Casablanca, Morocco isn’t the first place I would think of as being a global melting pot, but that is because I didn’t ever have a chance to deeply explore the city. It turns out that there is a tremendous amount of influence, not only of local culture, but that of West Africa, Asia, and even elements of music from the United States like jazz, blues and hip-hop. Enter saib., a guitarist who manages to flow easily from genre to genre, making this album sound like a combination of North African groove, a touch of bossa nova and mellow jazz, underpinned by a meaty loops.
Music Reviews
[Music] Christine Ott – TABU
Gizeh Records is a very interesting label. I can’t say I adore every single release, but I have come to the realization that artists like Aidan Baker and Christine Ott will produce solid release after solid release. TABU features one of the most brilliant instruments ever designed during the 20th Century, the ondes martenot, and Ott uses it to full effect, creating soundscapes whose feel verges on the oceanic. A heavy, lovely release.
[Music] Thabang Tabane – Matjale
Malombo is a style of music I have never had the chance to come in contact with until today. South African drummer Thabang Tabane is the son of Dr. Philip Nchipi Tabane, considered to be a master of the genre, and Thabang is apparently doing a fine job continuing the family tradition.
[Music] Fuzzkrank – Fuzzkrank
[Music] Heathertoes & Hopek Quirin – Travelling And Its Outgrowing Motives
Heathertoes is my old friend Hubert’s post-industrial/experimental project. He is collaborating on this release with Hopek Quirin, and the sound is reminiscent of 1980s cassette culture at its best.
[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!
[Music] Maryam Sirvan – Untamed Terror
Eerie is not nearly powerful enough to describe the hellish soundscape that Maryam Sirvan produces on this record. It is as if Pierre Henry decided to do an ethnographic recording tracing Dante’s footsteps inside of Hell. Brooding, powerful soundscapes.
[Music] Bandcamp Daily: Ifriqiyya Électrique’s Healing Sound Melds Tunisian Banga Ritual With Post-Industrial Noise
April 5 will be a big day in this house, as the French-Tunisian troupe Ifriqiyya Électrique will be dropping a new album. Bandcamp Daily’s Catalina Maria Johnson does a fine job prepping us for this momentous event. To be honest, I’m surprised more music isn’t coming from Tunis, a place which has a rich musical heritage. If there are more musicians like this running around Tunis or in the diaspora, it’d be great to hear them.
[Music] Haav – Nord
One track is all we have to work with from Norwegian composer Haav (Harald Øgaard out of Bergen, Norway), but if this is a taste of what will be coming in Spring of 2019, I’m looking forward to hearing a full album’s worth. Heavy, claustrophobic ambient. This really envelops you.
[Music] Jim Perkins & Tom Gaisford – Byrds
It’s not everyday that you see a single of classical music released, but this reinterpretation of the works of 16th and 17th Century English composer William Byrd, ably handled by Jim Perkins & Tom Gaisford, even features a remix by Leah Kardos of Byrd’s Kyrie. Bigo & Twigetti continue to knock it out of the park in terms of quality releases.
For a more in-depth review, consider visiting our friends over at a closer listen.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 