Foxy Digitalis
By creating sonic landscapes built around isolated communities and environments, Norman W. Long challenges listeners to consider the relationships between people and nature that exist in post-industrial urban environments where many Black and Brown communities live. Long’s earlier piece this year, Black Space in Winter, and his latest album, Black Brown Gray Green, especially configure these environmental […]
Lexagon, the music moniker of artist Alexa Burrell, has delivered one of the rawest, most powerful sonic statements of 2021 with Feminine Care. A beguiling mix of visceral bangers, experimental soundscapes, contemplative drones, downtempo hauntings, and everything in between, Burrell put all of herself into this record. The vulnerability shown is intense, sometimes difficult to listen […]
It’s always interesting to me when someone steps away from a project or moniker, especially if it’s got a decent-sized following and a fair bit of history. I might be alone in this, but whatever immediately follows that decision is something I want to investigate. Nick Zanca dropped his Mister Lies moniker and comes in […]
It may not be destiny exactly, but the trio of bassist James Ilgenfritz, drummer Brian Chase, and woodwinds specialist Robbie Lee coming together for an album of improvised excursions. Loss and Gain, out November 5 on Infrequent Seams, digs through free jazz-infused vestiges to find a trail of contemplation, vulnerability, and even moments of lighthearted expression. This […]
If Myriam Gendron’s debut album, Not So Deep As A Well, was a surprise, her new record, Ma délire – Songs of love, lost & found, is a revelation. Stripping songs to their core and rebuilding them with a unique vision and modern edge, Gendron’s music is faultless. Her work is woven with a sharp simplicity where […]
Something about the music Norm Chambers composes connects directly to my occipital lobe. I’ve been listening to his work for over ten years now and few artists’ work connects with me on as many levels. Chambers finds soft edges for angular music, using an array of machines to create lush soundworlds that are simultaneously futuristic […]
Intensity is a common theme that permeates Chicago saxophonist Mai Sugimoto’s work. Her debut solo album, Monologue, is one of the year’s most memorable sonic statements with its ferocious physicality and melodic sensibility. For music that might be difficult, I find it surprisingly approachable and engaging. Sugimoto’s skill is boundless as she can jump between different […]
It’s been a banner year for Byron Westbrook. Hands in the Dark released his evocative album, Distortion Hue, to start the year and it set the standard. His most recent album, Mirror View, comes via Ash International and is a surprise departure that pays off. Utilizing field recordings, sound installation works, and other sonic elements, Westbrook offers […]
Emma Palm’s No Translation project first came across my radar thanks to Matthew Sage’s fantastic longform streaming series last summer. Her performance was captivating in its gentleness and vulnerability. After that, I began digging into her work on Bandcamp and immediately purchased her first Music For Postcards release. The visual element to her work is striking in […]