Alex Gallacher
Alex Gallacher
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of KLOF Mag - I keep things running here and put together the playlists and mixes.
Los Angeles-based songwriter Swimming Bell, the musical project of Katie Schottland, has released a surreal new music video for “95 At Night,” a standout track from her latest EP, Somnia. Directed by Christopher Good, the video is a hypnotic visual journey that draws heavily on Maya Deren’s seminal 1943 experimental film, Meshes of the Afternoon.
Decades after their conception during Thatcher’s reign, Mike Cooper re-releases “Law And Order” and “Our Emotional Style.” A stark protest titled “Requiem For The UK”, the songs use “cut-up” lyrics from Pynchon novels and improvised guitar. Cooper states that despite years of political change, “nothing has changed,” giving these sonic poems a renewed poignancy.
Grace Stewart-Skinner’s “Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie” is a remarkable debut. Its greatest strength lies in her fusion of the personal and the historical, where family heirlooms, such as poems from a beloved grandfather, become the foundation for a wider community archive. It not only preserves the Avochie dialect for future generations but also celebrates the spirit, humour, and resilience of the community that shaped it.
Listen to the latest Monday Morning Brew playlist featuring music from Grace Stewart-Skinner, Joshua Burnside & Laura Quirke, DUG, Big Thief, Anna Mieke, Cerys Hafana, Sam Amidon, Ye Vagabonds, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Afel Bocoum, Astrachan, Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, Brandee Younger, Hayden Pedigo, S.G. Goodman and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Tenniscoats, Alastair Galbraith, Natalia Beylis, Floating Action, Blue Lake and Dana Gavanski.
Known for his starry-eyed lofi folk-rock, Chicago-based artist Astrachan has today shared his thoughtful new single, “Picture of Doubt.” The track unfurls with a hazy, disoriented atmosphere, its lyrics navigating a profound sense of uncertainty. Recorded on a Tascam 388, the tangible warmth of ¼-inch tape lends the song a punchy, vintage character, creating a groove that feels both immediate and timeless.
Celebrated traditional musicians Cormac Begley and Liam O’Connor release their new album this month, Into the Loam. Listen to the opening track “Ryan’s Rant”, which, like the album, creatively engages with tradition, seeking to forge something new. The traditional reel is offered as a tribute to the legendary Dublin fiddler Tommie Potts, who “continually pushed the boundaries of genre and expression.”
Since we last spoke to folklorist, researcher and performer Derek Piotr, his fieldwork archive has expanded from 300 to nearly 1,300 recordings of folksongs, poetry, memories, interviews, and tales. As part of a sponsorship behind the project this year, he is issuing a non-commercial CD titled “Absolutely Not for Sale.”
Acclaimed Welsh composer Cerys Hafana unveils their third album, Angel, a deep exploration of minimalism and avant-folk centred on the Welsh triple harp. Joined by a trio of exploratory musicians, Hafana blends traditional Welsh song with contemporary Breton rhythms on the spellbinding first single, “Helynt Ryfeddol,” confirming their place as a vital innovator.
Sound artist BJ Nilsen returns with True than Nature, out August 29 via Ideologic Organ. Drawing inspiration from Jean-Paul Sartre, the album uses field recordings to craft immersive, unstable soundscapes that challenge our perception of reality. Nilsen invites listeners on a disorienting journey, questioning the nature of what we hear and the worlds we imagine.
Renowned for her formidable and boundary-pushing cello improvisations, South Korean artist Okkyung Lee is taking a surprising turn with her newly announced album, Just Like Any Other Day (어느날): Background Music For Your Mundane Activities. The lead single, the charmingly titled “good morning, harrison, it’s time to go,” offers a first glimpse into this new, intentionally understated sound world.
Irish composer Caimin Gilmore (Crash Ensemble) unveils “MVE I,” the latest single from his forthcoming debut album, BlackGate, an instrumental, genre-fluid journey featuring renowned cellist Kate Ellis and harpist Lavinia Meijer. The track highlights Gilmore’s flowing orchestration, weaving a pulsing harp melody with arpeggiated strings and the unique colouring of a vintage Yamaha DX7 synthesiser, offering a captivating glimpse into the record.