Category Archives: Electronic

BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 5.

Best New Albums Of 2017 Part 5. Gjermund Larsen Trio-Salmeklang. Label: Heilo. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Gjermund Larsen Trio, they return with their fourth album Salmeklang. Just like previous albums, bandleader Gjermund Larsen writes most of the music on Salmeklang. The result is an album where the music is atmospheric, melodic album …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 6.

Best New Albums Of 2017 Part 6. Jon Balke and Siwan-Nahnou Houm. Label: ECM Records. Eight years after releasing their debut album Norwegian keyboardist, composer and arranger Jon Balke and Siwan return with Nahnou Houm, which marks the debut of the new lead singer Mona Boutchebak from Algeria. She joins a multitalented band and plays …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 7.

Best New Albums Of 2017 Part 7. Linda Perhacs-I’m A Harmony. Label: Omnivore Recordings. Three years after releasing her long-awaited and much-anticipated sophomore album The Soul of All Natural Things in 2014, the Queen of psychedelic folk Linda Perhacs returns with I’m A  Harmony. It’s a flawless genre-melting album that veers between ambient and atmospheric …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 8.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 8. Nordic Circles-Under The Clouds. Label: AMP Music and Records. Over the last few years, the Scandinavian jazz scene has been enjoying another golden period. Proof of that is Nordic Circles which is a relatively new Norwegian jazz project whose raison d’être is to create unique jazz recordings where well-known …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 9.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 9. Schneider-Kacirek-Radius Walk. Label: Bureau B. In 2017, two of the leading lights of the German music scene Schneider-Kacirek returned with their sophomore album Radius Walk. It features Sonia Jernberg on three soundscapes, which was something of a masterstroke, as she’s a truly talented singer who has honed her own inimitable …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 10.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 10. The Souljazz Orchestra-Under Burning Skies. Label: Strut Records. Fifteen years after The Souljazz Orchestra was founded in Ottawa, Canada, in 2002, they returned with their seventh album Under Burning Skies. It’s without doubt, the finest album of their career, which has been said before. However, with every album they …

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AKSAK MABOUL-UN PEU L’AME DES BANDITS-VINYL REISSUE.

Aksak Maboul-Un Peu de L’âme Des Bandits-Vinyl Reissue. Label: Crammed Discs. Nearly three years after releasing their seminal avant pop album, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine in the summer of 1977,  Aksak Maboul returned with their much-anticipated 1980 sophomore album Un Peu de L’âme Des Bandits. It was the first album Aksak Maboul released …

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FIRE!-THE HANDS.

Fire!-The Hands. Label: Rune Grammofon. When the Swedish power trio Fire! was founded ten years ago in 2008, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer and percussionist Andreas Werliin were determined to bring a new approach to improvised music which they were all passionate about. They also knew that their new band Fire! would …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 1.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 1. Airto Fogo-Airto Fogo. Label: Pharaway Sounds Three years after releasing the spiritual jazz classic Israel Suite/Dominante En Blue in 1973, Paris born drummer and percussionist Sylvain Krief returned with a new band Airto Fogo in 1976. They released their eponymous debut album on Decca later in 1976. Sadly, Airto …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 2.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 2. Cromwell-At The Gallop. Label: Got Kinda Lost Records. By 1975, Ireland had a vibrant music scene, and one of its rising stars Cromwell, was about to release its debut album, At The Gallop. It was an album guaranteed to get any party started, and feared an irresistible fusion of …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 3.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 3. Erasmo Carlos-Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 Label: Light In The Attic Records. When Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 was released in 1972, this was the last instalment in a trio of albums that featured Erasmo Carlos at his creative zenith. His bubblegum beginnings seemed a long time ago, and he was …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 4.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 4. Iggy Pop-The Idiot. Label: UMC. When Iggy Pop released his debut solo The Idiot in March 1977, it was a stylistic departure from the former leader of The Stooges. The Idiot seemed to have been influenced by Kraftwerk, James Brown and David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy. As for the title, …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 5.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 5. Melissa Manchester-Home To Myself, Bright Eyes, Melissa and Help Is On The Way. Label: BGO Records. Success didn’t come overnight for Melissa Manchester. She released her debut album Home To Myself in 1973, which was well received by critics, but reached just 156 in the US Billboard 200. In …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 6.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 6. Radiohead-OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 – 2017. Label: XL Recordings. In June 1997, post rock pioneers Radiohead released the album that transformed their career, and catapulted them to music’s premier league. OK Computer with its abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic range of disparate influences was very different to …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 2.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 2. Conrad Schnitzler-Filmmusik 2. Label: Bureau B. Filmmuzik 2, just like Filmmuzik 1, is the perfect starting place for newcomers to the music of Conrad Schnitzler. Both albums are a gateway to the rest of Conrad Schnitzler’s back-catalogue. These compilations will be the first step on a voyage of …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 4.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 4. Magnetband-Experimenteller Elektronik-Underground DDR 1984-1989.  Label: Bureau B. For anyone with even a passing interest in Eastern European music, then Magnetband-Experimenteller Elektronik-Underground DDR 1984-1989 is essential listening. It documents the five-year period before the reunification of Germany. During this period, artists, musicians, performers and poets became part of the …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 5.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 5 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins-The Planet Sessions.  Label: Ace Records. Inimitable and unique describe the late Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. He was one of the great musical showmen, whose performances were designed to leaving a lasting impression. They always succeeded in doing so. So did his music including the songs on The …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 6.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 6. The Monkees-Summer Of Love. Label: Rhino. Even today, The Monkees divides the opinion of many critics and record buyers. Partly that is because of the perception that The Monkees were a manufactured band that was the brainchild of television executives. Despite that, The Monkees went on to enjoy …

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THE BEST NORDIC WAVE RELEASES OF 2017-PART 1.

The Best Nordic Wave Albums Of 2017-Part 1. At this time of year, the lists of the best albums of the previous year are published. This year, a list of the best new albums, best reissues, best compilations and best box sets will be published. However, the first list covers the Nordic Wave albums released …

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THE BEST NORDIC WAVE RELEASES OF 2017-PART 2.

The Best Nordic Wave Releases Of 2017-Part 2. Danish String Quartet-Last Leaf. Label: ECM Records. Nowadays, the Danish String Quartet is regarded by many critics as the most exciting young string quartets in Europe, if not the world. They’ve been breathing new life and meaning into contemporary compositions and the classical repertoire. However, when the …

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