Dead People "We Love" (2022)

We Love [debut]

release date: Nov. 11, 2022

format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]

producer: Dead People

label: Universal Music - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Safety Lines" - 2. "River" - 3. "Stay Dead" - 4. "We All Fall" - 5. "Black Hole" - 6. "Life Is Good" - 7. "Kiss This Goodbye"

Studio album debut by this Swedish 'super-group' consisting of the three Swedes, Joakim Berg - former frontman of Kent, Anna Ternheim - alt. folk and singer / songwriter soloist, and Malcolm Pardon, producer, composer and former bassist of British band Kinky Machine, member of Swedish band, Girlsmen, and part of the duo, Roll the Dice. Apparently, this project is one of the many established collaborations that has come about due to COVID-19 restrictions and via networking from a personal home base. Under his own name, Pardon released his ambient and electronic solo album Hello Death in Juli '21. Berg had been writing songs for movies and other artists, and he also launched his first actual solo album Jag fortsätter glömma (May this year), and Ternheim released her most recent album A Space for Lost Time in 2019. As Dead People, the three managed to issue several singles from mid '21 until late '22 without revealing their actual identities. They were known as Mother and Two Sons, and they wrote and composed music for the Netflix film "Black Crab" by Adam Berg (Joakim's brother).

Musically, this sounds like nothing else the three have previously been involved in. Perhaps, Berg comes closest with the synthpop sound of late Kent, but here all songs have vocals by Ternheim with occassional male backing vocals by Pardon, and the music is by the three together. Stylewise it's something you would refer to as light indie pop, and the singles that were released individually from mid-'21 to mid-'22 are all included on the album.

We Love is not new musical territory. In fact, it sounds a bit like a lot of other artists, and with a style of light mainstream pop it doesn't appeal all that much to me, but it's well-executed and nicely produced music. The album contains 10 tracks and has a rather short total running time at just under 35 minutes.

[ 👍Aftonbladet 3 / 5 stars ]

Veronica Maggio "Och som vanligt händer det något hemskt" (2022)

Och som vanligt händer det något hemskt

release date: May 22, 2022

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]

producer: Agrin Rahmani, Simon Hassle

label: Universal - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 2. "Se mig" - 3. "Låt mig gå" - 5. "Varsomhelst / Närsomhelst" - 6. "Höghusdrömmar" - 8. "Förlorat mot världen" - 9. "Var är du?" - 10. "Heaven med dig"

7th studio album by Veronica Maggio following 2½ years after Fiender är tråkigt (Oct. 2019) is once again mainly produced by Rahmani and Hassle. Actually, half of the album (six tracks) with the subtitle Kapitel 1 was released as a 6-track EP as early as Oct. 2021 - this was a first half of the full albums total of 12 tracks but released in the following order: #12, #9, #2, #5, #11, and #8, and as of May 22, the full-length album was issued, though no Kapitel 2 has been released, so if you purchased the EP and only need the remaining tracks, only option is download, or to buy the full album. This is modern and smart marketing! It's almost a natural consequence that Maggio's albums top the Swedish albums chart, but she's not only popular at home, as she in Feb. 2022 reportedly was the first artist to round 1 billion streaming hits for a Swedish-language-only performer.

Then how is the new album from one of the most popular Swedish artists? It's really everything you have come to expect. Maggio goes in the obvious direction. Popularity points and off she goes! Sales numbers are probably glowing hot and live shows will be sold out, but imho, it has become too much of what we've already heard before. As Håkan Steen in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet commented in May '22: 'she has nearly become too skilled in sounding like herself'. And then this marketing smartness really is an new player. Six tracks were issued half a year earlier as promotion gimmick, which would have been sort of Okay had they released the first half but by picking a different running order makes it bothersome, and then in addition, another four new tracks were released as singles from Mar. to May as small dripples from what was to come, so when the full album finally was released, all but two songs had already been issued. That's smart isn't it?! And not really helpful for fans - and I'm not really the strongest one there, so I just awaited the full album, but still feel fans are not treated well with this bothersome initiative. Anyway, I'm not impressed by this new outing, and frankly, I find it a dull and almost mediocre reproduction of her most recent two albums - perhaps because I normally really enjoy her albums. Even the two highlighted songs "Låt mig gå" and "Var är du?" sound a bit too familiar, and you may think they were part of one of her other albums.

