The whole house has covid (mostly for the first time) and the insomnia is not one of the symptoms I’d been expecting, but here I am, so might as well get started early!
Here’s what I’m lining up to listen to:
Action Bronson - Cocodrillo Turbo
Gourmand rapper with an album inspired by body surfing and his love of the water (“Fuck, That’s Wet” coming soon to a TV near you?)
Batu - Opal
Hefty, ruminative, percussive techno explorations on a first full LP from the UK bass producer and Timedance label head.
Congotronics International - Where’s The One?
Collab album between members of Congolese acts Konono Nº1 and Kasai All stars with Western avant-rock artists Deerhoof, Juana Molina, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, and Skeletons’ Matt Mehlan.
Ebi Soda - Honk If You’re Sad
UK jazz scene group with a record of “psychedelia, dissonance, serene ambient passages, tough, neck-snapping beats and lush textures underscored by the intersection of jazz, hip hop and electronic music”. Yazz Ahmed joins for one track.
Kehlani - Blue Water Road
Sensuous R&B with features from Thundercat, Justin Bieber and Jessie Reyez.
Kelly Lee Owens - Lp.8
Welsh tech house/art pop star defies maths with her 8th album directly following her 2nd. Channeling Enya and Throbbing Gristle is the hype is to be believed.
KMRU & Aho Ssan - Limen
Collaboration between Kenyan sound artist Joseph Kamaru (KMRU) and French digital alchemist Niamké Désiré (Aho Ssan) for Berlin Atonal festival which goes against each artist’s minimalist tendencies and experiments with volume, physicality, and intense emotionality.
Let’s Eat Grandma - Two Ribbons
Highly anticipated third album from the synth-pop duo, the first since 2018’s I’m All Ears - this forum’s second favourite album of that year based on the big poll.
Miranda Lambert - Palomino
In probably not a first for the genre, one of country music’s best singer-songwriters turns out an album loosely themed around ragtag nomadic travellers.
Oumou Sangaré - Timbuktu
Malian blues from one of the country’s greatest singers.
Pierre Kwenders - José Louis and Paradox of Love
“A genre-hopping, border-straddling record from Canadian-via-Kinshasa multi-hyphenate Pierre Kwenders featuringcontributions from Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Regine Chassagne as well as Tendai Maraire of Shabazz Palaces”.
Sofi Tukker - Wet Tennis
Vibrant dance pop bangers.
Susanna - Elevation
“a thematic sequel to her 2020 album ‘Baudelaire & Piano’ based on the 19th century French poet’s work. ‘Elevation’ is an atmospheric layering of spoken-word passages and spectral drones and hiss provided by collaborators Delphine Dora and Stina Stjern”
Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt
American jazz standards interpreted by pianist and composer Hamasyan.
Toma Kami - Amapicante
Always got time in my schedule for a Livity Sound EP; I’m expecting some visceral UK Funky percussive techno.
William Basinski & Janek Schaefer - “ . . . on reflection"
Delicate piano passages, flickering melodies and drawn out drones that really sink you in deep.
What else have you got?
- from LA label Astral Plane: