I am off an on with techno, but if it’s cold and minimalistic, it’s going to have my attention. MTD and Tracy are two DJs working out of Verona, Italy, and are part of one of Italy’s finest minimal techno labels, Sonntag Morgen, one worth keeping an eye on as their releases have been so consistently good.
MP3s
[Music] Cooper Raines – Storyland
My friend Cooper Raines goes by so many aliases (and yes, this, too, is an alias) that it’s sometimes hard to keep track of his work. This brand-new release, however, really stands out as a charming paean to old experimental cassette culture and the better, more cheeky work that bands like Nurse With Wound would make.
[Music] Daniel Dorobantu – Pamantul Straveziu
Our friend Daniel Dorobantu, whose ambient electronic work as a solo artist and with his group Thy Veils never ceases to impress, has a new video and release out. You can purchase this at his Bandcamp site.
[Music] The Cyclist Conspiracy – Mashallah Plan – Virility EP
I thank my old friend Mileta of the ever-stunning Serbian-language music blog valtazarzauberquelle, who turned me on to a band whom he perfectly described as a Byzantine psychedelic groove band. It’s as if Popol Vuh stumbled into Orthodoxy instead of Eastern mysticism.
To read Mileta’s review, click here.
[Music] Jos Smolders – Nowhere: Exercises in Modular Synthesis and Field Recording
Many years ago, well before I had access to the Internet, I used to collect experimental music cassettes. One of the groups I enjoyed most was a Dutch collective called THU20, who featured Jos Smolders, who was also partially responsible for the seminal VITAL WEEKLY series of newsletters which, to this day, feeds my interest for new experimental music. This is Jos’ newest release, from the Portuguese label Crónica Electrónica, and it’s a lovely piece of work. Pay specific attention to track #3, which is dedicated to yours truly, a most humbling honor from a decent and talented man.
[Music] Pahat Kengät – Sormesi Koskettavat
I’ve had the pleasure of writing about Pahat Kengät before, as they’ve become one of my favorite minimalist projects currently operation today. They return to this blog with two tracks that sit comfortably between Reich’s syncopation and a calming, humming drone. Another gem of a release.
[Music] Jeff Gburek – With Conscious Impurity (Coptic Clusters)
The final post of 2016 is one of the most beautiful to my years. Many thanks to Jeff Gburek for some fine releases, and thanks to the readership for their friendship, their patience and the suggestions for music. Next year, we will add interviews to the website. I won’t post as much simply because the new job will be taking a lot of time, but expect me to point you to some amazing things. More to come soon, but for now, may you and yours enjoy the night in peace, and may you wake up to something better.
[Music] Gralitsa – Upon A Circle, Upon A Gold
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After a track on Soundcloud, I decided to purchase this mini-LP from Gralitsa, a musician whose work crosses the genres of world music, post-rock, progressive rock and soundtrack music with great ease. It’s worth picking up.
[Music] Various Artists – 12 Dubs of Xmas
Dub and reggae are wonderfully adaptable. This compilation by NICE UP! Records is half-way through Advent, and there are six more freebies to come.
[Music] Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath – Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath
If you ever wanted to know what Black Sabbath would sound like as a Latino-influenced metal band, now’s your chance. Brownout do a great job re-interpreting the masters.