman, Margot George, Linda Caitlin Smith and the Paramorph Collective’s songwriting is minimal in an iconoclastic sort of way that lends itself to both haunting and pensive bouts.

Travels well with: Saxophilia Saxophone Quartet- Metamorphosis; Christopher Whitley- Describe Yourself

Ryan Wayne

Crow Amongst The Sparrows

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to Crow Amongst The Sparrows

The debut album from the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Wayne, the 8 songs here revolve around Americana and roots ideas, where some friends are on hand for the sincere and heartfelt pieces.

“Forty Paces To The Bottom” opens the listen with Kelley McCrae’s warm harmony vocals and an atmospheric and dense climate of swirling introspection, as Wayne’s distinct vocals draw us in, and “Maybe I’m To Blame” follows with Alex Needleman’s bass in attendance amid the thumping drums and more firm display of folk-rock.

The middle track belongs to the dreamy “Oh My Maria”, where Marla Celia’s pipes and Malcolm Burn’s synth make for hazy beauty, while “Bonafide Drifter” benefits much from Ruby Bleu’s expressive voice and Teppei Kamei’s well timed trumpet that help cultivate a rich and soaring album highlight.

Arriving near the end, Brain Kobayakawa’s skilled bass and the poetic singing are aglow amid the lush delivery, and “I Will Always Be Here For You” exits with a chilling intimacy that pairs Wayne’s lovely singing and McCrae’s elegant vocals alongside the soft and mesmerizing finish.

An excellent starting point for a tremendous talent, Wayne’s ability to blend psychedelia and ambience into his unique brand of Americana makes for an absorbing listening experience.

Travels well with: Noah Zacharin- Points Of Light; Julian Taylor- Beyond The Reservoir

Afarin Mansouri

Dancing With Love

Centrediscs, 2023

8/10

Listen to Dancing With Love

The Canadian vocalist and composer Afarin Mansouri brings her Iranian heritage to this sophomore album that thematically surrounds love in the form of empathy, friendship, a higher power or even unattainable love.

“Love Is The Soul” begins the listen with Cheryl Duvall’s quivering piano alongside Terry Lim’s animated flute, as Mansouri’s gorgeous voice guides the dreaminess, and “Hidden Existence” follows with Dobrochna Zubek’s stirring cello and Mansouri’s playful electronics adding much to the mysterious versus bright textures.

Halfway through, “Unattainable” uses Mansouri’s elegant piano and poetic mezzo-soprano for the intimate landscape, while “Pain (Sorrow)” is populated by Anthony Thompson’s eloquent clarinet and Padideh Ahrar Nejad’s tar for the powerful, emotive album highlight.

“Alchemy” and “A Lament For Love” exit the listen, where the former showcases Ali Massoudi’s Eastern percussion prowess with a very rich display, and the latter is a solo flute finish of sublime beauty that resonates so much love and affection.

Mansouri wasn’t allowed to sing in public other than all female audiences until she landed in Canada in 2003. Now, thankfully, her voice can soar wherever she chooses and it sure does across these thoughtful and worldly songs.

Travels well with: Malleus Trio- On/Off; Saxophilia Saxophone Quartet- Metamorphosis

Matt Smith's World

Into The Light

6 String Ranch, 2023

8/10

Listen to Into The Light

The Austin, Texas artist Matt Smith returns with a full band effort, where 10 tracks of very eclectic songwriting unfold with a whole lot of adventurousness and creativity.

The title track opens the listen with Smith’s gritty pipes alongside Dave Webb’s warm keys and Joe Morales’ dreamy flute amid the soulful backing vocals, and “Why Can’t We Have A Good Time” follows with Ernie Durawa’s lively drums complementing Mark Epstein’s animated bass via the rhythmic climate.

Halfway through, “Measure Of A Man” leads with bright flute, before Smith’s raw pipes mix with the soaring backing vocals for a nearly gospel spirit, while the funky “Make The Most Of Your Life” benefits much from Pete Sweeney’s scrappy drums and Smith’s meticulous guitar lines that showcase Charlie Tokarz’s glowing sax prowess.

