The Northern Belle

Bats In The Attic

Die With Your Boots On, 2024

9/10

Listen to Bats In The Attic

A seminal outfit of the Nordicana scene, The Northern Belle bring Cardigans friendly pop, indie balladry and southern rock ideas to these sometimes cosmic 11 tracks.

The warm, folk fueled acoustic guitar of “Astral Plane” opens the listen with Stine Andreassen’s gorgeous vocals alongside Trym Gjermundbo’s cozy drumming, and “Treat Yourself Better” follows with a crisp and harmonic delivery of breezy melodies and flowing song craft.

Further along, “Stargazer” offers a dreamy moment of hazy melodies, where Andreassen’s rich voice is met with layered guitars, while “Our Own Frequency” welcomes Bjørnar Ekse Brandseth’s glowing pedal steel to the distinct version of Americana that invites an immediate sing-along quality.

Close to the end, “Hell & Back” embraces indie-pop ideas via its sugary sweet delivery, and “Grow Up” exits with a gentle intimacy, where a heartfelt bareness populates the minimal finish.

Also in the band are Johanne Flottorp (hardanger fiddle, harmonies), Ole-André Sjøgren (guitars, harmonies) and Marie Tveiten (guitars, harmonies), and together they’re making a timeless brand of Norwegian Americana that should resonate worldwide.

Travels well with: Bjorn Tomren- Bad Science Fiction; Darling West- Cosmos

Ches Smith

Laugh Ash

Pyroclastic, 2024

10/10

Listen to Laugh Ash

The drummer and composer Ches Smith brings a wealth of diverse influences to these unpredictable 9 tracks that welcome an excellent ensemble for the avant-garde affair.

The rich and mysterious “Minimalism” begins the listen, and injects Shara Lunon’s distinct voice into Smith’s buzzing electronics and the bright winds, and “Remote Convivial” follows with Anna Webber’s flowing flute that complements the adventurous drumming from Smith.

Further along, the textured “Shaken, Stirred Silence” put a unique spin on minimalism, where Shahzad Ismaily’s cozy bass is met with expressive, wordless singing that embraces beats, too, while “The Most Fucked” is an abstract take on electro-pop meets chamber-rock, where plenty of hip-hop ideas reside as well.

Close to the end, “Disco Inferred” focuses much on James Brandon Lewis’ atypical sax bouts, Nate Wooley’s animated trumpet and Oscar Noriega’s clarinet acrobatics for the album’s best, and “Exit Shivers” finishes with an experimental approach to jazz that flirts with doom metal and iconoclastic forms of classical song craft.

Smith handles electronics, programming, vibes, drums, tubular bells, glockenspiel, timpani, tam tam, and metal percussion, and the superb cast he’s with help flesh out this truly unclassifiable listening experience that you’ll be in awe of.

Travels well with: Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio- Jet Black; Aline Homzy- Éclipse

Euclid Quartet

Breve

Afinat, 2024

9/10

Listen to Breve

The always impressive Euclid Quartet return with a sophomore album on the Afinat label, where the 11 single movement pieces all retain their own distinct and rich tone.

Mozart’s “Adagio And Fugue In C Minor, K. 546” starts the listen with Jameson Cooper and Aviva Hakanoglu’s stirring violins alongside Luis Enrique Vargas’ stirring viola for the firm versus bare moments, and “Metro Chabacano”, by Javier Alvarez, follows with swift and bright string interaction that welcomes Brendan Shea’s animated violin.

Further along, the warm and intimate William Bolcom track, “Graceful Ghost Rag”, comes with plenty of emotion and beauty, especially from Justin Goldsmith’s cello, while Gershwin’s “Lullaby” emits stunning and uplifting dynamics between the quartet’s inimitable playing.

Arriving near the end, “Langsamer Satz”, by Anton Webern, recruits Jacqueline Choi’s gripping cello that complements the sweeping strings and strong attention to mood, and Joaquin Turina’s “La Oración del Torero, Op. 34” exits with gripping, textured string manipulation that tugs on the heartstrings.

