E3 By Alex Lakusta

Transmit Slow

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Transmit Slow

The Canadian bass player Alex Lakusta (of Vissia) brings along Josh Smiley (keyboards, synth), Keagan Eskritt (drums, cymbals) and occasionally Brad Eaton (trumpet, effects) for a debut of originals that are quite diverse in their modern and flourishing delivery.

“Trick Shot” gets the listen off to a stylish start, where charming keys and light drumming help cultivate a hypnotic and timeless jazz approach that benefits much from bouncy bass, and “All Static/Frequency Lost” follows with much atmosphere that showcases moody synth alongside the cinematic climate.

In the middle, the swift and flowing “Limited Imitations” takes influence from hip-hop into the powerful landscape, while “Battery Brain” welcomes Eaton’s soulful and radiant trumpet into the thicker demeanor of buzzing melody.

Near to the end, Eaten is again on board for the playful and dynamic album highlight, “Flicker”, which flirts with electro-pop ideas, and “Transmit Slow” exits the listen with a more intimate appeal of dreamy song craft.

Certainly able to hold their own in the very active Canadian jazz scene, this first effort from Lakusta and company covers a wealth of influences from alt-rock to post-rock to electronica, and it’s all handled superbly.

Travels well with: The Jazz Professors- Blues And Cubes; Andy Adamson Quintet- A Coincidence Of Cats

Jenny Q Chai

Songs Of Love

Divine Art, 2022

9/10

Listen to Songs Of Love

The esteemed pianist Jenny Q Chai interprets the work of Bach, Ives, and Schumann here, where her inimitable and meticulous finger acrobatics make for a very exciting listen.

Bach’s “Aria”, from ‘Goldberg’ variations, opens the listen with Chai’s agile and very stirring piano work that is quite heartfelt, and Ives’ “The Alcotts” from Piano Sonata No. 2 continues the thoughtful and emotive delivery that rumbles quite a bit louder at the end with the firm strokes emitting a sublime energy.

“Kreisleriana”, by Schumann, exits the listen and is an intense and vibrant execution that can also find breezy places to reside, as well as dreamy bouts of beauty, where Chai’s fascinating manipulation of her instrument is just so admirable.

This is Chai’s first time featuring work from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and let’s hope it isn’t her last, cause her unparalleled attention to detail and mesmerizing ability make for interpretations that warrant repeated listens.

Travels well with: Maya Magub- Consolations; Shea-Kim Duo- The Sound And The Fury

Meridian Odyssey

Earthshine

Origin, 2022

8/10

Listen to Earthshine

Santosh Sharma (tenor sax), Noah Halpern (trumpet), Dylan Hayes (piano), Martin Budde (guitar), Ben Feldman (bass) and Xavier Lecouturier (drums), i.e. Meridian Odyssey, fleshed these 9 originals out in Alaska in August 2021, where 6 days of focused rehearsals yielded a powerful and creative body of work.

“XD” opens the listen with firm keys, as crisp drumming and playful bass enters alongside the soulful brass in the agile climate, and “Tuesday Wednesday” follows with a calm, stirring setting that blends the gentle textures fluidly.

“Behind The Mirror” arrives near the middle and moves with a frisky spirit of radiant and meticulous songwriting, while “Song For Jovino” brings mandolin into the equation, and benefits much from the dynamic rhythm section and glowing trumpet prowess.

“Reflecting” and “Earthshine” arrive near the end, where the former offers a bit of mystery in the cinematic demeanor, and the latter showcases the acrobatic drumming amid the bright horns and intricate guitar work.

An absorbing listen that’s capable of being intense but can also retreat to balladry, Meridian Odyssey make the most of every gesture here, and it’s very much appreciated and enjoyed.

Travels well with: Dmitri Matheny- Cascadia; Hugo Fernandez- Ozean

Tami Neilson

Kingmaker

Outside, 2022

8/10

Listen to Kingmaker

The country soul singer-songwriter Tami Neilson returns with a 5th studio album, where the New Zealand resident delivers a powerful and socially topical listen that addresses the patriarchy, family life and society in general, and Willie Nelson even makes an appearance, too.

