Marsden

Tune It Out

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Tune It Out

A Wisconsin artist with an affinity for grunge, alt-rock and modern indie sounds, this sophomore album of Marsden’s themes of life, learning, and growth are surrounded by powerful, emotive and dynamic songwriting.

“End On End” opens the listen with flowing acoustic guitar and Brett Walter’s thumping drums alongside Marsden’s smooth vocals in the subdued alt-rocker, and the title track follows with plenty of dense rock that’s packed with gritty melodies amid a punk spirit that’s charged and vocally diverse.

“Running In The Dark” occupies the middle spot and is quite dreamy, where intimacy and emotion meet with much creativity, while “Obvious” builds into a fluid, harmonic, modern rock album highlight.

“American Dream” and “Fruitless” exit the listen, where the former is gentle and poetic, and the latter finishes with a bare but glowing instrumental that illustrates a rare diversity from the enormous talent.

Marsden also plays in the Nashville pop-rockers The Cancellations, and has a background eclectic enough to be a part of funk, ska and Offspring tribute bands. His solo work might remind you of Jerry Cantrell, Neil Young, David Gilmore or John Frusciante, and his stunning attention to detail and texturing makes every track here worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Mars Hall- Is Anybody Out There?; Dizzy Box Nine- Radio Fiction

Motorcycle Display Team

Wereman

Self-Released, 2022

9/10

Listen to Wereman

A London trio who are no strangers to power chords, unpredictable rhythm and sugary versus sneered vocals, Motorcycle Display Team bring us 10 new tunes that address their distaste for the democracy on both sides of the pond.

The aptly titled “Hipshaker” opens the listen with mysterious talking and playful bass lines, before thumping drums enter the buzzing and rhythmic climate that’s danceable alt-rock, and “Footsteps” follows with a bouncy and fuzzed out delivery that’s as firm as it is melodic.

Halfway through, the throbbing bass and thundering presence of “Scratch n Sniff” is met with very sweet, soulful singing, while “Oi’ isn’t so much skinhead punk as it is soaring, pop friendly, crunchy rock that uses glam nods strategically.

Further still, “Armchair Politician” finds plenty of grooves to reside in thanks to the expressive singing and dynamic interaction between the guitars and drums, and “Trying To Save The World With A Song” exits with a multi-faceted version of rock that’s animated, frisky and meticulous in a booming and other times calm environment.

A band who you might call ‘Arch Rock’, this is anthemic, hook filled, enlightening and easily some of the best rock’n’roll being made today.

Travels well with: Sparks- Balls; Too Much Joy- Mistakes Were Made

Longtoe

Le Banquet

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Le Banquet

A debut that illustrates this Canadian outfits ability to improvise, these 8 originals from Longtoe might be steeped in jazz, but there’s plenty of diversity present alongside the hard bop and swing tunes.

“Too Bad Toubab” opens the listen with Vincent Dessureault’s playful bass, as bright brass and Olivier Salazar’s warm keys make for a cozy and timeless jazz setting, and “Tic Tac Toe” follows with a lively energy that benefits much from Nicolas Lanctôt’s spirited guitar and Patrice Luneau’s very agile alto sax prowess.

“Nuit Blanche” occupies the middle spot and focuses on the radiant horns amid the meticulous rhythm section, while “My Little Bird” touches on reggae with its strong attention to rhythm and Gabriel Thibault’s glowing keys.

Close to the end, “Itchy” emits a striking intimacy that’s cautious and hearfelt, and “La Téle en I’Air” exits with a sublime dreaminess that possesses much beauty and grace.

An excellent first outing, Longtoe are truly made up of some of Montreal’s best musicians, and their unique and exciting version of jazz makes 8 songs just not enough. Hopefully more is on the horizon soon.

Travels well with: Avi Granite- In Good Hands; Jacob Chung- Epistle

Christopher Cerrone

The Air Suspended

New Focus, 2022

9/10

Listen to The Air Suspended

The esteemed composer Christopher Cerrone offers us 2 recent works, where his minimalist vision brings bass, piano and an ensemble to the works that takes inspiration from Ben Lerner.

The title track occupies the first half of the listen, where rumbling keys from Shai Wosner and Pat Swoboda very precise bass are accompanied by the Argus Quartet. A track that traces the raw and powerful nature of the weather, Wosner originally premiered the track in 2019, it’s a thrilling, emotive and strategically delicate 3 movements.