Further along, the upbeat and rugged “A Change In Me” is a playful, rootsy album highlight that’s populated by Chris Peck’s skilled bass and Tony Perrino’s firm keys, and “Life Ain’t Easy (And Then Ya Die)” exits with plenty of southern swagger that’s dense, rich and melodic.

A very worldly listen that uses pop, rock, blues, funk, jazz and prog ideas to its advantage, Smith and company make each track here worth revisiting many times.

Travels well with: Dave Loveland- Dangerous Rhythm; Erik Dahl Ensemble- Everyone’s Too Sad For Everything

David Therrien Brongo

Confluence

Ravello, 2023

8/10

Listen to Confluence

A collection of solo percussion pieces by French Canadian composers, the Montréal artist David Therrien Brongo brings plenty of melody to this often meditative body of work that is quite exciting.

Patrick Giguère’s “Laisser Surgir” opens the listen with the warm vibraphone making for a reflective and soothing tone of beauty, and “Espace”, by Pierre Béluse, follows with a darker appeal of low rumbling versus twinkling moments of playful yet cautious song craft.

In the middle, “Trakadie” spends 11+ minutes mesmerizing us with its bare versus busy ideas that sometimes seems like found objects making calculated noise in the Micheline Coulombe Saint-Marcoux original, while Claude Vivier’s “Cinq chansons pour percussion” spends 5 chapters mesmerizing us with its hypnotic patterns, strategic minimalism and firm bouts of agile and unpredictable percussive gestures.

A highly technical effort, one would think that a percussion only affair might be difficult to stay involved in, but Brongo easily captivates us with his rich ideas and both calm and hectic bursts.

Travels well with: Avner Finberg- The Four Seasons Of Isolation; Vincent Ho- Sandman’s Castle

Lucas Pino

Covers

Outside In, 2023

9/10

Listen to Covers

The inestimable saxophonist and composer Lucas Pino makes an impression with this debut quartet release, where Alex Goodman, Rick Rosato and Allan Mednard are along for the 8 well thought out covers.

The extremely rich and warm “Moonstone” opens the listen with Pino’s hazy sax alongside Mednard’s agile drumming, and “Phantom Of The Bopera” follows with the frisky bass from Rosato and playful brass making for a very energetic climate.

The middle tracks belong to “Triptych” and “New Girl”, where the former bops and shakes with a melodic delivery that highlights the adventurous rhythm section, while the latter focuses on Goodman’s meticulous guitar playing amid the lively brass progressions.

Close to the end, “Amnesia” emits plenty of bouncy bass lines and firm sax gestures, and “Waltz For MD” exits with a more intimate moment of beauty and grace.

Pino’s resume includes his No Net Nonet ensemble and time as a sideman for Dave Brubeck, Christian McBride and Takuya Kuroda, and let’s hope there’s more work in this setting in the future, cause these thoughtful jazz tracks are nothing short of top notch.

Travels well with: The Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Kansas City; Alex Weitz- Rule Of Thirds

Lucia Caruso/ Pedro H. Da Silva

Transclassical Concertos

Academy Of St. Martin, 2023

8/10

Listen to Transclassical Concertos

A project that brings together Lucia Caruso’s exceptional piano and Pedro H. Da Silva’s stunning Portuguese guitar, the 2 Transclassical Concertos present pull influence from classical music, improvisation, and pieces from various cultures and eras, and it features the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and conductor Bruce O’Neil.

Light And Wind Piano Concertos begins the listen with Caruso’s glowing keys adding a unique dreaminess to da Silva’s radiant guitar tone, as both rumbling and intimate moments comprise the rich and cinematic textures of the diverse 3 chapters.

Concerto For Portuguese Guitar And Orchestra then follows, and presents playful moments of animated string interaction amid the booming percussion, although the middle movement, “Night”, is quite gentle and stirring in its reflective mood that highlights da Silva’s meticulous guitar.

