When music moves us, it can do so in many different ways. Music can inspire and incite, spark joy, trigger memories, it can console, it can consolidate. Music can be an awakening, it can shake us out of our numbness. It can be a much needed reminder of the many things that are not right in the world, but music can also help us imagine it as a much better place.
These and many others reasons are why people turn to music even when the world is in various stages of turmoil and unrest. It is why music -- and art, literature, film -- remains important for many of us while we also recognize there are larger concerns. Because music is mental and emotional sustenance
I've tried to convey those sentiments, implicitly or explicitly, in my reviews. Although arguably not always successfully so. Speaking of which, below is a list of music I've covered in writing from April through June (Jan. through March can be found here), followed by a list, of sorts, of 50 of my favorite recordings released so far this year. That list could've been longer, but I had to stop somewhere.
PS: Depending on future developments, this may be the last entry on this blog for the foreseeable future. Granted, it hasn't seen a lot of activity at all over the past decade, my focus having been on paid published work. Still, I have debated moving my online presence to a different, more professional platform/site altogether for a while, but seeing as writing in any form has become increasingly emotionally taxing for me over the past few years -- took me three days to finalize and publish this post, and the stakes aren't particularly high, to put it mildly -- I've shelved that plan for the time being. Who knows what the future holds.
These and many others reasons are why people turn to music even when the world is in various stages of turmoil and unrest. It is why music -- and art, literature, film -- remains important for many of us while we also recognize there are larger concerns. Because music is mental and emotional sustenance
I've tried to convey those sentiments, implicitly or explicitly, in my reviews. Although arguably not always successfully so. Speaking of which, below is a list of music I've covered in writing from April through June (Jan. through March can be found here), followed by a list, of sorts, of 50 of my favorite recordings released so far this year. That list could've been longer, but I had to stop somewhere.
PS: Depending on future developments, this may be the last entry on this blog for the foreseeable future. Granted, it hasn't seen a lot of activity at all over the past decade, my focus having been on paid published work. Still, I have debated moving my online presence to a different, more professional platform/site altogether for a while, but seeing as writing in any form has become increasingly emotionally taxing for me over the past few years -- took me three days to finalize and publish this post, and the stakes aren't particularly high, to put it mildly -- I've shelved that plan for the time being. Who knows what the future holds.
- Fire! Orchestra: Actions (Rune Grammofon) + Krzysztof Penderecki Musikkmagasinet/Klassekapmen, April 6., 2020.
- Superposition: Superposition (We Jazz Records) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen April 20., 2020
- Cameron / Carter / Håker Flaten: Tau Ceti (Astral Spirits) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen April 27., 2020.
- Master Oogway: Earth and Other Worlds (Rune Grammofon)Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen April 27., 2020
- Mats Eilertsen Trio + Trio Mediæval: Memorabilia (NXN Recordings) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen May 11., 2020.
- Anna Högberg Attack: Lena (Omlott) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen May 18., 2020.
- John Pål Inderberg Trio: Radio Inderberg (AMP Music & Records) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen May 25., 2020
- Hegge: Feeling (Particular Recordings) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen May 25., 2020.
- Ambrose Akinmusire: On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note Records/Universal) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen June 8., 2020.
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Hero Trio (Whirlwind Records) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekmapen, June 22., 2020.
- Matthew Shipp: The Piano Equation (Tao Forms) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, June 29., 2020.
- Daniel Carter, Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure! Vol. 1 (577 Records) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen June 29., 2020.
- Albert Ayler: New Grass [vinyl reissue] (Third Man Records) Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, June 29., 2020.
- "Uten sikkerhetsnett: Risikoen ved et liv i jazzen" Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen May 11., 2020.
- "Fritt etter folkemusikk" Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen June 29., 2020.
50 notable music releases of 2020 so far:
Voyager Golden Record candidates
- Gard Nilssen Supersonic Orchestra: If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (ODIN)
- Aly Keita, Jan Galega Brönnimann, Lucas Niggli: Kalan Teban (Intakt)
- Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
- Matthew Shipp: The Paino Equation (Tao Forms)
- Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud (Merge)
Heavy rotation
- Run the Jewels: RJ4 (Jewel Runners)
- Andreas Røysum Ensemble: Andreas Røysum Ensemble (Motvind Records)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Hero Trio (Whirlwind Records)
- Okkyoung Lee: Yeo-Neun (Shelter Press)
- Ambrose Akinmusire: On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note Records/Universal)
- Shopping: All or Nothing (Fatcat Records)
- Anna Högberg Attack: Lena (Omlott)
- Aksak Maboul: Figures (Crammed Disc)
- Fiona Apple: Fetch the Bolt Cutters (Epic)
- Torbjörn Zetterberg & Den Stora Frågan: Are You Happy? (Moserobie Recordings)
- Brandon Seabrook with Cooper-Moore and Gerald Cleaver: Exultations (Astral Spirits)
- Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia)
- Horse Lords: The Common Task (Northen Spy)
- No Age: Goons Be Gone (Drag City)
- Wendy Eisienberg: Dehiscence (Wendy Eisienberg)
Thoroughly enjoying
- Hegge: Feeling (Particular Recordings)
- Lisa Mezzacappa Six: Cosmicomics (Queen Bee Records)
- Sigurd Hole: Lys/Mørke (Elvesang)
- Shabaka and the Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse!)
- Wako: Wako (Øra Fonogram)
- Erlend Apneseth: Fragmentarium (Hubro)
- Daniel Carter, Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure! Vol. 1 (577 Records)
- Jim Black Trio: Reckon (Intakt)
- X: ALPHABETLAND (Fat Possum)
- John Pål Inderberg Trio: Radio Inderberg (AMP Music & Records)
- Moses Sumney: Græ (Jagjaguwar)
- Cameron / Carter / Håker Flaten: Tau Ceti (Astral Spirits)
- Daniel Romano's Outfit: Daniel Romano's Outfit Do (What Could Have Been) "Infidels" by Bob Dyaln & The Plugz (self-released)
- Dave Sewelson: More Music For a Free World (self released)
- Lina Allemano's Ohrenschmaus: Rats and Mice (Lumo Records)
- Beauty Pill: Please Advice (Northern Spy)
- Tim Berne's Snakeoil: The Fantastic Mrs. 10 (Intakt)
- Hedvig Mollestad: Ekhidna (Rune Grammofon)
- Inland Empire: Inland Empire (Clean Feed)
- Large Unit Fendika: EthioBraz (PNL)
- McPhee/Rempis/Reid/Lopez/Nilssen-Love: Of Things Beyond Thule volume 1 (Aerophonic)
- Heroes Are Gang Leaders: Artificial Happiness Button (Ropeadope)
- James Brandon Lewis & Chad Taylor: Live in Willisau (Intakt)
- Mark Lomax, II & The Urban Art Ensemble: 400 Year Suite (CFG Multimedia)
- Roots Magic: Take Root Among the Stars (Clean Feed)
- James Carney Sextet: Pure Heart (Sunnyside Records)
- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways to Italy (Sub Pop)
- Lopez Trio: Triptych (self-released)
- Claire Rousay: A Heavenly Touch (Already Dead)
- Field Music: Making a New World (Memphis Industries)
1 comment:
Thanks for the list of music you are listening and enjoying-it coincides with some of my tastes so its extremely helpful to see some artist i had not heard of. Looking forward to seeing your year end stuff.
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