I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about Submarine Bells, but putting all that aside for the moment, ICYMI there's a new single by The Smile called "Bending Hectic."
It's 8 minutes long, and doesn't really get going until the 6-minute mark, but these guys are really old now so they need a little more time than they did back in the old Radiohead days. Still no word on the new album's release date, but it'll probably be before the year is out. Maybe in time for Christmas! ๐ Rumor has it the title will be You'll Never Guess What This Album's Title Is But It Will Totally Bum You Out Regardless, though that might just be someone having a bit of lulz on Reddit.
It's 8 minutes long, and doesn't really get going until the 6-minute mark, but these guys are really old now so they need a little more time than they did back in the old Radiohead days.
I've always liked it slow. I've never liked it fast. It's not because I'm old. I just like to make it last. _________________ follow me on the bandcamp.
Now, there's all the new music, and some is excellent, and then there's the new Arthur Russell archival release. In a class of its own.
Looking forward to giving this a spin. Hopefully this weekend ๐ โ reviews all seem excellent.
(And re: your last post, Bendik Giske's s/t is one of the year's best. Hypnotically carnal.
I have a handful of recent recs, but I'll admit my listening was a little light in Juneโ
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Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? by Wild Up
The most recent Eastman instalment from Wild Up landed way below radarโ and while it's an excellent new chapter in the collective's project, it definitely feels like it punches a little lower than the previous two. Don't get me wrongโ it's greatโ but there's a slight steam lost on this one. Not quite sure what's missing (maybe rehearsing was rushed? โ slight lack of personality? Can't pinpoint it). It's not a harsh critique though, still one of the year's best releases. Should Vol. 1 through (however many of these they make) become a compilation, it deserves to be hailed as an astounding opus.
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Green LP by Moshimoshi
While I'm not too into post-hardcore/grindcore, etc, I couldn't help but keep saying to myself "yeahโ this is really nice". Finnish group, some shoegaze/dream-pop influenceโ surprisingly... relaxing? (For an album that's yelling at you). Gets a rec from me.
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The Sacred Thousand by Lubomyr Melnyk
New Lubomyr Melnykโ letter to Ukraine. Another completely under-the-radar release (haven't seen a blip of it anywhere). It's just one composition really, played twice (a couple days apart). The live version is slightly superior, but the studio one certainly has a better mix. I understand why they released both. Similar to my opinions on Wild Up's latest, this isn't Melnyk's best (by a long shot) but it's still a beautiful work.
Living High In The Brass Empire by Mitchum Yacoub
This one just dropped yesterdayโ really tight afrobeat rhythms from Egypt (well, San Diego). Dynamic, energetic, animatedโ the funk punches you every once in a while. Great young collective of musicians Yacoub's whipped up on this. Band's just as vibrant as Africa 70. Some of the Latam-ish vocal tracks are an unorthodox fusion, but I suppose they work. Good stuff.
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Uday Shankar Company Of Hindu Musicians...nd Company
As long as you don't mind some dust crackle, these recordings from 1937 might be the first studio-cut Hindustani tracks ever made in the USA. The fact that it's just so good is a bonus. Shame this has been buried for so long. This deserved a reissue/wide-release/remastering decades ago. Bit of history, but also just a gem of an album.
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Subhana by ุงุญู ุฏ ุจู ุนูู [Ahmed Ben Ali]
Libyan reggae. If this is sounding familiar, it's because Habibi released an 'EP'-esque couple of tracks by Ahmed Ben Ali in 2020 also called Subhana (too short to put on BEA). Luckily, they added some more meat to it and created what's really an excellent experience. Doesn't come across as a North African trying to squeeze reggae out of the desertโ it's really its own thing. Has a really slick vibe to it.
New King Krule was decent, kinda glazed over it though. Might give it a relisten. Janelle Monae punched under her weight, but she still made a nice album I suppose. Squid brought some nice heat, dug that one too. (Need to listen to it again though). Amaarae dropped a surprisingly strong album tooโ really enjoyed that one. I'm not too big on her baby-girl voice, but the grooves on it are great. Some really fun tracks in the mix. Jonny Greenwood / Dudu Tassa collab was great (little better than I even thought it would be). New Jason Isbell wasn't my thing. Likewise the super-meh Kaytraminรฉ. New Pantayo was really boring too. Pretty solid Tabaco comp dropped, dug that. Likewise with Jantra's Sudanese synth release. (Think that's about it?) โ I've skipped the new Killer Mike for the time being, but I'll probably get around to it eventually.
Always appreciate the recap Hayden. This Finnish moshimoshi math/post rock/hardcore is pretty damn good, excellent find.
In other news, Swans and Gira continue doing their thing and doing it very well. If you've got 2 hours to spare, of course. _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
One of the wackiest metal records I've heard lately. Not all of it works, but give it a try if you're into jazzy, brutal/avant prog inspired death metal. Some of the trumpet and sax solos absolutely rip. _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? by Wild Up
The most recent Eastman instalment from Wild Up landed way below radarโ and while it's an excellent new chapter in the collective's project, it definitely feels like it punches a little lower than the previous two. Don't get me wrongโ it's greatโ but there's a slight steam lost on this one. Not quite sure what's missing (maybe rehearsing was rushed? โ slight lack of personality? Can't pinpoint it). It's not a harsh critique though, still one of the year's best releases. Should Vol. 1 through (however many of these they make) become a compilation, it deserves to be hailed as an astounding opus.
Janelle Monae punched under her weight, but she still made a nice album I suppose. ... Amaarae dropped a surprisingly strong album tooโ really enjoyed that one. I'm not too big on her baby-girl voice, but the grooves on it are great. Some really fun tracks in the mix. Jonny Greenwood / Dudu Tassa collab was great (little better than I even thought it would be).
EDIT: And this is too short to add to the site, but it's a bit of funโ the MF DOOM SUiTE.
I disagree about Julius Eastman Vol. 3 (except for the "below radar" part). The project has been amazing so far and this release contains some of the most well-known Eastman works. And I think Wild Up knocks it out of the park on those. Among the 3 tracks, #2 was not known to me before jumping into this album, and I'd say that's the weakest, possibly one of the weakest from all 3 volumes so far. If they go through recording all of Eastman's work then wow, that would be an incredible compilation.
Agreed about Janelle Monae & Amaarae. The Dudu Tassa / Jonny Greenwood album was a bit meh for me, but Greenwood has always been hit-or-miss for me.
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