Virtuosic modular synth fantasy and emo-rapture from Italian composer Caterina Barbieri, venturing the 2nd release on her Light-years label after its Lyra Pramuk-starring lead single.
Kali Malone - Living Torch
Contemporary drone visionary Kali Malone gathers a new, electroacoustic ensemble for her new album that straddles early music, 20th century American minimalism, electronic drone and widescreen soundtrack formulations.
Katy J Pearson - Sound of the Morning
Follow-up to 2020’s excellent debut.
Various Artists - Crossroads Kenya: East African Benga and Rumba, 1980-1985
First international compilation of rare, sizzling 45s from the golden era of benga and rumba, circa the ‘70s/‘80s and the East African epicentre of Nairobi’s studios and recording facilities
Yes I’m listening to this one right now and like it a lot. Bit like The Comet Is Coming (mainly instrumentals with sax top line) but slightly more industrial sounding.
New Wave Pictures album is out on vinyl today (I think some or all of it has been available on streaming for a while). They’ve been treading water over recent records, but what I’ve heard of the new one has been excellent.
Sniffany & The Nits - The Unscratchable Itch
Squally female-fronted four-piece punk racket from London, featuring members of Joanna Gruesome, Ex-Void & The Tubs.
Think only Wu-Lu is on my list today. Cross genre mashing singer/rapper from London. His singles to date have been an interesting mix of styles, so interested to see where this goes.
South African jazz drummer (who you may have heard propelling Shabaka Hutchings’ Ancestors) with a bombastic, maximalist record with a sextet of instrumentalists (including Malcolm Jiyane who put it a great album last year) plus a nine piece choir.
Semi-legendary lost album from 2001 gets a belated release. A big one for me personally because the only time I saw him was before this was due out and he played a load of songs off it which sounded great, but then he decided not to release it and put out Are You Passionate instead, which was a terrible dog of a record. Hoping for lots of long loose Crazy Horse jams.
12th album from the singer songwriter - don’t think she’s likely to veer (sorry) much at this stage in her career but likely some more lovely tunes FFO her other albums.