ØXN, the experimental doom folk band comprising Radie Peat, Katie Kim, John ‘Spud’ Murphy and Eleanor Myler, open this week’s KLOF mixtape with their epic nine-and-a-half minute long single, ‘Cruel Mother’. The track features on CYRM, their debut album to be released on Friday, 27th October.
ØXN say of the track: “‘Cruel Mother’ is a traditional song, possibly originating from the mid-18th century, intended at the time as a cautionary tale. Women were considered criminals if they had illegitimate children; were considered demonic rather than suffering from mental illness or distress. It’s a song of persecution, abuse, infantilism and guilt based on the version by Andy the Doorbum.”
We’ve also got new music from:
Bex Burch, taken from her highly anticipated solo album There is only love and fear on International Anthem (20th October).
Liam Grant, with a track from Amoskeag (reviewed here). As Glenn said in his review, this follow-up to his 2021 debut does not disappoint. The whole thing is so well-played and highly creative that it’ll have you hooked.
Joseph Allred‘s new album, New Jerusalem – The album is available for pre-order and will be released on October 27th. It will be available digitally, as well as part of a 200-copy vinyl pressing. Joseph Allred isn’t sure how many albums they have released. It is thought to be in the neighbourhood of twenty-two, not counting collaborations, digital-only, and split releases. Most of these are rooted in Appalachian folklore, mystic spirituality, a love for guitar soli, and a reverence for Robbie Basho. New Jerusalem is no exception, but with this album, Allred has recontextualized these elements and presents them in grand fashion. (Bandcamp)
Anouar Brahem‘s 2009 ECM release, The Astounding Eyes of Rita.
From the latest Imaginational Anthem – vol. XII: I Thought I Told You – A Yorkshire Tribute to Michael Chapman (20 October 2023 on Tompkins Square), which we reviewed here – “Holly Blackshaw sings a gorgeous, ethereal version of March Rain from Fully Qualified Survivor. Her choice of high reverb on electric guitar and strings brings a unique atmosphere to the song.”
You Are Wolf‘s latest single, Blue Men, from their third album, ‘hare // hunter // moth // ghost’ on November 3rd 2023, on Firecrest Records (Bandcamp). In case you missed it, Kerry is our latest Off the Shelf guest…
I totally LOVED doing this! Big cheers to the wonderful @FRUK for the support. Read on for an EXCLUSIVE insight into the workings of my mind via books, sticks, copious @JackieMorrisArt works, and animal butts (yes, you read that right)! https://t.co/P2SaHlBIBs
— Dr Kerry Andrew (@drkerryandrew) October 13, 2023
Released earlier this year on Hidden Notes Records was a great collaborative project by the contemporary/experimental chamber quartet Spindle Ensemble and the veteran Canadian ensemble Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan.
The unique partnership came about after a chance meeting between Harriet Riley (Spindle Ensemble/Paraorchestra) and Chris Hull (ECCG) whilst they were both studying gamelan in Bali, an encounter which resulted in the Spindle Ensemble heading out to Canada to meet the rest of the Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan. Both groups spent a week together rehearsing a set of new repertoire, culminating in a live performance at 918 Bathurst Street Art Centre, Toronto – Bandcamp.
Plinth – from Music for Smalls Lighthouse – this was Plith’s first full-length album for Second Language. Plinth is the pseudonym of Michael Tanner, a composer, writer and musician based in the south of England – Bandcamp.
Finally, released last month on California’s Constellation Tatsu, a track from Thousand Bells by Yui Onodera and Takashi Kokubo.
Music Played
ØXN – Cruel Mother
Bex Burch – Dawn blessings
Liam Grant – Androscogging River Ragg
Joseph Allred – Wine Song
Anouar Brahem – Al Birwa
Holly Blackshaw – March Rain
You Are Wolf – Blue Men
Spindle Ensemble and Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan – Lucid Living
Plinth – Message In The Village
Yui Onodera and Takashi Kokubo – Thousand Bells 1