“Why Was I Born Between Mirrors?” finishes out the listen, and it hosts the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, who apply stirring strings, dreamy flute, well timed percussive sounds and atmospheric clarinet to the haunting keys.

As always, this body of work showcases Cerrone’s close attention to timbre and colorful tone, and the presence of acoustic instruments only enhances the appeal of the creative endeavor.

Travels well with: Aaron Myers-Brooks- Oblique; Greg Stuart- Subtractions

Mark Christian Miller

Music In The Air

Sliding Jazz Door, 2022

8/10

Listen to Music In The Air

A veteran musician from the West Coast, Mark Christian Miller is armed with an exceptional voice, and he takes help from Jamieson Trotter, Mike Gurrola, Kevin Winard, Larry Koonse and Danny Janklow for these 8 jazz friendly tracks.

“If You Never Fall In Love With Me” opens the listen with Miller’s smooth and upbeat voice alongside Janklow’s soulful sax and Gurrola’s bouncy bass lines, and “Lullaby Of The Leaves” follows with a calmer approach of romantic song craft that benefits much from Winard’s precise drumming and the expressive singing.

Halfway through, “I Wished On The Moon” quivers with a bit of mystery, where Trotter’s atmospheric keys complement Miller’s agile pipes, while “Mutineer” burns slow and powerfully, and emits a stirring intimacy thanks to the poetic vocals and sweeping piano that complement the ‘90s pop moments.

Near the end, “Too Darn Hot” displays a stylish demeanor that benefits much from the frisky rhythm section and Miller’s booming voice, and “Prelude To A Kiss” exits with much attention to mood in the Duke Ellington classic.

This is Miller’s 3rd album, and he makes each song his own thanks to his inimitable singing and the player’s focused and sophisticated efforts that comes with a rare chemistry and very memorable delivery

Travels well with: Rodney Whitaker- Oasis; Susan Reed- Thousands Of Ways

Daniel Sherrill

From A Heritage Tree

American Standard Time, 2022

9/10

Listen to From A Heritage Tree

The Oregon artist Daniel Sherrill has an impressive resume that includes being the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for Patchy Sanders and Hollis Peach, as well as being a member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. On this solo outing, he’s armed with just a banjo for 9 songs that explore his folk and old time ways.

“Quincy Dillon’s Hi-D Tune” opens the listen with Sherrill’s precise banjo playing emitting much warmth and beauty in the flowing folk climate, and “Over The Waterfall” continues this approach with mesmerizing and charming progressions from the skilled string manipulation.

Further down the line, “Cumberland Gap” retains a very melodic structure amid the playful finger acrobatics, while “Fortune”, the best track present, emits a radiant dreaminess that is upbeat amid much grace.

“Salt Creek” and “Deal’em Out Sam” exit the listen, where the former is so precise and swift, it hardly seems like only one banjo is present, and the latter finishes with both intimacy and adventurousness populating the retro formula.

Sherrill plays a banjo made from a fallen 275 year old Claro Walnut tree, and fleshed out the listen in a studio he built during the pandemic. The songs present are traditionals that were penned for fiddle, but they are adapted flawlessly to banjo thanks to Sherrill’s very capable vision and stunning performance.

Travels well with: Erisy Wyatt- Eyes Like The Ocean; This Lonesome Paradise- Nightshades

This Lonesome Paradise

Nightshades

American Standard Time, 2022

8/10

Listen to Nightshades

A California outfit with a penchant for reverb friendly textures and Western Noir flavor, this sophomore album from This Lonesome Paradise was fleshed out off the grid, in a solar powered studio that further explores their drifting and echoed ways.

“Scorpion Song” starts the listen with much atmosphere, as soulful brass and hypnotic guitar are met with dark storytelling that’s quite cryptic, and “Funeral Skies” follows with a psychedelic, nearly gothic appeal that’s as ominous as it is creative.

In the middle, “Blue Sky” showcases a unique, melodic dimension that benefits much from moody keys in sort of an eerie way, while “Always You” picks up the pace with thumping drums, Dean Shakkad’s playful bass lines and the soaring vocals from E. Ray Bechard.

Arriving near the end, “Moonlight Tragedy” flows with a retro feeling that’s intimate and exploratory, and “Unholy Holy” exits the listen with a distinct dreaminess that’s both mesmerizing and enigmatic.

A very curious listen that explores jazz, lounge, psychedelic, and desert rock sensibilities, Nightshades is an artistic and meticulous affair that you can’t listen to just once.