Neilson places the title track in the lead off position, where her expressive and sturdy voice aligns well with cautious instrumentation that welcomes strings and gospel friendly backing vocals in a cinematic sort of way, and “Careless Woman” follows with playful hand clapping and very soulful singing that flirts with ‘60s girl groups ideas.

“Beyond The Stars” occupies the middle spot and brings in Nelson for the poetic and stirring duet that’s full of Willie’s inimitable grit, while “Green Peaches” lands in retro territory that’s quite stylish in a ‘70s fashion.

Approaching the end, “The Grudge” showcases a unique version of Americana that’s certainly pretty and even mysterious thanks to Neilson’s very meticulous vision, and “Ain’t My Job” exits the listen more firm with busy, almost jarring instrumentation amid the bright vocals and thumping drums.

A fierce and substantial affair that lends a voice to women everywhere, whether this is your first taste of Neilson or you’ve been along for awhile, Kingmaker will impress you with its diversity, sass and insightful qualities.

Travels well with: Reb Fountain- Reb Fountain; Kacy & Clayton- Carrying On

Yoko Yates

Mystic Life

Steeple Chase, 2022

8/10

Listen to Mystic Life

The pianist, compose and educator Yoko Yates has a lengthy history in jazz sounds, and here along with Jamie Baum (flute, alto flute), Sam Sidagursky (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax), Aryeh Kobrinsky (bass) and Jeff Hirschfield (drums), 10 very precise and absorbing instrumentals unfold with much grace.

“Near The Horizon” leads with an airy demeanor that’s bright and fluid with the winds, drums and keys interacting with much warmth, and “Dawn” follows with sublime piano balladry that benefits much from soothing clarinet that’s quite expressive.

Halfway through, the playful “Jungle Flowers” bounces with an undeniable charm that’s anchored by the agile keys, while “Procession Of Queen Maya” emits stirring melodies in the dreamy album highlight.

“Early Spring” and “Moon Night Dance” exit the listen, where the former floats with a very upbeat delivery that certainly sounds like new beginnings, and the latter gets frisky, dance-friendly even, as it showcases all the players’ talents in spades.

A very enlightening and captivating body of work, Yates and company make the most of each moment here, where unparalleled chemistry and strong attention to detail is appreciated.

Travels well with: The Jazz Professors- Blues And Cubes; Andy Adamson Quintet- A Coincidence Of Cats

Marilyn Scott

The Landscape

Blue Canoe, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Landscape

The Southern California vocalist Marilyn Scott brings her inimitable craft to these timeless 7 tracks that take influence from legends like Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Andy Bey, and benefit from Scott’s lengthy career in soul-jazz sounds and interest in Brazilian music.

“Thrown Out Into Space, Butterfly” leads the listen with Scott Kinsey’s warm keys and Steve Tavaglione’s soulful sax complementing Scott’s expressive and agile vocals, and “The Landscape” follows with Gary Novak’s precise drumming helping illuminate the vivid storytelling and melodic climate.

The album’s best, “Irreplaceable”, arrives in the middle and showcases “Michael Landau’s spirited guitar and Jimmy Haslip’s strategic electric bass in the 7 minutes of crisp and dreamy song craft, while “Tomorrow” gets a bit more rugged, even firm, thanks to Vinnie Colaiuta’s proficient drums and Kinsey’s colorful keys, as well as Scott’s diverse pipes.

“The Sun” exits the listen, and presents The Perri Sisters on backing vocals amid the cultured and cautious interplay between the guitars, drums, keys and, of course, Scott’s irresistible voice.

This is Scott’s 13th album as bandleader, and was born out of a need to be creative during the pandemic. The collaborators are among her closest friends, and together it makes for a very complex but easily enjoyable and richly textured body of work.