Not her best, but still better than most contemporary pop albums.

[ 👍Aftonbladet 3 / 5 stars ]

Papir "7" (2022)

7

release date: Jan. 14, 2022

format: digital (4 x file, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]

producer: Lars Lundholm (rec.]; Troels Bech [mast.]; Papir [mix.]

label: Stickman Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "7.1 (part I-III)" - 2. "7.2" - 4. "7.4"

7th studio album by Papir following close to three years after VI (May 2019) is the band's third album on Stickman. This new album comes with four compositions and with a total running time at nearly 41 mins. The first track - consisting of three parts - is by far the longest with a running time at almost 20 mins, whereas the three remainders are all well under 10 mins each. Also being released on vinyl, the first track takes up all of the A-side, with the three shorter tracks filling the B-side, it seems natural if all three would have been labelled '7.II (part I-III)' - but they're not. Perhaps the band just think of them as too different, or they want to have you ponder in the dark?

7 is yet another instrumental journey within a post-rock universe but it's also something new to this trio as dreampop-founded AND without the space rock characteristics. Track "7.3" is literally ambient, and that's taking it a bit too far for my taste, but they have successfully tuned down on the fabulating instrumental excess and instead found a calm and slow evolving progress, which to me, sounds as an improvement.

In my ears, this is bliss and it's also the band's so far best album.

[ bandcamp ]

[ 👉SputnikMusic 4 / 5 stars ]

Mazzy Star "Among My Swan" (1996)

Among My Swan
release date: Oct. 29, 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: David Roback, Hope Sandoval
label: Capitol Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Disappear" - 2. "Flowers in December" (4 / 5) (live) - 3. "Rhymes of an Hour" - 5. "Take Everything" - 7. "All Your Sisters" - 8. "I've Been Let Down"

3rd studio album by Mazzy Star follows (another) three years after their sophomore So Tonight That I Might See (1993). All songs here are credited David Roback and Hope Sandoval.

The album introduces a change of style as the album is primarily founded on the use of acoustic guitars instead of the feedback electric guitar sound on the first two albums, and the bond to both the 'baroque pop' of the '60s as well as to Velvet Underground has been accentuated.

The album produced the UK top-40 single "Flowers in December" but apart from that the album was seen as a lesser album, and also music critics seemed less drawn to the change of style.

After the release, the band went on a live tour and also began work on a follow-up, but they found the demands of the record label management intolerable with "the money people" interfering in their creative craftmanship and Sandoval and Roback eventually asked to be released from their contractual obligations. Without officially dissolving, the band went on a hiatus in '97 that should last fourteen years and Among My Swan was eventually followed by the fourth album in 2013, Seasons of Your Day.

I find this one on a completely different level than the first two albums. It simply tastes too much of the '60s. It's good but not really essential.

[ allmusic.com 3.5 / 5 stars ]

Grant-Lee Phillips "All That You Can Dream" (2022)

All That You Can Dream

release date: May 20, 2022

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,60]

producer: Grant-Lee Phillips

label: Yep Roc - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 3. "Peace Is a Delicate Thing" - 4. "All That You Can Dream" - 5. "Rats in a Barrel" (acoustic live performance) - 8. "You Can't Hide" - 9. "My Eyes Have Seen" - 10. "Remember This" - 11. "All by Heart"

11th studio album by Grant-Lee Phillips following 20 months after Lightning, Show Us Your Stuff (Sep. 2020). Phillips has long time ago taken hold of his own music management including the release of his music on his own label, and that is usually something that echoes into the music from artists who works in this controlled manner. Grant-Lee has also found his own expression, which stays close to a preferred path and in the case of this newest outing, it's almost like the sequel to his 2020 album. That doesn't make it a lesser album because it implies worked-through compositions where lesser is more in terms of arrangements and accompanying musicians - things just add up as meaningful music. Grant-Lee performs as a multi-instrumentalist, which of course makes the recordings an easier process, and he has teamed up with a few recurring instrumentalists, which count Eric Heywood on pedal steel and guitarist, Jennifer Condos on bass and with Jay Bellerose on drums, who all played on Phillips' 2020 album.