Travels well with: DBUK- Songs Nine Through Sixteen; Lunar Noon- Symbolic Creature

Rochelle Sennet

Bach To Black: Suites For Piano, Volume II

Albany, 2022

8/10

Listen to Bach To Black: Suites For Piano, Volume II

The pianist Rochelle Sennet returns with more interpretations of works by Bach and black composers, and this time it’s spread out across 3 discs that includes pieces by black woman composers, i.e. Florence Price, Montague Ring, and Joyce Solomon Moorman.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Paritita No. 3 in A Minor, BWV 827” starts the listen with meticulous, fascinating playing that’s quite mesmerizing and full of plenty of melodic progressions, and further on “From The Southland Suite”, by Harry Thacker Burleigh, emits both beauty and playfulness in its very charming delivery.

The middle disc offers us the dreamy elegance of Florence Beatrice Price’s “Seven Descriptive Pieces”, as well as the animated and upbeat dynamics of “Carnival: Suite of Five Dances”, which indeed seems like it could soundtrack a day under the The Big Top.

Nearing the end, the emotive and stirring “Piano Suite”, by Joyce Solomon Moorman, is one of the best selections and certainly is cause for reflection, and George Theophilus Walker’s “Guido’s Hand: Five Pieces for Piano” is particularly distinct, where Sennet’s finger acrobatics are nothing short of stunning.

Sennet is a performer, teacher, and scholar, and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone else who can play a piano and interpret music like this. Three discs might seem like a lot of piano music to absorb, but in these capable hands it never out welcomes its stay.

Travels well with: Allen Shawn- Fantasia & Other Pieces; Victoria Bond- Blue And Green Music

Tom Knight

Look Both Ways

Rhyming Porcupine, 2022

8/10

Listen to Look Both Ways

The veteran musician and puppeteer Tom Knight brings us his 6th album for kids, and it’s a calm and creative 8 tracks that injects some humor into the playful listen.

“Alligator Jump/¡Salta Caimán!” opens the listen with Mica Farias Gomez contributing her flowing and expressive pipes to the cultured and melodic climate, and “Wiggly Tooth” follows with warm piano from Frank Shelton and crisp drumming in the county rock and honky tonk display.

Halfway through, “Five Snow People” brings an old time feel in the variation of the Susan Salidor tune that counts with plenty of charm, while “Look Both Ways” recruits bouncy bass lines to the frisky electric guitar.

“Stone Soup” and “Hot Air Balloon” exit the listen, where the former carries a Americana friendly influence with both fiddle and banjo, and the latter finishes with a gentle beauty, as Knight’s soothing voice is met with stirring strings, eloquent keys and cautious guitar.

A very diverse body of work that showcases Latin, R&B, folk and country sensibilities, Knight pens a listen that’s fun for the whole family and can listen to repeatedly with much enjoyment.

Travels well with: Laurie Berkner- Another Laurie Berkner Christmas; Martin And Rose Music- Dear Heart

Adeem The Artist

White Trash Revelry

Thirty Tigers, 2022

10/10

Listen to White Trash Revelry

A Tennesse artist who injects plenty of humor into their craft, Adeem The Artist brings much twang to songs about prejudice in the south and the influence of Christianity, and it’s all delivered with a heartfelt and sincere approach.

“Carolina” starts the listen with Adeem’s warm vocals alongside stirring pedal steel and Giovanni Carnuccio III’s fluid drumming in the cautious Americana, and “For Judas” follows with Jessye Desilva’s elegant piano complementing the gentle melodies and Adeem’s vivid storytelling.

Halfway through, “Run This Town” offers an upbeat and very charming country rocker that benefits from Craig Burletic’s bouncy bass and Ellen Angelico’s spirited electric guitar that will get you on the dance floor, while “Baptized In Well Spirits” spotlights Kristin Weber’s fiddle acrobatics and Adeem’s meticulous acoustic guitar as a powerful and rugged climate unfolds.

Near to the end, “Rednecks, Unread Hicks” places Zach Russell on vocals and Jake Blount on banjo for the lyrically aware and musically soulful album highlight, and “My America” exits with an articulate, folk influenced demeanor that’s quite pretty and the wordplay really does suit the state of America today for the downtrodden.

An absolutely enlightening and wise listen, White Trash Revelry should be required listening in 2023. The talent of the players is unmatched, and Adeem’s observations about the many social issues plaguing society are addressed in an effective, poetic and very literate fashion.