Travels well with: Rafael Greco- Dice Que Vive (Signs Of Life); Melbreeze- I Love Paris

The Jazz Professors

Blues And Cubes

Flying Horse, 2022

8/10

Listen to Blues And Cubes

This 4th album from The Jazz Professors takes inspiration from the art of Pablo Picasso, and brings us 8 originals and 2 covers that are carefully fleshed out by Jeff Rupert (sax), Dan Miller (trumpet), Per Danielsson (piano), Bobby Koelble (guitar) Richard Drexler (bass) and Marty Morell (percussion).

“Blue Lamp” gets the listen off to a cozy start, where the soothing sax is met with warm keys and flashes of trumpet bouts, and “Dora Maar” follows with a lively pulse that benefits much from frisky percussion and skilled bass lines as Rupert’s soulful sax guides the affair.

“Segment”, by Charlie Parker, lands in the middle, and radiates a graceful intimacy that showcases agile guitar work, while “View Of Heaven” flows with a dreamy, poetic demeanor that’s quite stirring.

Close to the end, “Picasso’s Blue Lobster” offers a rich and very absorbing display of cautiousness that’s the album’s best, and “The Iberian” exits the listen busy and dynamic, with the proficient rhythm section complementing Rupert’s inimitable brass prowess.

All the members have impressive resumes of their own, and their collective strength makes for a fine and exciting display of 20th century jazz that’s as unpredictable as it is memorable.

Travels well with: Andy Adamson Quintet- A Coincidence Of Cats; Dmitri Matheny- Cascadia

Tom Hemby Band

Dealin’ It

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Dealin’ It

A Grammy Award-winning musician, producer and composer, Tom Hemby brings along drummer Keith Carlock, saxophonist Mark Doutht, bassist Adam Nitti, and keyboardist Michael Whittaker for these well thought jazz instrumental tunes.

“Sneaky” starts the listen with playful bass lines and frisky drumming to complement Hemby’s spirited guitar and warm keys, and this creativity continues to the energetic and agile “The Big Dang Deal”, where the soaring guitar acrobatics are front and center.

“Wrestle With The Devil” arrives at the halfway point, and trims the pace back with much intimacy that’s quite stylish, too, while “Free Byrd” embraces a dreamy quality with meticulous guitar accented by a bit of mysteriousness in the short duration.

Close to the end, the stirring “Another Lonely Moon” showcases the soulful sax prowess with much elegance, and “Sidewayz” exits the listen busy, dynamic and with all the players showcasing their respective strengths in the glowing finish.

A record that’s not short on charming melodies, and bits of fusion and funk moments, too, Hemby and company create a timeless body of work that fans of jazz will admire.

Travels well with: Andy Adamson Quintet- A Coincidence Of Cats; David Larsen- G2 And You

Willi Carlisle

Peculiar, Missouri

Free Dirt, 2022

8/10

Listen to Peculiar, Missouri

A poet and folk artist who takes much influence from Utah Phillips, Willi Carlisle has a way with words, and on this sophomore album he sounds right at home in the Ozarks, his current residence, with his punk, blues, folk and country formula.

“Your Heart’s A Big Tent” opens the listen with Carlisle’s flowing banjo and expressive singing alongside Grant D’Aubin’s skilled guitar and bass in the raw, mountain-esque song craft, and “Life On The Fence” follows with a breezy quality that welcomes Chris Stafford’s aching pedal steel and Joel Savoy’s well timed fiddle in the very genuine climate.

Halfway through, “I Won’t Be Afraid” offers an intimate display of poetic singing amid the bare delivery, while “Buffalo Bill” sees Carlisle illuminating ee cummings’ words with charming vocal acrobatics and Nicholas Pence’s rhythm bones that are present and appreciated.

"The Grand Design” arrives near the end and places Savoy’s autoharp, accordion, fiddle and guitar next to Carlisle’s pretty singing and spirited banjo in the album’s best selection, and “Rainbow Mid Life’s Willows” exits the listen with a dreamy appeal that benefits from Savoy’s organ and Carlisle’s fiddle and very stirring voice.

