Albums

While Small Medium Large, the exploratory kosmische jazz debut from SML (Anna Butterss, Jeremiah Chiu, Josh Johnson, Booker Stardrum & Gregory Uhlmann) contains unexpected multitudes, even at its most complex moments, it remains bright and airy, reflecting an impressive and sincere unity to their playing.

The overall sound of The Key tends toward a hard-edged, rocky sub-species of post-punk, but in Chris Corsano’s hands, everything is up for grabs, and those genres become mutable and malleable…not a moment of it is anything less than engaging, and it is frequently astonishing.

With What Is Not Strange? Tashi Wada has announced himself as a truly distinctive voice, capable of creating experimental music on the most human level.

Gabriel Birnbaum’s ‘Patron Saint of Tireless Losers’ is haunted by subtilty, shade and shadows, he seems to know the landscape and the landmarks well.

Theoretical in its conception and yet broadly humanist in its appeal, Black Decelerant’s Reflections Vol. 2 serves as a timely reminder that music of resistance doesn’t have to be overly simple or one-dimensional. This is art as nuanced argument, challenging and often beautiful.

Tor Invocation Band’s ‘Medicine’ travels through a borderless realm of traditional folk, ambient, heavy psych, noise and free jazz. But it hangs together admirably under Jake Blanchard’s guiding hand, proof that the most uncompromising music can also be an absolute pleasure to listen to.

Elijah Minnelli’s Perpetual Musket is a highly unusual release, but brilliantly executed and bitingly relevant. And after one or two listens, you’ll never think about reggae or folk music in the same way again.

David Weir reports back from his time in the Cambrian Mountains at Fire in the Mountain festival – Being non-corporate, not-for-profit and volunteer-run, the difference between Fire in the Mountain and many other festivals is obvious from the outset. 

How in-sync this star-studded collaboration is with the spirit of Sun Ra; Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra succeeds in playing like a transmission from the stars, a deep space echo and chime…lay back and wait for lift off; what bliss.

Swamp Dogg’s ‘Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St’ is a warm and absorbing mix of the new and old, an attention-grabbing seamless blend of bluegrass/country and soul, topped off with Swamp Dogg’s underrated persuasive vocal delivery and unique presence.

On Beehive Cathedral, Joseph Decosimo, Luke Richardson, and Cleek Schrey take tunes they love and make them as strong and dynamic as possible while maintaining the spirit and the magic that has kept them alive for so long.

The inherent musicality of Afghan Music In Exile: Mashhad 2022 make it the perfect gateway into Afghanistan’s rich musical history and an essential conduit for ensuring that the voices of the artists involved are heard and not forgotten.