The final piece is particularly interesting, where the elegant strings and bright guitar of George Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun” also recruits Tomo Keller’s solo violin for the cultured and cozy exit.

A highly colorful and technical body of work, the nature themes are certainly appreciated, and the worldly rhythms and harmonies won’t go unnoticed, either.

Travels well with: Paola Prestini/Mark Campbell- Edward Tulane; Plinio Fernades- Bacheando

Peripheral Vision

We’ve Got Nothing

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to We’ve Got Nothing

The Toronto quartet of Trevor Hogg, Don Scott, Michael Herring and Nick Fraser, as Peripheral Vision they pen groove filled, toe-tapping and progressive jazz that unfolds across 7 exciting songs here.

“Close The Paper And Play” opens the listen with Hogg’s soulful tenor sax and Fraser’s frisky drums making for a stylish and energetic delivery, and “Standing On Two Feet” follows with Herring’s precise bass plucking amid an intimate climate of warmth.

In the middle, “Cone Of Silence” radiates a calm melody via the meticulous sax and Scott’s reflective guitar lines, while “Goodbye Heintzmen” displays the playful rhythm section alongside the inviting and dynamic guitar playing from Scott’s fingers.

The final track, “The Mash Has Become The Face”, balances calm moments with busier bouts of creative and rich jazz ideas that make great use of the thumping drums and mesmerizing brass.

This is Peripheral Vision’s 2nd live album and 6th release overall, and it brings together pieces recorded over 4 months when the pandemic subsided, and represents 15 years of playing and touring together. The sound quality is excellent, as is the playing, and the meshing of jazz, rock, classical and improv holds our attention attentively.

Travels well with: Jesse Dietschi Trio- Gradient; Teri Parker- Shaping The Invisible

Olivia Pérez-Collellmir

Olivia

Adhyaropa, 2023

8/10

Listen to Olivia

The pianist, composer and music director Olivia Pérez-Collellmir is well versed in flamenco music, Latin jazz, Spanish folk traditions and classical music, and that’s all apparent across these 13 diverse songs that welcome 18 of today’s finest international artists.

“Promenade 1” opens the listen with Pérez-Collellmir’s soft piano, which segues into “Canco i Dansa IV”, where Aleix Tobias lively percussion guides the worldly rhythm and infectious energy.

Elsewhere, “ Combat del Somni” spotlights Judit Neddermann’s emotive singing that suits the dreamy keys and Naseem Alatrash’s stirring cello, while the swirling presence of “Le Tombeau de Couperin” benefits much from the intimate strings that are met with firm keys.

“Granada” and “Barcelona” are 2 deep tracks, where the former showcases Ismael Fernández and Sonia Olla’s inimitable Flamenco skills amid Amir Milstein’s animated flute, and the latter is populated by Loreto de Diego’s expressive pipes and the acrobatic keys that embrace some pop ideas, too.

Although this is a debut, Pérez-Collellmir brings a lifetime of experience to the affair, where a Berklee education and a history of playing piano that goes back to age 4 helps cultivate a very flourishing brand of world music.

Travels well with: Color As Time- Soma Schema; Kirsten Agresta-Copely- Aquamarine

Eric Nathan

Some Favored Nook

New Focus, 2023

8/10

Listen to Some Favored Nook

A highly creative listen that captures Emily Dickinson’s texts to the abolitionist and author Thomas Wentworth Higginson, the composer Eric Nathan employs the librettist Mark Campbell and the singers Tony Arnold and William Sharp, as well as the pianist Seth Knopp for the 3 parts.

Part 1 opens the listen with the soft and graceful piano creating a very reflective mood, as the soaring soprano from Arnold and Sharp’s deep pipes alternate for the expressive landscape.

Part II arrives in the middle, and welcomes firm key progressions on “VI: To see if we were growing”, where Sharp’s robust pipes won’t go unnoticed, while later on, “XII: Attending to the wounded” is full of sublime beauty thanks to Arnold’s flowing voice and the emotive piano.