A product of the rural midwest, these 12 songs stem from Carlisle’s travels around the US, and his parallels to Woody Guthrie and his protest songs are quite insightful, forthright and memorable.

Travels well with: The Local Honeys- The Local Honeys; Riddy Arman- Riddy Arman

The Early Mays

Prettiest Blue

Bird On The Wing, 2022

9/10

Listen to Prettiest Blue

A duo from Pittsburgh with a penchant for old time sounds, Ellen Gozion (vocals, banjo, harmonium) and Emily Pinkerton (vocals, banjo, guitar, fiddle) birth soothing harmonies and slow burning song craft on these really pretty 5 songs.

“The Ballad Of Johnny Fall” opens the listen with Pinkerton’s hypnotic banjo playing alongside Gozion’s expressive singing that tells a dark tale and benefits from Nicole Myers’ cello, and “On A Dying Day” follows with Pinkerton contributing vocals and banjo as Gozion’s backing vocals and harmonium and Myers’s cello complement the subtly powerful display of vintage songwriting.

“Shakin’ Down The Acorns” take the middle spot and meshes fiddle, harmonium and cello into the rich, timeless instrumental, while “Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow”, the album’s best, is a bit more upbeat amid the warm guitar, cozy banjo and elegant cello as soothing vocal harmonies unfold.

“My Home’s Across The Blue Ridge Mountains” exits the listen and tells an emotive story of leaving and is quite stirring in its sparseness.

A listen that’s heavy on balladry and a genuine, spiritual demeanor, the pair cite their music aimed for those folks looking for ‘a place to slow down’, and this quick listen is a fine introduction to the beauty that The Early Mays possess.

Travels well with: Monica Taylor- Trains, Rivers & Trails; Laura Benitez And The Heartache- With All Its Thorns

Rafael Greco

Dice Que Vive (Signs Of Life)

Blue Canoe, 2022

8/10

Listen to Dice Que Vive Signs Of Life

The multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer/arranger Rafael Greco brings his Venezuela heritage to this exceptional debut solo album as leader, where his personal songwriting embraces global ideas alongside plenty of esteemed help on hand.

“Once Upon A Time” starts the listen with Greco handling plenty of percussive sounds as well as vocals, while Robert Quinter’s cumaco and Rodner Padilla’s electric bass add much playfulness to the cultured energy, and “Ondé” follows with Steve Khan’s acoustic guitar and Randy Brecker’s muted trumpet and flugelhorn solo complementing Greco’s expressive singing in the dreamy delivery.

Further down the line, the atmospheric “10th Avenue” benefits much from Santiago Bosch’s moody synth as Greco sings with a warm, poetic quality, and “Mantra” displays the depth of Greco’s talent where he plays several instruments and also brings samples and his inimitable singing to the precisely textured climate.

Arriving near the end, “Five Miniatures For Solo Piano” enlists Arnaldo Pizzolante on acoustic piano and Pimpi Santistevan on whistle for the intimate gestures that can also get a bit more animated, and “Ghost Owner” exits the listen with Greco’s tenor sax prowess amid Juanma Trujillo’s electric guitar for the unpredictable jazz finish.

Also an author and photographer, this first record on his own showcases another avenue of Greco’s creativity that’s heartfelt, rich and beaming with a worldly flavor.

Travels well with: Minas- Beatles In Bossa; Randy Napoleon- Puppets: The Music Of Gregg Hill

Andy Adamson Quintet

A Coincidence Of Cats

Andros, 2022

8/10

Listen to A Coincidence Of Cats

The composer and musician Andy Adamson brings his diverse piano skills to this jazz and fusion focused listen, where Ross Huff handles trumpet and flugelhorn, Dan Bennett plays sax, Jonathan Taylor sits behind the drum kit and bass is expertly delivered by Brennan Andes.

The title track opens the listen with playful bass and firm keys, as the proficient drumming makes an indelible impression across the 7+ minutes of soulful sax and dreamy moments, and “Sagres By The Sea” flows with a more intimate approach of rich textures that weave in and out of elegance and warmth.

