Into the Distance 107

 

Brekky Boy - Setsuko, album review

Propulsive Lyricism

This is lyrically propulsive - delicate, pretty piano runs/repetitions that suddenly burst open percusively, as with the title track where the percussion joins the fray and the piano then competes with its own punchiness towards the crescendo: then stop, and twinkle (with effects) out. Clever and immersive sounds.

Into the Distance Music 106

 

Blank Gloss - Melt, album review

Reverb

Hypnotic and haunting. Good haunting: reverberations that seem to be coming anew to remind of a past.

No Face Music 57

 

Jon Durant - Crossings, album review

Spaced and Looped

The two guitarists – Jon Durant: fretless guitar, cloud guitar, effects / Stephan Thelen: electric guitar, e-bow, loops & effects – work together across the lockdown distances of Portland, Oregon, USA to Oberrieden, Switzerland and produce an atmospheric, electric ambience that reminds of Robert Fripp and David Gilmour (I’m sure there’s more but I hear these two). Its strength is obviously in the composition and playing, but the effects give it a spaced dimension across the pulses and loops.

No Face Music 56

 

Daniel Romano - Fully Plugged In, album review

Beautiful Homage

This is a shameless, successful and gorgeous homage to the sound of The Beatles in its harmonies and orchestrations and vocal verisimilitude. It is of that lush Beatles' sound - but it is a sound rather than any pastiche or echo of familiar melodies, and for this it is a sweet listen. I'm sure there would and will be a time when I want something more dangerous, but here writing in a morning quietude, the soothing is spot on.

'Fire in the Street' Official Music Video - Kaya Street

Potent song; rousing video; impressive collaborations

Kaya Street - Dancing Into Darkness Official Music Video

No Face Music 55

 

Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Superwolves, album review

Popsicle Surprise

This is such a fine album – consistently so. Will Oldham’s distinctive vocal is prominent, as is the mainly self-harmonising, as beautiful as that he has performed over the years with so many others. Matthew Sweeney’s guitar work is as fulsome as it is varied, from folk finger picking (e.g. I am a Youth Inclined to Ramble, though this becomes loudly electrified) to more resonant and at times haunting playing. The lyrics are rich in evocation and mystery – always the surprises. An early favourite for its sweetness, musically and lyrically, is My Popsicle. Sublime.