Despite a narrow field of instruments, it never feels uninspiring nor repetitious, and that's some sign of craftmanship, which proves his worth as composer as well as arranger. Also the mixing and production has the traits of live recordings in the studio, where you sense a presence of the vocalist and of the strumming of a guitar.

I like it, it's good. It's not one of his top 3 albums but it's a collection reaking of genuine quality.

Btw.: the front is a painting by Grant-Lee Phillips, who also happens to enjoy painting landscapes (with this a an exception).

[ allmusic.com, Uncut, Classic Rock 3,5 / 5, Mojo 4 / 5 stars ]

Editors "EBM" (2022)

EBM

release date: Sep. 22, 2022

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC) (Deluxe)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,85]

producer: Blanck Mass, Justin Lockey, Elliott Williams

label: Play It Again Sam - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Heart Attack" (4 / 5) - 2. "Picturesque" - 3. "Karma Climb" - 4. "Kiss" - 6. "Strawberry Lemonade" - 7. "Vibe" - 8. "Educate"

7th studio album by Editors follows 4½ years after Violence (Mar. 2018), an album that lacked some of the coherency they showed on The Weight of Your Love from 2013. Since their sixth album Benjamin John Power has become a new member, and he is heard all over an album that fixates the band on an electronic path. Power is also known as Blank Mass and that's also how he's credited here. The album title thus refering to 'Editors Blanck Mass'. Powers played a vital part on the predecessor but the band didn't find the way to utilise Powers' contributions back then and instead ended up with tracks pointing here and there and with an album that seemed unfocused. One year after the release of Violence Editors released The Blanck Mass Sessions containing the initial recordings by Blanck Mass, which led to the album versions, and those early recordings contain some ideas that were ultimately lost on the final album. You could argue they were stronger electronically-founded, which only reflect how the band had to digest the input from Power before realising that he actually laid out a new musical direction for the band to follow.

With Banck Mass aboard Editors comes out as a revitalised band. They make the songs by Tom Smith work on top of an electronic base that gives room for bass and synths and the result is surprisingly good. Blanck Mass is noticeable all over the album, but together they are in positive synergy.

Undoubtedly, this new electronic style will challenge some of the old post-punk revivalists, and although I really enjoyed their initial albums, I like this new constellation!

[ allmusic.com, Record Collector 4 / 5 stars ]

Eee Gee "Winning" (2022)

Winning [debut]

release date: Feb. 25, 2022

format: digital (14 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,76]

producer: Rasmus Bille Bähncke

label: Future Classic - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Favourite Lover" (4 / 5) - 2. "You Don't Have to Tell Me It's Over" - 5. "Contraband" (live session) - 6. "Bad Person" - 7. "Love Hurts" - 8. "Winning" - 10. "All or Nothing" - 11. "Killing It" (4 / 5)

Studio album debut by Danish act Eee Gee [stylised 'eee gee'] aka Emma Grankvist is virtually a debut-out-of-the-blue. I first listened to the song "Favourite Lover" and then "Bad Person" without knowing anything about artist or nationality, and I remember thinking it must be yet another one blending Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish, although still doing that quite nicely. But after realising it's music by Danish songwriter Emma Grankvist and upon listening to the whole album, I have to admit it's much more than a copy and quite a remarkable achievement. Why hadn't we heard about her before? And speaking of influences, I also found it's waaaay too simple to mention the aforementioned two American stars as only sources 'cause there's also traces of much else. There's a tongue-in-cheek (Lily Allen-like) presence and songs that are stronger singer / songwriter or alt. folk related that reminds me of Cat Power or Sharon Van Etten, or was it Ane Brun leaning on Joni Mitchell? And then why even compare?!