Travels well with: John Fullbright- The Liar; Melissa Carper- Ramblin’ Soul

Heather Ferguson

Lush Life

Socan, 2022

8/10

Listen to Lush Life

The exceptional vocalist Heather Ferguson brings along an all star cast for this debut album, where her inimitable storytelling ability pays tribute to some legendary songwriters, and interprets classics with much care and attention.

The title track starts the listen with Ferguson’s stunning, pretty pipes complemented by Dr. Tony Genge’s moody organ and Damian Graham’s crisp drums, and “Bewitched” follows with Barrie Sorenson’s soulful sax and Joey Smith’s precise bass helping make for a very intimate climate.

“The Look Of Love” arrives at the halfway point and places Smith on guitar and Kelby MacNayr’s warm drums populating the Bacharach tune, while “All The Things You Are” gets quite lively, and moves with smooth melodies and Genge’s playful keys in the swing delivery.

Approaching the end, “Lover Man” brings a very romantic demeanor thanks to Jan Stirling’s elegant piano and Miguelito Valdes’ well timed trumpet, and “Round Midnight” exit with keys, bass, brass and drums alongside Ferguson’s radiant pipes in the powerful and emotive finish.

All these songs have aged very well, and here they are reborn in Ferguson’s timeless formula, and the excellent players on hand certainly add even more allure that you’ll immediately be intrigued by.

Travels well with: Lauren Falls- A Little Louder Now; Deb Rasmussen- Unspoken

Tom Freund

The Year I Spent In Space

Surf Road, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Year I Spent In Space

The Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Tom Freund penned and recorded most of this album during the pandemic, and his timeless and accomplished brand of Americana sounds as great as ever here.

Freund places “Rebound” in the lead off position, where warm acoustic guitar and crisp drums are met with his very friendly singing that’s wise and cozy in the rootsy appeal, and “Don’t Wait (Back Home)” follows with graceful piano and a folk-rock presence that’s melodic and instantly memorable.

Closer to the middle, “Harmony Of Two” is textured fluidly with spirited electric guitar, thumping drums and some grit in the retro-rocker, while “Disney’s America” lands in more intimate territory that’s even a bit dreamy in the twangy, Americana haze.

Arriving near the end, the poetic and acoustic guitar fueled “Show On The Road” is full of reflective and eloquent song craft, and “My Resurrection” exits with a very adventurous, cultured and diverse landscape that further solidifies his universal formula.

Freund released his first album in 1992, and has been consistently great since. Even though he’s not a household name, you’ve probably heard his work on popular TV shows like Dawson’s Creek, and fans of Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams or Townes Van Zandt surely must acquaint themselves.

Travels well with: Mark Erelli- Lay Your Darkness Down; Matt Costa- Yellow Coat

Candy Dulfer

We Never Stop

The Funk Garage, 2022

8/10

Listen to We Never Stop

The Dutch jazz and pop sensation Candy Dulfer returns with 14 tracks that embraces R&B and funk as well, and it just might be her most personal outing to date.

“YeahYeahYeah” opens the listen with bright brass and frisky drums, as soulful and playful talking enters the lively climate, and “Mo’ Seats At The Table” follows with a smooth R&B spirit that flows with warm grooves.

Further along, “Raindrops” is quite stylish and displays a busy and highly melodic display of well timed group vocals and timeless bouts of jazz-rock, while “The Walls” features Marcus Miller’s expressive pipes amid the sax acrobatics that are as cautious as they are exploratory.

Deeper still, “Afraid For More” places much emphasis on mood, as the stirring funk delivery is quite absorbing, and “Convergency” exits with Nile Rogers contributing acrobatic guitar work to the agile and powerful fusion friendly instrumental.

Dulfer’s resume is unparalleled and includes being Prince’s go to sax player, a Grammy Nominee, having sold millions of albums and working alongside Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, among others. First and foremost, though, she’s a top notch and inspirational artist, and this excellent body of work only further cements that.

Travels well with: Danceland- Pink Lem; Matt Simons- Identity Crisis

The Foreign Landers

Travelers Rest

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Travelers Rest

The debut record from the duo of David Benedict (mandolin) and Tabitha Agnew Benedict (banjo), as The Foreign Landers the pair bring their honest folk and bluegrass ways to a listen that surrounds their move across the Atlantic to Travelers Rest, South Carolina.

