News
The 18-year-old Palestinian oud virtuoso Samih Madhoun has released “Oud Music from Gaza Volume 2”, a profound testament to the enduring power of art in the face of unimaginable adversity. Recorded entirely in the Gaza Strip, throughout you can hear the everyday sounds of life, including ambulance sirens, rubble being moved and cleared, a reminder of the unchecked hell the Palestinians face.
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.
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.
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.
Recorded during last year’s 4-night residency at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, Bill Callahan has released ‘What a Night!’, a live digital 12-track album. Accompanied by Jim White on drums, watch the live video for Cowboy, which is completely unlike the studio version on 2020’s ‘Gold Record’. Bill Callahan’s UK/EU Tour kicks off today.
Rival Consoles has released “Soft Gradient Beckons” from his new album, Landscape from Memory. The single features a breathtaking stop-motion video by Anthony Dickenson, who spent several months painstakingly hand-painting every frame to create a fluid visual piece that offers a quietly pulsing rhythm.
Eiko Ishibashi and Jim O’Rourke have announced their fifth collaborative album, Pareidolia (August 29th, Drag City). Alongside the announcement, they have shared the title track and an accompanying video, directed by Mark Focus. The human tendency to perceive meaningful images in random patterns is known as pareidolia. It’s a concept that perfectly captures the essence of this new release.