The album has a total running time above 45 minutes with songs written by Grankvist, and most of the music is co-composed with producer Bähncke. Granted, this may not be highly original, but it's a most powerful collection of personal songs produced in high-end arrangements. Yes, there's influence and traces of others, but looking at the whole picture instead, this is simply one of the strongest Danish debut albums in years.

Highly recommended.

[ Politiken, 👉Soundvenue 5 / 6, Undertoner 4 / 6 stars ]

Pino Daniele "Terra mia" (1977)

Terra mia[debut]

release date: 1977

format: vinyl (2015 reissue)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]

producer: Claudio Poggi

label: EMI - nationality: Italy

Studio album debut by Pino Daniele (aka Giuseppe Daniele). This reissue was made available following Daniele's death, Mar. 2015.

Joakim Berg "Jag fortsätter glömma" (2022)

Jag fortsätter glömma [debut]

release date: May 27, 2022

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]

producer: Joakim Berg

label: Universal Music - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Barn av vår tid" - 2. "Begravningsbål" - 3. "Aniara" - 4. "Låtsasvärlden" - 5. "Legender" - 7. "Var vi kom ifrån" - 9. "4" - 10. "Mer än ingenting"

Studio solo album debut from Kent frontman follows 6 full years after the final album by Kent Då som nu för alltid. Berg has written and composed all music except one track composed with former Kent guitarist Martin Sköld, and the album is also with Berg as only producer.

Musically, he has been engaged with writing and composing music for others but here hecomes out with his own material. Then how is it? Is it Kent material, or something completely different? Well, national critics are a bit divided here - and then, how could it be any different, you may ask. Aftonbladet og Gaffa.se are overwhelmed whereas Expressen with its 3 / 5 stars, which in a way says more being somewhat cheap on stars than the textual review by Anders Dahlbom.

No, it's not new musical terrain, and no, it's not incorporating new guitar or bass riffs, nor is it reflecting anything associated with indie rock, but what it does contain in abundance is Berg's melancholic vocal fronted soft melodic synthpop tapestry. Of course it would hardly make much sense expecting energetic guitar rock or uptempo basslines. How would it then be something new? Berg has moved along, and he showcases his ability with words despite he may be in need of a backing band, or at least someone else to provide the music with new seasoning. Overall, it's better than feared, but not really as good as you may have hoped for. The whole album stays (too) much in the same emmotions and the arrangements appear slightly narrow, but it both contains uptempo chorus-based songs and slower compositions. all aside, it's just a delight to hear Berg's voice again.

[ Aftonbladet 4 / 5, Gaffa 5 / 6, Expressen 3 / 5 stars ]

Mazzy Star "So Tonight That I Might See" (1993)

So Tonight That I Might See
release date: Oct. 5, 1993
format: cd / vinyl (2022 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,76]
producer: David Roback
label: Capitol Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Fade Into You" (4,5 / 5) (live on Later) - 2. "Bells Ring" (4 / 5) - 3. "Mary of Silence" - 7. "Unreflected" - 9. "Into Dust" - 10. "So Tonight That I Might See"

2nd studio album by Mazzy Star following nearly 3½ years after the debut She Hangs Brightly (1990). Since then, the band signed with Capitol after the Rough Trade division closed in the US, and it appears that although both Keith Mitchell and Will Cooper of Opal participate on the album, they are merely additional personnel, and Mazzy Star has become what it basically always was: the duo-project of composer, guitarist and pianist David Roback and songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Hope Sandoval.

At first, the album sounds much alike the predecessor, in tone and especially sound, as the style has become even darker and mesmerising with drone-like guitar-sequences with Sandoval's haunting vocal on top.

