Music Wrap: The Best of February
- Jack Jones
- Mar 6, 2019
- 4 min read
I said in my January monthly wrap, I didn't know how to judge a month of music. There were more albums in February that I enjoyed, so I guess it was a strong month for music? Or maybe I paid more attention. I don't know these introductions are stupid.
Albums
Seagull – A Voice in the Ward
Seagull is the alt folk project of Melbourne singer-songwriter Chris Bolton. His new album A Voice in the Ward takes Botlon’s emotionally rich story-telling and melancholic, atmospheric instrumentation and amplifies it. On this record, Bolton approaches themes many artists would leave untapped. This combined with his ability as a wordsmith and some inspired instrumental arrangements, results in an oftentimes confronting, yet hypnotic and powerful, collection of songs.
Kankyō Ongaku - Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990
I’ve been down a few too many (or arguably not enough) YouTube rabbit-holes of Japanese new age and avant-garde music from this time, so it’s no surprise I was excited by this Light in the Attic compilation, and it did not disappoint. Remarkably, I’m still yet to hear the full version of this which features Japanese electronic legends like Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yellow Magic Orchestra. But the digital release on streaming services and Bandcamp is still a stunning entry of minimalist avant-garde and new age Japanese music.
U-Bahn – S/T
Everything from their ostentatiously geeky art rock aesthetic to the five-member set-up of Melbourne band U-Bahn screams Devo. In many ways, however, this comparison sells them quite short. On their unabashedly off-kilter self-titled debut, U-Bahn manage to do a really good job of harnessing what made bands like Devo great, while still sounding fresh, and like they’re bringing something new to the table. It’s fair to say that modern society, with its macho world leaders and bro culture under the microscope, gives them plenty of ammunition in that regard, and it will be exciting to see where they go from here.
Nicholas Allbrook - wabi sabi bruto bruta
Pond frontman Nicholas Allbrook’s new solo album is a best of both worlds’ scenario. Understandably, in their last few records, Pond have gone down the synth path of neo-psychedelia, which has undoubtedly brought them a lot of market success, but in my (controversial) opinion, seems to limit creativity. On Nick’s new solo album, this approach is completely stripped away, which allows his eccentric nature to flourish while Pond can continue their gravitation towards synthpop. The result is a gloriously weird, hard-to-pin-down-but-maybe-psychedelic-folk(?) collection of songs.
Houssam Gania – Mosawi Swiri
Houssam Gania is the son of Maalem Mahmoud Gania, and I won’t pretend to be aware of his father’s music, but if Houssam takes any influence from him – I’m interested. Playing highly transcendental Gnawa music (spiritual ancient African Islamic music and currently Moroccan tradition) and centred around the Gnawa instruments the guembri (a three-stringed rectangular lute often compared to a bass guitar) and krakebs (an iron castanet-like instrument), the rhythms on this record are extremely infectious and memorable.
McKisko – Southerly
Brisbane singer-songwriter Helen Franzamann’s last McKisko album was released more than five years ago. Her latest, meticulously-sculpted alternative folk effort is a hauntingly beautiful and emotionally dense effort. Titled Southerly to match a number of the themes of water throughout, the album combines a inspired songwriting and instrumentation, and haunting ambience too, and similar to the aforementioned Seagull album (fittingly Chris Bolton provides vocals and instrumentation on here), offers a strong look into the fragility of the human mind.
Nivhek – After Its Own Death / Walking in a Spiral Towards the House
Speaking of haunting ambience, that’s what Liz Harris (Grouper) is renowned for. Such is her status as one of the best there currently is in ambient and drone music, any Harris release is bound to raise eyebrows. Her surprise project under the new pseudonym Nivhek maintains the sombre and minimalist instrumentation but is largely focused on cymbals throughout. Harris has become a highly reliable musician, and the reverb-laden dreamscapes on this record represent some of her best work in years.
Songs
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Flat Tummy Tea
Several years in the making, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib finally came out with a single to follow-up their brilliant 2014 project Piñata. If this is a taste of what’s to come on follow-up project Bandana, we should be expecting an extremely strong sophomore collaboration album.
Maurice Louca – The Leper
The opening track of Egyptian avant-garde jazz artist Maurice Louca’s new album is without a doubt the strongest. Repetitious, multi-layered and coloured instrumentation builds up an exciting peak. My favourite jazz composition of the month.
Yugen Blakrok – Picture Box
South African hip-hop artist Yugen Blakrok describes herself as a “sorceress who casts hexes with words and sound waves”. A fittingly interesting description for one of the most intriguing in the genre right now. This was the pick of the bunch from her really strong new conscious hip-hop offering.
Negative Gears – U.M.
Now even more relevant thematically, this track by Sydney post-punkers Negative Gears from their debut EP at the start of the month goes after now-convicted paedophile George Pell. With snarling instrumentals and biting lyricism, the track is the commentary the situation deserved.
Crumb – Part III
The latest offering from New York indie pop group Crumb is more of the head-bobbing, toe-tapping neo-psychedelia-tinged dream pop that has come to be expected from the group.
Diät – Foreign Policy
A surprising number of originally Australian artists have found success in Europe, and more particularly in Germany, and even more particularly, in Berlin. This track off post-punk outfit Diät’s new record tackles some familiar themes which you might be able to infer from the title.
RAS_G & THE AFRIKAN SPACE PROGRAM – Harambee 2 the Sun
A catchy track with some memorable and quotable sample choices off the DJ’s new EP, ‘Dance of the Cosmos’.
Comments