“Traveler” opens the listen with a progressive bluegrass formula that comes with soothing harmony vocals and much warm nostalgia amid the precise banjo playing, and “Waves” follows with electric guitar from Ethan Ballinger adding much to the pretty Americana that’s quite poetic.

Halfway through, Brittany Haas’ meticulous fiddle and Reuben Agnew’s expressive voice help make “Flying Back To You” one of the album’s best, while “We’ll Be Fine” recruits Karl Smakula’s moody pedal steel and Stephen Benedict’s well timed snare to the eloquent and intimate Americana.

“Garden” and “The Last Song” exit the listen, where the former really showcases Tabitha’s stirring and alluring Irish voice alongside the pair’s dynamic string interaction, and the latter emits so much gentle beauty and memorableness that finishes the record far too soon.

A very forthright body of work that follows a unique path and is delivered with much care, for those with an ear for folk, bluegrass, Americana and even country sounds, Travelers Rest will be a nice way to spend 40 minutes.

Travels well with: The Slocan Ramblers- Up The Hill And Through The Fog; Derek Hoke- Electric Mountain

Peggy Lee

Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown, North Dakota

Capitol/Universal, 2022

8/10

Listen to Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown, North Dakota

Originally released in 1972, this 50th Anniversary Edition of Peggy Lee’s 40th album comes with 7 bonus tracks that serves to enhance the experience of one of her most intimate records.

“Love Song” leads the listen with warm acoustic guitar and Lee’s poetic, soulful singing guiding the light brass and frisky drums, and “Razor (Love Me As I Am)” follows with a darker spirit that emits a timeless jazz demeanor with a unique rhythm and bright brass.

Further on in the original album, “Just For A Thrill” carries a romantic spirit that’s quite eloquent and benefits from gentle piano, while “The More I See You” flows with a dreaminess that’s packed with beauty and emotion.

Of the bonus tracks, “Pieces Of Dreams”, from a 45 single, benefits from stirring strings, twinkling percussion and well timed horns, and the alternate take of “Someone Who Cares” is particularly powerful and builds into a cathartic and soaring highlight.

Lee enjoyed a 7 decade career that included 13 Grammy Nominations and over 100 songs on the charts, the legend who was coined ‘the female Frank Sinatra’ paved the way for countless other female artists, and actually wrote songs, too, and this well received body of work sounds better than ever here.

Travels well with: Nina Simone- Little Blue Girl; Coniece Washington- Shades Of Shirley Horn

Matt Hillyer

Glorieta

State Fair, 2023

9/10

Listen to Glorieta

The veteran singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Hillyer knows his way around a song you won’t soon forget, and this solo album brings plenty of influences to his twangy template.

The title track starts the listen with Hillyer’s timeless, classic country appeal that’s warm, rhythmic and even embraces folk ideas, and “Stolen Kisses” follows with both retro rock’n’roll and twang meeting at a place that just might remind you of Roy Orbison.

Deeper into the listen, “Ordinary Man” finds itself in dreamy areas of intimacy thanks to Hillyer’s vivid storytelling, while “Dirty Little Secrets” will get you onto the dance floor with its playful fiddle and crisp drumming that lands in bouncy, country territory.

“Diablo Motel” arrives near the end the recruits an accordion for the more haunting setting, and “That’s How You Know” exits with a driving, fluid and harmonic beauty that really does illuminate all of country music’s best traits.

Hillyer enjoyed 23 great years playing with the legendary honky tonk band Eleven Hundred Springs, and his solo output is already proving to be just as luminous thanks to these really enjoyable 11 tunes.

Travels well with: The Shootouts- Bullseye; The Stubborn Lovers- The Stubborn Lovers

David Leisner

Letter To The World

Azica, 2022

8/10

Listen to Letter To The World

The esteemed composer David Leisner brings us a portrait album where vocal chamber music honors the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Gene Scaramellino, Elissa Ely, Emily Bronte, Lao Tza and Wendell Berry.

“Confiding” opens the listen with 30+ minutes of Katherine Whyte’s stunning soprano alongside Lenore Fishman Davis’ sublime piano playing that flows in and out of 10 cycles of high and medium voice that contains much intimacy.

In the middle, “Das Wunderbare Wesen” showcases Michael Kelly’s eloquent baritone and Raman Ramakrishnan’s stirring cello which makes for cautious melodies and thriving metic patterns that display much skill and agility.