“Hummingbird” and “Lament” land in the middle, where the former emits a powerful tone of cautiousness that benefits from frisky brass, while the latter glows with a very emotive quailty that showcases the mature piano prowess.

Near the end, “Morning Star” illustrates superb chemistry between the quintet in a radiant landscape and “Triplet” exits the listen amid a more cinematic quality that bounces with a charm that could soundtrack a spy flick.

Inspiration for the 6 tracks comes from travel and the natural world, as Adamson and company make for an energetic, emotional and driving execution.

Travels well with: David Larsen- G2 And You; Kenny Shanker- Vortex

Sam Robbins

Bigger Than In Between

Self-Release, 2022

8/10

Listen to Bigger Than In Between

The New England native and former Voice contestant Sam Robbins sure delivers like an old soul, where parallels to the ‘70s won’t be hard to spot as Neilson Hubbard (drums, percussion), Michael Rinne (bass), Juan Solorzano (electric guitar, pedal steel) and Halley Neal (backing vocals, arrangements) help flesh out the thoughtful songs.

“Bigger Than In Between” starts the listen with very warm acoustic guitar alongside Robbins and Neal’s soft vocal harmonies in the intimate folk climate, and “Wouldn’t Change A Thing (Maybe It’s All Bullshit)” follows with more emphasis on drums as Robbins’ poetic singing unfolds alongside a mature, retro spirit.

Halfway through, “Will It Ever Feel” makes great use glowing steel amid the introspective landscape that certainly sounds like Nashville, where Robbins happens to live now, while “Easy To Blame” gets a bit more rugged in its darker demeanor that’s heavy on atmosphere.

Further yet, “Just One Cronkite” seems tailor made for late night mulling, where chilling backing vocals complement Robbins’ gentle guitar playing and dreamy song craft, and “Some Things Never Change” exits the listen with a sage like haze of cautious song craft.

An album penned during the quiet moments of the Covid lockdown, if legends like James Taylor, John Denver, and Jackson Browne have occupied any significant time in your life, Robbins’ wise and vintage yet modern approach to soft-rock warrants your attention, too.

Travels well with: Wes Collins- Jabberwockies; Connor Garvey- Another End Of A Year

Peter Kogan

Just Before Midnight

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Just Before Midnight

The veteran drummer and band leader Peter Kogan brings along some excellent help here, where a few different line ups accompany him across 9 originals that cover much territory in the area of jazz sounds.

“Pow, Pow, Pow, Pow- Yeah!” gets our attention immediately with its firm drumming and bright brass that moves at a frisky pace and flows with a soulful quality, and “Just Before Midnight (Etude #3)” follows with a calm spirit, where intimate keys lead right into energetic brass, furious drumming and a very adventurous, dreamy delivery.

In the middle, “Isle Of Kai” uses swirling guitar strategically in the very warm and reflective tone, while ”…And Another Thing (Etude #1)” flows with rich textures of agile and soaring, timeless jazz qualities.

Elsewhere, “The Winter Of Our Discontent (Etude #2)” benefits much from the bouncy bass work and glowing brass, and “Song Without A Word” exits the listen with Dominic Cheli on solo piano for a gorgeous and stirring finish.

A thriving listen with no lack of solos from Kogan, as well as from Jake Baldwin’s trumpet and Pete Whitman’s tenor sax, Just Before Midnight was rehearsed and performed outdoors during the pandemic and spans many reactions including resistance, compassion and reassurance. Kogan’s history in blues and rock certainly are in tact across the entire affair, too, which brings some much appreciated diversity.

Travels well with: Randy Napoleon- Puppets; Ben Markley Big Band- Ari’s Funhouse

Mathias Heise

Quadrillion

Giant Sheep, 2022

8/10

Listen to Quadrillion

A world class harmonica player who is also well versed in keyboards, Mathis Heise brings along Mads Christiansen (guitar), David Vang (bass) and Aksel Stadel Borum (drums), plus special guests, for this electrifying fusion affair that’s never short of soaring solos, proficient synth and firm beats.