A outfit who are celebrating 25 years together, the selections here span 3 centuries, have accompanied the Euclid Quartet across their entire journey, and are flawlessly executed in their timeless and articulate chamber vision.

Travels well with: Boston Modern Orchestra Project- Joan Tower Piano Concerto- Homage To Beethoven; Olivia Pérez-Collellmir- Olivia

The Steven Husted Quartet

Standards And Then Some

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Standards And Then Some

The bassist and composer Steven Husted brings along Dayna Stephens, Damian Garcia and Israel Yanez for this 3rd release as bandleader, where a return to his acoustic jazz roots sure is appreciated.

“It’s You Or No One” opens the listen with Yanez’s fluid drumming and Stephens’ glowing sax complementing Husted’s skilled bass plucking, and “Brainteaser” follows with a calm approach of graceful keys from Garcia, as soft melodies enter the cautious landscape.

In the middle, “Dena’s Lullabye” showcases the meticulous bass amid soulful brass, while “Sno’ Peas is a rich and colorful album highlight that benefits much from the dancing keys and skilled sax that suit Husted’s strategic bass prowess. The final track, “Normandie Gardens”, starts with an intimate, dreamy mood, where all the players demonstrate their respective talents via the thoughtful textures.

The standards and originals blend together seamlessly here, as Husted and company create the sort of jazz that will always be in demand and admired.

Travels well with: Peter Jonatan- Psalms Symphony; John Ellis Quartet- Bizet: Carmen In Jazz

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

Tidal Currents: East Meets West

Chronograph, 2024

8/10

Listen to Tidal Currents: East Meets West

The first community based, non-profit, professional jazz ensemble in Canada, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra return with a 7th release, where commissions from Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen- two of the country’s finest in the area of Big Band jazz- spans out across 4 tracks.

“Inside The Wave” starts the listen with strong attention to mood, where Matthew Walden’s bright trumpet and Fabio Ragnelli’s meticulous drum highlight the soaring sounds that surround the west coast and oceans of Sooke, B.C., and “Crossing Lachine” follows with Niall Cade’s radiant tenor sax complementing the dynamic interaction of the Jensen piece that’s inspired by her love of paddle boarding.

The back half of the listen brings us Will Boness’ piano, Karl Kohut’s bass, Ragnelli’s drums and muted brass for the most intimate selection that makes great use of Jensen’s glowing soprano sax, while “Rock Skipping Under Half Moon” recruits plenty of mystery and beauty that touches on Jensens’s younger years skipping rocks, where the waltz builds into a textured and dizzying finish.

A very intricate listen that’s rooted in nature, the WJO bring a wealth of brass to this unpredictable and memorable listen that’s as creative as it is timeless.

Travels well with: Casey MacGill- Love Letter; John Herberman- Spring Comes Early

The Rightly So

Vanduro

Self-Released, 2019

10/10

Listen to Vanduro

A duo from Buffalo, New York who live in their homemade RV and crisscross America playing shows along the way, Greg Zeis and Jess Chizuk tell us stories of life on road, both the highs and lows, on this charming, wise 2nd album.

“Black And Blue” starts the listen with easy going acoustic strumming and expressive vocals that resonate like timeless folk music, and “You Can Bet On Me” follows with a more rugged approach to their back to basics prowess as Jess Chizuk’s pretty vocals soar amid a crunchy back drop.

A record where every tune is a stand out, “All These Things” recruits a country spirit in its fluid and swift delivery, while “Dying Day” flows with a warm Americana spirit that will bring you back to the best days of Whiskeytown. "Nothing But The Weather” one of the best of the best, glides with a campfire-esque feeling where organs relly add to the atmosphere that details the downside of the pair’s nomadic life.

Near the end, “The Lucky Ones” plug in the guitar for a more forceful version of their cautions approach, and “Not Coming Home” ends the listen on a vocally harmonic and strong exit of rural beauty.

Though there’s no shortage of outfits playing this kind of alt-country meet Americana, The Rightly So do it much better than most of their peers, and this sophomore LP is certainly a contender for record of the year.

Travels well with: Blind Pilot- 3 Rounds And A Sound; The Lumineers- The Lumineers