Part III finishes with 2 chapters, where a unique dreaminess and harmonic presence guides the eloquent, often bare delivery of two people carrying a long distance communication.

A chamber fueled listen that showcases incredible singing, Nathan’s vision surrounds slavery and the American Civil War, and the bouts of marching, galloping rhythms and powerful vocals capture the intimate contact superbly.

Travels well with: Christopher Whyte- Cold Stability; John Aylward- Oblivion

Christopher Whyte

Cold Stability

New Focus, 2023

9/10

Listen to Cold Stability

A collection of solo percussion works, the Oregon resident and percussion wizard Christopher Whyte fleshes out 4 pieces that dissect different paths to stillness through sound.

Toshio Hosokawa’s “Reminiscence” begins the listen with a bare but impactful landscape of lone marimba, where low registers and subtle harmonies comprise the 11+ minutes of dreaminess, and “Psalm 1”, by Sarah Hennies, follows with droning vibraphone that turns repetition into a refined science.

The title track, a Whyte original, leads the back half, and unfolds in 4 sections that used skinned drums, modular sounds and even the bottling process of wine glasses for the very unique songwriting, while Lou Harrison’s “Solo To Anthony Cirone” allows tuned pipes to illuminate his creative vision that manipulates pitch in its sonic cautiousness.

A listen that winds through a variety of timbres and continues to solidify Whyte’s knack for mesmerizing and absorbing song craft, the 4 pieces here radiate a very distinct, artistic quality that is particularly captivating.

Travels well with: John Aylward- Oblivion; Eugene O’Brien- Algebra Of The Night

Vincent Hsu & The Jazz Supreme Orchestra

Music For The River Jazz Suite: The Spirit Of Love River And Mississippi River

Truth Revolution, 2023

9/10

Listen to Music For The River Jazz Suite: The Spirit Of Love River And Mississippi River

A listen that bridges the ideas between the bassist and composer Vincent Hsu’s hometown of Kaohsiung, Taiwan and the Mississippi River, the Afro-Cuban backdrop accents this rich fusion listen that welcomes a large ensemble.

“Overture: Cotton Field” opens the record with Musaubach’s warm piano alongside Chieh-An Fan’s intimate clarinet, as the soulful brass enters charmingly, and “River Is Wide” follows with Carol Huang’s playful congas and Kuan-Liang Lin’s firm drumming complementing Hsu’s double bass acrobatics.

Halfway through, “Rumba For The River Trilogy” unfolds across two segments, where the first half leads soft and dreamy before the bright brass guides the rich climate, while the latter is a more rhythmic affair that carries plenty of big band prowess, and spotlights the strong sax playing.

Approaching the end, “River Workers” leads with hand clapping, where Yu-Chen Tseng’s meticulous violin adds much to the dynamic interaction, and “Oya” exits with a thick and soaring presence that’s part rock, part jazz and orchestral in fascinating ways, too.

A record that has been 15 years in the making, when Hsu made a trip to New Orleans and absorbed the history of jazz, the meshing of strings, horns, Latin percussion and the player’s inestimable talents makes for a complex, exciting experience.

Travels well with: Elsa Nilsson’s Band Of Pulses- Pulses; Brad Turner Quintet- The Magnificent

Todd Hearon

Yodelady

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Yodelady

A Texas native who cut his teeth in North Carolina but now calls New Hampshire home, the independent artist Todd Hearon pens 15 songs where he plays acoustic guitar and sings, and he’s got a lot of help for the well thought out sophomore album.

“Just Another Washed-Up Country Hero” opens the listen with Hearon’s expressive voice alongside Dan Beller-McKenna’s warm pedal steel and Mike Craig’s fluid drums, and “Nacogdoches” follows with Betsy Heron’s meticulous fiddle and Pete Iannitto’s well timed bass adding much beauty to the rural melodies.