The record leads with the dreamy keys and quick drumming of “Blue City”, where spirited guitar and playful bass lines make for a very stylish jazz fusion opener, and “Bad Luck” follows with a more rock focused template that showcases Heise’s strong harmonica prowess amid the energetic landscape.

Halfway through, “A Call From Quad” thumps warmly as intimacy and exploration meet at a mysterious intersection that you could certainly dance to, while “Carsten Kalder” focuses much on atmosphere amid the dynamic rhythm section, buzzing keys and strategic sound bites.

“Bisse Funk” arrives near the end and indeed finds plenty of grooves to reside in as the setting gets quite adventurous with its rich textures, and “Hopeful Monsters” exits the listen with 11+ minutes of cultured rhythm, spacey bouts and bright brass for the futurist and worldly jazz finish that sees the quartet swell to 9 players.

An extremely technical body of work, Heise and company flesh out an innovative and ambitious listen that nearly rewrites how jazz music can sound.

Travels well with: Quadro Nuevo- Odyssee- A Journey Into The Light; Andreas Hinterseher- Stay Away And Play!

Alpha Cat

Venus Smile

Aquamarine, 2022

9/10

Listen to Venus Smile

Alpha Cat is Elizabeth McCullough, who brings some very diverse sounds to this quick EP that welcomes an impressive cast of musicians who have played with REM, Lucinda Williams, Stevie Wonder and many others.

The title track opens the listen with Americana, pop and rock meeting at a very warm place, where breezy acoustic guitars and McCullough’s smooth, expressive singing makes an impression, and “Wichita” follows with a calm spirit that’s intimate and reflective and benefits much from Rich Feridun’s agile pedal steel guitar.

“Halfway” arrives at the halfway point, and showcases Jason Harrison Smith’s fluid drumming in a bit more rugged climate that has McCullough hitting some high notes, while “All In Your Head” is a bit more mysterious, with Doug Pettibone’s swirling guitar and Reggie McBride’s proficient bass that helps make this the best selection.

The listen ends with a live track, where “Armor” places Angela Babin on electric guitar for a meticulously textured and richly executed taste of their live show.

A record that carries themes of redemption and exhaustion, McCullough survived a decade long episode of depression, and the healing and separation that came with it has certainly affected her art in profound, captivating ways, as evidenced by this excellent listen.

Travels well with: Matt North- Bullies In The Backyard; Steve Dawson- at the bottom of a canyon in the branches of a tree

Evan Drybread

Tiger Tail

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Tiger Tail

The exceptional tenor and soprano saxophonist Even Drybread brings along an impressive cast of players for these 8 timeless jazz originals that take influence from legends like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane.

“Blackball” opens the listen with the brass meshing in flowing, playful and melodic ways, as Kenny Phelps handles the precise drumming on the timeless jazz delivery, and “High Priestess” follows with Scott Pazera’s skilled bass complementing the swift horns and acobatic drumming.

The title track occupies the middle spot and emits much influence from Coltrane in the ‘60s and showcases a 6/4 tenor melody that you can’t not admire, while “Atlantic Mirror” benefits much from Christopher Pitts’ intimate piano and Drybread’s stirring sax prowess in the very poetic landscape.

“Woodruff Place Town Hall” and “Waltse” exit the listen, where the former highlights Mark Buselli’s dynamic brass skill, and the latter finishes with the 2nd Pitts’ composition that’s full of stirring and reflective song craft.

From hard bop to fusion to moments of serenity, Drybread and company flesh out songs that will appeal to fans of jazz from any and all eras.

Travels well with: Chris Torkewitz- NY Ensembles; Gerry Eastman Trio- Trust Me

Lorie Bevins

The Mountain Of Joy Is A Valley Of Despair Downside Up

Cudighi, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Mountain Of Joy Is A Valley Of Despair Downside Up

A very peculiar and intriguing listen, the atypical electronica and synth-pop sounds here come from B. Van den Eynden in De Handhaving (Antwerp, BE) and Aria di Montagna (Carrara, IT), who, as Lorie Bevins, make for an unclassifiable and admirable 17 tracks.

