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Inspired by the modal compositions of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century German abbess, interdisciplinary artist Fletcher Tucker has shared “To Light A Fire,” the powerful second single from his forthcoming album, Kin. The track, a compelling fusion of animistic verse and hypnotic drones, features notable contributions from Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie) and Spencer Owen.
Modern Nature returns with “Source,” a new single from their anticipated album The Heat Warps, out August 29th. The politically-charged track confronts the 2024 UK riots directed at asylum seekers, sparked by online misinformation. Frontman Jack Cooper notes that amidst the hate, he saw a desperation for community, which he turned into a strangely uplifting song.
The Archivists (2020) is a Canadian short film directed by Igor Drljaca that explores how artistic creation is the ultimate expression of our interconnectedness. Set in a dystopian future where past art is forbidden, the film follows three musicians who discover a secret room in an abandoned home containing vinyl records and a gramophone. Selecting one of the albums to play, they are inspired to perform one of the songs.
Colombian-born, US-based artist Lucrecia Dalt has released “caes,” the third single from her forthcoming album, A Danger to Ourselves. The track, a powerful collaboration with Mexican singer and sound artist Camille Mandoki, is a stark and intense exploration of raw human emotion. The accompanying video, filmed between Dalt’s new home in the Southwestern US and Mandoki’s base in Mexico City, visually interprets the song’s theme of surrender.
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.”