10/8/21 NEW RELEASES
BADBADNOTGOOD – Talk Memory LP/CD (XL) limited white vinyl
Canadian jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD comes through with the highly anticipated follow-up to 2016’s “IV”. Now a trio, BBNG continues their exploration of the spaces between jazz and hip-hop, but also takes a step back through their lineage of influence of soul jazz, early rock fusion and psych. “Talk Memory” features quite a few guests – most notably the Brazilian musical icon ARTHUR VEROCAI, who contributes to four of the album’s tracks – as well as KARRIEM RIGGINS, BRANDEE YOUNGER and LARAAJI, and these collaborations work to enliven the studio improvisations here. A stellar return that was absolutely worth the wait. RECOMMENDED.
JAIMIE BRANCH – Fly or Die Live LP (International Anthem) limited color vinyl
Chicago trumpeter & bandleader JAIMIE BRANCH recorded this live set in Zurich, Switzerland in January 2020, translating the improvisational, exploratory & fluid soul jazz of her “Fly or Die” records to the stage. Featuring support from CHICAGO UNDERGROUND DUO’s Chad Taylor on drums (and some killer thumb piano) as well as Lester St. Louis (cello) and Jason Ajemian (bass), the music performed here is focused on textures and rhythms, whether it’s thudding blues or floating five-accent hambone. Absolutely spectacular, and a great place to start with BRANCH’s International Anthem catalogue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
DOMINGAE – Ae LP (Sacred Bones)
FOLLAKZOID member Domingae recently moved to Mexico City & this is her debut solo album. Glitched-out minimal electronics & beats that all sort of live in the same digitized frequency realm. Like TV fuzz with a distant techno pulse & cut-up vocal samples. Pretty cool.
LALA LALA – I Want the Door to Open LP/CD/TAPE (Hardly Art)
Chicago’s Lillie West aka LALA LALA is back with her third album. With production help from Yoni Wolf of Why? & guest spots from members of OHMME, Sen Morimoto & Ben Gibbard of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, West has expanded her sonic palette quite a bit since the great 2018 album “Lamb.” The songs & confident & strong & it’s been a real treat to watch Lillie grow over the past few years. RECOMMENDED OF COURSE!!
KEDR LIVANSKIY – Liminal Soul LP/CD/TAPE (2M4)
We’ve been fans of the Russian electronic artist & producer Kedr Livanskiy since her first EP & “Liminal Soul” is her third full length album. Before lockdown Livanskiy toured pretty extensively around the world & during lockdown she returned to her DJing roots which influenced the making of this album. Her last album “Your Need” was a more hi-fi & accessible pop sound than her early lo-fi days & though this one is also hi-fi, the production seems more experimental & maybe more restrained & minimal. We’ve really enjoyed listening to this talented artist evolve over the years. RECOMMENDED!
STEPHEN – Radar of Small Dogs (Yellow Electric)
ATTENTION NEW ZEALAND/FLYING NUN FANS!! A very exciting reissue on Liz Harris’ (aka GROUPER) label Yellow Electric of the late 80s/early 90s recordings by the band STEPHEN. After THE CLEAN broke up, David Kilgour started the group & they released an EP on Flying Nun & started to record an album & then the band fizzled out. All of the band’s material has been remastered & included here along with a few live songs. Fans of THE CLEAN/David Kilgour will freak out when they discover that there’s another great album out there they didn’t know about. RECOMMENDED.
OTHER IMPORTANT RELEASES
ATMOSPHERE – Word? LP/CD (Rhymesayers)
BAD BRAINS – Rock For Light LP/TAPE (Bad Brains)
THE BEVIS FROND – Little Eden LP (Fire)
EFTERKLANG – Windflowers CD (City Slang) vinyl coming later this year
ESP SUMMER – Kingdom of Heaven LP (Disciples)
H.E.R. – H.E.R. LP (RCA)
MONO – Beyond the Past: Live in London 3LP (Temporary Residence) limited color or black vinyl
KEVIN MORBY – A Night at the Little Los Angeles LP (Dead Oceans) limited color or black vinyl
NEGATIVE APPROACH – 10 Song EP 7” (Touch & Go) very limited color vinyl
ANGEL OLSEN – Aisles TAPE (Jagjaguwar)
KELLY LEE OWENS – Inner Song Remix Series Vol. 1 & 2 12” (Smalltown Supersound)
TAME IMPALA – Currents LP (Interscope)
TARAKA – Welcome to Paradise Lost LP (Kanine) Taraka of PRINCE RAMA
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST – Low End Theory LP (Jive)