"Fade into You" became the band's first and only top-100 single in the US peaking at #44; however, the band may never have aimed at making hit songs and becoming mainstream artists, but the album is often found listed among the best Dream Pop albums ever made [Pitchfork's 30 best dream pop albums].

The album comes out as the aural version of a highly original dream landscape - both hauntingly beautiful and disturbing at the same time. Roback and Sandoval appear more laid back on this, although, some tracks are 'noise rock' influenced and the title track sounds unimaginable without thinking of "The End" by The Doors and (perhaps also) "Heroin" by Velvet Underground, but overall I find it bettering their debut. This is simply their best studio album.

Now, did anyone say Lana Del Rey? Well, I betcha she heard this one!

Highly recommendable.

[ allmusic.com, Uncut 4,5 / 5, NME, Sputnikmusic 4 / 5, Soundlab 5 / 5 stars ]

Stromae "Multitude" (2022)

Multitude

release date: Mar. 4, 2022

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]

producer: Stromae

label: Mosaert Label / Universal - nationality: Belgium

Track highlights: 1. "Invaincu" - 2. "Santé" - 3. "La Solassitude" - 4. "Fils de joie" - 5. "L'enfer" - 8. "Riez" - 9. "Mon amour" - 10. "Déclaration"

3rd studio album by Stromae following almost 9 full years after Racine Carrée (Aug. 2013) - a time of both international acclaim and personal turmoil. Stromae went on long tours in the US and in Africa, and then had to pull the plug from performing to recover again. Apparently, he suffered from anxiety and spent a long time rethinking his career. He only resurfaced again in 2021 with his first single from this album, the song "Santé".

Racine Carrée was a step forward from a promising debut and was a massive success - it's really no wonder that the skyrocketing success he has experienced is something that may be more than overwhelming, and with Multitude he not only does it again - he simply takes another step forward. The single "L'enfer" was played everywhere, and I first thought of it as merely another pop song, but it's so much more than just that. Stromae himself is the result of a mixed marriage, but his musical style is a gigantic mix of Euro-pop, American R&B, African and Asian popular music, AND with obvious bits of folkore from all over the world - yet, his music is styled to just fit his expression. All the global influences are destilled into a personal and strict sound that doesn't make you question its coherency.

At first, I found the album contained 2-3 great songs, but soon they kept surfacing, and here at the end of the year, I think of it as one the best albums of the year.

[ NME 4 / 5, Pitchfork 8,0 / 10 stars ]

Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté "Ali & Toumani" (2010)

Ali & Toumani
release date: Feb. 23, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,96]
producer: Nick Gold
label: World Circuit - nationality: Mali

2nd and final album for the collaboration work of Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté. The album was actually recorded in June 2005 shortly after the release of the acclaimed In the Heart of the Moon (2005) but somehow the album wasn't released until 2010 - four years after the death of Touré.
The album follows closely in the footsteps laid out on the debut by partly containing traditional Mandé folk songs arranged by either of the two or together, and also songs composed by Diabaté and Touré. Altogether, Ali & Toumani is yet another beautiful collection of songs by these two wonderful artists.
[ Uncut Magazine review ]

Band of Horses "Things Are Great" (2022)

Things Are Great

release date: Mar. 4, 2022

format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]

producer: Wolfgang Zimmerman & Benjamin Bridwell

label: BMG - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Warning Signs" (4 / 5) - 2. "Crutch" (4 / 5) - 3. "Tragedy of the Commons" - 5. "In Need of Repair" - 6. "Aftermath" (4 / 5) - 7. "Lights" - 8. "Ice Night We're Having" - 9. "You Are Nice to Me" - 10. "Coalinga"

6th studio album by Band of Horses is a most welcomed new release following nearly six full years since the band's last effort, Why Are You OK (Jun. 2016). Some probably had their doubts about the band's survival, but here they are, Band of Horses is synonymous with Ben Bridwell, and he's back with a new line-up. Since 2017 the band has been without guitarist Tyler Ramsey and bassist Bill Reynolds, who had both been stable members for a decade, and a new line-up has taken its time. Two new guitarists have been through and out - the most recent, Ian MacDougal played in the band from 2017, and he is still credited as guitarist on this but left the band prior to the album release - he was subsequently replaced by Brett Nash. Bassist Matt Gentling, who played in the band for a short period back in early 2007 after which he was replaced by Bill Reynolds, is now back as substitute for Reynolds.