“Cecille” opens the listen with a very playful, upbeat and twinkling display of electronic pop, and this creativity continues to unpredictable and dreamy “N1D”, as well as the hypnotic and lush textures of “Aged & Done”.

Deeper into the listen, the mysterious “Kould Lie Twoo” leads with a minimal approach before soft, soulful vocals enter the more rock focused climate, while ‘Postponed Delayed” hints at much earlier decades with its disco nods and flourishes of ‘70s grooves.

Further yet, “Why Learn Life, You Be A Wreck” uses vocals like an instrument in the warbly and radiant abstract pop delivery, and “Alain” exits the listen with a video game-esque feeling that’s quirky in all the best ways.

Yet another iconoclastic and aesthetically charming release on the Cudighi Records label, this eye catching cassette comes with a download code to accompany the outsider pop experience.

Travels well with: Pont á Mousson- Shelter!; Train Fantôme- Nous sommes dans un rêve

Asher & Jordan

Foliage

Crash Symbols, 2022

8/10

Listen to Foliage

A pair of highly esteemed Canadian experimental artists, Airick Asher Woodhead (aka Doldrums, Arbutus, Sub Pop, Endless) and Jordan Christoff (PJS duo with Patrick Dique) join together for a precisely lush, atypically rhythmic and spontaneous gestured excursion made on a zoom recorder, performed and composed live on the fly, with no screens or overdubbing.

“Ripples” starts the listen with a sci-fi glow that flows with a sonic, ambient quality that’s actually quite meditative, and this creativity continues to the title track, where a repetitive dreaminess is quite captivating in a hypnotic sort of way.

The middle track belongs to “Carol”, and it twinkles with plenty of psychedelic exploration that recruits both synthetic and organic qualities, while “Melting Bicycles” is a bit noisey and spacey in its brief execution.

“Docking” arrives near the end, and somehow sounds both nature-esque and otherworldly in its hazy warmth, and “Ambient Human Power Generation” exits the listen fully immersed in fuzzy, blurry, cosmic interplay that’s as fascinating as it is perplexing.

A truly unclassifiable effort that’s light and dark, bright and shady, earthy yet not always in the physical realm, you’ve probably never heard anything like Foliage before, and that’s a big part of its charm.

Travels well with: Cartoon Forest- Cartoon Forest II; Ben Wheeler- Lurji T’algha

The Mountain Goats

In League With Dragons

Merge, 2019

9/10

Listen to In League With Dragons

Whenever a new album from The Mountain Goats shows up, it’s never a question of if the record is good, but just how good it is against the massive back catalog that John Darnielle has assembled since the early ‘90s.

This 17th album from The Mountain Goats continues the theme of exploring interests of Darnielle’s in song, as fantasy, wizards and crime scenes are all referenced in this quasi rock opera.

“Done Bleeding” starts the listen with keys and crisp percussion in the introspective soft-rocker, and “Younger” follows with a strong sense of rhythm in the busy setting where saxophones are in attendance.

In the middle, “Possum By Night” recruits piano balladry with expressive vocals, while the acoustic strumming of the title track oozes melody. One of the album’s best, “Doc Gooden”, then glides with a folk shuffle as Darnielle departs from fiction to discuss baseball.

Near the end, “Cadaver Sniffing Dog” moves with a quick pace of playful fun and meticulous guitar solos, and “Sicilian Crest” ends the record with a throwback feel in the prog-rock nods that put an exclamation point on this highly creative effort.

A listen that’s a little strange, definitely nerdy, and entirely captivating, The Mountain Goats are proving that they’re nowhere near running out of ideas, as they continue to be one of the most unpredictable outfits in indie-rock.

Travels well with: John K. Samson- Winter Wheat; The Decemberists- The King Is Dead