On the back half, “Simple Songs” is full of Kelly’s flawless pipes and Leisner’s flowing guitar work illuminating Dickinson’s poetry with much creativity, and “Of Darkness And Light” exits the listen with Sarah Whitney’s violin, Scott Bartucca’s oboe and Dimitri Dover’s piano complementing Andrew Fuchs’ soaring tenor across the meditative, rumbling and fragmented exploration.

A superbly rich, emotionally acute and very smartly executed project, Leisner and company leave us with a work of beauty that’s technically proficient in ways that few could replicate.

Travels well with: Miriam K. Smith- Momentum; Apollo Chamber Players- MoonStrike

Richard Wagner

The Golden Ring

Decca, 2022

9/10

Listen to The Golden Ring

The first stereo studio production of Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle, this high-definition transfer of the original master tapes illuminates his most honored recording with an enhanced sounds that’s available on vinyl for the first time in 30 years.

“Das Rheingold WWV 86A” opens the listen with soaring vocals alongside dynamic string interaction, booming brass and thundering drums in the dramatic versus bare bouts, and “Die Walkure WWV 86B, Act III” follows with expressive soprano vocals surrounded by busy and cinematic swells of orchestral meticulousness.

In the middle, “Siegfried WWV 86C, Act II” and “WWV 86D, Act III” are packed with firm, baritone singing and firm percussion but can also retreat to dreamy moments, and “Götterdämmerung WWV 86D Act III” exits with a very tense energy that’s immediately striking and entirely memorable.

The Wiener Philharmoniker and Sir Georg Solti are in fine form here, and Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter, and Kirsten Flagstad’s contributions won’t go unnoticed either. Voted “The greatest recording of all time” by Gramophone Magazine in 1999 and BBC Music Magazinein 2011, that’s a sentiment that’s hard to disagree with when listening to these exceptional recordings from 1958 and 1965.

Travels well with: Christian Li- The Four Seasons; Voces8- Infinity

Lauren Falls

A Little Louder Now

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to A Little Louder Now

The Toronto bassist and composer Lauren Falls sure does impress us with these 7 originals and Victor Youmans standard, where some of Canada’s finest musicians accompany her across the creative jazz affair.

“New View” opens the listen with Todd Pentney’s warm piano, before David French’s soulful tenor sax enters the reflective climate, and “A Little Louder Now” follows with Trevor Falls’ light drumming and the soulful sax being anchored by the strategic bass from Falls.

In the middle, “Disagree To Disagree” blends the hypnotic keys with the dreamy brass and soothing bass lines, while “TTB”, i.e. Ticking Time Bomb, is a more firm delivery, as a tense rhythm and unpredictable, spirited guitar from Trevor Giancola is appreciated.

“Labyrinth” and “I Want To Be Happy” exit the listen, where the former carries a cinematic and nearly sci-fi energy in its unique melodies, and the latter showcases Falls’ meticulous bass plucking alongside a bouncy, dance floor friendly swing that’s as charming as it is memorable.

This is the sophomore release as leader from Falls, and her growth as a musician and composer sure do make an impression thanks to these autobiographical tracks that will be sure to make anyone with an ear for modern jazz a fan.

Travels well with: Ernesto Cervini- Joy; Noam Lemish- Twelve

Andrew & Polly

Go For The Moon

Palindrome, 2019

8/10

Listen to Go For The Moon

The esteemed children’s music duo Andrew & Polly return with a 5th album, and it’s an even bigger step into their exploratory and creative nature.

After the pair’s clever reinvention of the Smash Mouth hit “All Star”, “Crazy House” follows with horns and a finger snappin’ good time as keys and plenty of backing vocals flow in, as do nods to The Beatles.

In the middle, “Brass Chuckles” offers a playful story and jokes about a trombone, while “Aquarium” brings light synth and plenty of ‘80s influences to the quirky, highly melodic throwback.

Deeper cuts include “Three Chartreuse Buzzards”, with Pops and Lucy Kalantari, which isn’t so much a song as it is a bizarre story, though “Zipper + Saw” brings plenty of music with an initially hushed entrance that builds into a fuller sing-along. “Circus By The Sea” ends the listen with a cultured, busy display of multifaceted pop that unfolds with a glorious, timeless feel.

Andrew & Polly already made me a fan with 2016’s Earsnacks, but here the two are upping the ante even further as they traverse the bounds of children’s music with charming, eclectic, and fantastic results.

Travels well with: Recess Monkey- Wired; Secret Agent 23 Skidoo- The Perfect Quirk