Elsewhere, “Chinatown” welcomes Ben Alleman’s strategic accordion and Lindsay Garfield’s gorgeous harmony pipes to the sublime intimacy, while “Lily-In-Coal” features Scott Heron’s playful banjo that adds even more appeal to the album highlight.

Landing near the end, "The Brighter The Sun (The Blacker The Shade)” recruits Paul Wolf’s skilled washboard that complements the poetic storytelling of the folk climate, and “El Dorado” exits the formal album with a rich dreaminess that employs Andrew Blowen’s sweet harmony vocals and Tim Phillips’ effective glockenspiel for a thoughtful finish.

A diverse, rootsy effort that sounds relevant in any decade since the ‘60s, Hearon and company span folk, country, Americana and bluegrass across this very timeless body of work.

Travels well with: Ross Cooper- Lightning Heart; Darling West- Cosmos

Sophie Dupuis

Comme Bon Lui Semble

Navona, 2023

8/10

Listen to Comme Bon Lui Semble

The inimitable composer Sophie Dupuis presents compositions in solo, duo, trio and orchestra forms here, where plenty of diversity exists across the 5 well thought out climates.

“Comme bon lui semble” opens the listen with the Brno Contemporary Orchestra creating mysterious and engaging sounds in both bare and busy moments of unpredictable song craft, and “Aftermath Of Fire” follows with Wesley Shen’s lone piano interacting with much intimacy.

In the middle, the highly creative “Taken By The Locos” showcases the quivering and cinematic qualities of Duo Holz i.e. Aysel Taghi-Zada’s violin and Michael Murphy’s percussion, while “String Quartet” unfolds with Matthias McIntire’s violin, Aysel Taghi-Zada’s violin, Laurence Schaufele’s viola and Amahl Arulanandam’s cello making for rich, rhythmic and meticulous strings across 8 chapters.

“Elles ont peint le crépuscule de noir et blanc” exits the listen, and brings back the Brno Contemporary Orchestra for a distinct droning that manipulates the strings in fascinating ways.

An effort that’s inspired by visual art, there certainly is an artistic aspect to these orchestral pieces that are colorful, sometimes minimal and descriptive via a very atypical and enjoyable vision.

Travels well with: Caitlin Edwards and Daniel Schlosberg- Mere Mortals; Joanna Estelle- Transmutation

The Mommyheads

Future You

Self-Released, 2019

9/10

Listen to Future You

Released on the same day as the reissue of their seminal mid ‘90s disc Bingham’s Hole, this 10th album from The Mommyheads illustrates deep nods to the legends of the ‘70s, wrapped up in their always unique and fun brand of pop.

“Woke Up A Scientist” starts the album with a blast of powerful rock in a sophisticated delivery that channels their inner Freddie Mercury, and “Mutual Enemy” follows with a guitar driven highlight with plenty of melody with subtle alt-rock tendencies.

Further along, “Compelled” is a more reserved tune with a buzzing setting of playfulness, while “The Hound” recruits prog-rock ideas into the acoustic strumming and charming synth work. “Prisoners”, one of the albums best, shows up later in the disc, and illustrates a unique collaboration between the instruments with exceptional bass playing and backing vocals from Nikki Richards.

Near the end, “What Are You” offers a contemplative and folk spirited anthem with expressive vocals and inspiring wordplay, and the 2nd version of “Eldsjal” exits the listen with a thicker atmosphere as calmer ebbs of keys enter the multifaceted conclusion that finds Edward Forslund handling vocal duties.

Although many will cite the ‘90s as the heyday of The Mommyheads, since reforming in 2008 they’ve been making some exceptional music, as Future You often flows like an extension of Bingham’s Hole, which is largely considered their best record to date. Ultimately, no matter where you look at their catalog, The Mommyheads deliver their always unpredictable and interesting version of pop with grand results, and I feel quite confident saying that Future You resides comfortable alongside their most esteemed work.

Travels well with: Todd Rundgren-Runt;XTC- White Music