[Music] Departure Street – Two Islands in the Heart

Departure Street is American/French guitarist Allan J. Kimmel.  Reading his bio on the Bandcamp release page, he calls his work neo-folk.  I thought it a strange term, as I normally associate it with dark bands who worked with music that would set well with fans of bands like Death In June, Current 93 and the like.  Giving this a couple of listens, perhaps there is some connection there.  What I hear a bit more strongly is a sound that compares well with contemporary guitarists like Cousin Silas.  This has floaty, pleasant feel to it.  Worth a third or fourth listen, definitely.

From Allan’s Bandcamp page:

Departure Street, AKA Allan J. Kimmel, creates tranquil electric guitar meditations that sprawl and explore like the hungry tendrils of an aggressive ivy.

Kimmel, who hails from both America and France, has filled this record with nothing but vividly surreal instrumental soundscapes, which are comprised purely of his multi-tracked and effects-laden solo guitar. Across the record’s nine tracks, Kimmel takes his unique brand of psychedelic loner-folk, and stirs in elements of reverb-heavy ambient music, cosmic American primitivism and even some Middle Eastern folk traditions. The resulting brew is a heady yet mellow mix that glides along with a pleasant ease.

While the album feels like one large suite, “Ascension” is certainly a highlight. David Gilmour-esque slide guitar coasts through slow waves of spacey, repetitive riffs, all while Kimmel laces melancholic solos across the entirety of the piece. There’s a heavy atmosphere in “Ascension,” and it makes you think about people and places that you’re nostalgic for, or pleasant dreams that you’ve once had. It’s certainly a comforting recording, but there is some sort of loss hidden just below the surface.

Two Islands in the Heart is a complex record despite its minimalist approach, and it’s an unexpectedly emotionally charged one, as well. If you are a fan of Steve Palmer’s latest record, Cian Nugent or David Grubbs, then you need this album.

[Music] Yeong Choi – Pizzapi

The cover art grabbed my attention, I have to admit.  This is one of those times where I probably would have passed this up without the shockingly surreal cover art and cheesy tune titles, but I’m glad I stopped by.  Yeong Choi is a pianist, programmer and composer from Seoul, South Korea who puts up an album that has a feel like a soundtrack for a new, more acid-laden version of Alice In Wonderland.  Quite good, this.

[Music] Penguin Cafe – Handfuls of Night (Erased Tapes) — Headphone Commute

Label: Erased Tapes Released: October 2019 Mastered By: Zino Mikorey If You Like: Nils Frahm, Ólafur Arnalds, Lubomyr Melnyk, and Peter Broderick Bandcamp Tidal Spotify Amazon Growing up, I used to love waking up on Saturday mornings to peculiar sounds of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra playing downstairs paired with the sweet smell of pancakes wafting…

via Penguin Cafe – Handfuls of Night (Erased Tapes) — Headphone Commute

[Music] Art Zoyd – Génération Sans Futur

I must have been about 17 years old when a disc called Symphonie pour le jour où brûleront les citésMusique pour l’Odyssée and Archives 1, performed by a band I had never heard of called Art Zoyd, kept staring me in the face, while I heard voices in my wallet saying, “Take it.”  I had just recently discovered Univers Zero, a contemporary band, and was told by the ever-knowledgeable staff at Rhino Records in Claremont, California, that it was a winner.  Indeed, it was, and it was unlike anything I had ever heard up until that point.  Chamber-rock wasn’t in my vocabulary at the time, but that would be the term which fit the band best.  It’s good to see this album in its proper form, but I really do hope that Sub Rosa, who took the time to do such a wonderful job producing this disc, re-releases Art Zoyd’s whole back catalog, including bonus tracks.  Each disc has been worth it.

[Music] Djam Karet – The Devouring

I’m particularly pleased to be reviewing this album, as it comes from a VERY local band.  They were living in city of Claremont, California, a college town minutes from my home, and the drummer, Chuck Oken, Jr., owns Rhino Records, by far the best independent record shop in the Inland Empire.  It was the first place I whet my appetite in new music.  Also, the fact that it’s on Cuneiform Records, who were based not too far from me (in Silver Springs, Maryland) when I my then-wife and I lived in Germantown.  It’s so nice to see this album being offered by the label.
Djam Karet are a progressive rock band, but I saw the comparisons to Pink Floyd off-putting.  Floyd is Floyd.  Karet is Karet.  There may be points of commonality here and there, but Djam Karet drift off into a more exploratory mode of long rock improvisations.  If there is anyone who DJ should be compared with, I’d reckon it would be King Crimson between 1973 and 1981, though without the intricacy of Adrian Belew’s guitar skronk.  This is exceptionally good prog, even after 22 years.

[Music] Silent Island – Rapa Nui EP


It’s been some time since we heard from our friend and Silent Island guitarist István Csarnogurszky, so when he told us he had a new EP out, we jumped at the chance to give it a listen.

It’s a shimmering as ever.  Relaxed, confident progressive rock instrumentals infused with a more modern post-rock feel.  There are elements of jazz fusion, albeit of a more smooth variety.

Another peach from István and crew!