Although, the album hasn't made impressive entries on the album charts, it has been met by quite positive reviews, and I fully understand the positive hype. Bridwell has simply done it again! Things Are Great follows so nicely in the path laid out by the band's first two - and so far only great albums, but now Band of Horses have made three! Forget Infinte Arms, Mirage Rock and even Why Are You OK. - they contain good and fine songs but are all rather uneven albums. This one on the other hand is up there among their best, and if it's a bit of a mystery why it hasn't been praised more, you may ask how Bridwell & Co. are able to come up with an album that is both so fresh and melodic yet so much in the "tradition" of the band's best songs made some 15 years ago. My guess is, the mystery lies in the fact that this band is more or less a one-man project, and if Bridwell has some great tunes, well, then you get to experience things like this!

Highly recommended!

[ 👍allmusic.com, Mojo, Classic Rock, Uncut 4 / 5, Pitchfork 7,3 / 10, 👎Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

2022 Favourite releases: 1. Hurray for the Riff Raff Life on Earth - 2. Big Thief Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You - 3. Band of Horses Things Are Great

Red Hot Chili Peppers "Return of the Dream Canteen" (2022)

Return of the Dream Canteen

release date: Oct. 14, 2022

format: digital (17 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,46]

producer: Rick Rubin

label: Warner Records - nationality: USA

13th studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers is the band's second full-length studio of the year following only 6 months after Unlimited Love, the band's first with returning guitarist John Frusciante. Both albums are with old associate Rick Rubin in the producer seat and together they have made two distinct RHCP albums with a more laid-back style founded on a great deal of improvisations and on a mutual understanding of "the real" RHCP sound. The first album included 17 tracks running for almost 75 minutes, and this new collection doubles that with its 75 minutes running time and 17 new compositions.

Wow! The scale of these two alone is an impressive achievement. In terms of style and sound they are closely related but it what strikes me is that this latter release seems more elaborated and less founded on free improvs, and since all 34 recordings stem from the same sessions it's likely that they have chosen a smart procedure of releasing the more incoherent collection first - it did come as the first RHCP album in six years and would be a most natural success alone from being the first new recordings for a very long time. This second collection contains several tracks that are more melody-based traditional compositions with A-, B-, and chorus parts, and it comes out as the more accessible collection.

I'm not a big fan of RHCP's improvisations, and in my mind, this new album just is a better album. That said, it's still difficult for a band like this to establish a strong bond to its musical traditions, its very distinct style and sound and still come up with something new. The album - or it basically applies both of the band's two albums of 2022 - is RHCP classic. This is not a band like U2, who all of a sudden comes up with a new sound but a band who has become stars via a certain combo of modern psychedlic rock, which bases its sound on a fusion of funk and alternative rock, and there's no intentions in changing that, which also means that what you get what you expect. No more, no less. And that's probably the weakness of the album - it's simply founded on previous releases, and every once in a while, you end up thinking "ah, this is based on that particular songt from that album", and I guess, there's no intentions in hiding that - it's simply a bunch of new songs building on old material.

[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Pitchfork 6,3 / 10 stars ]

Blaue Blume "Country" (2022) (single)

Country, single

release date: Sep. 9. 2022

format: digital (1 x File, FLAC)

[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]

producer: Blaue Blume

label: HFN Music - nationality: Danmark

Tracklist: 1. "Country" (4 / 5)

Single release by Blaue Blume and the band's first actual release Bell of Wool (Nov. 2019) except from the remix of "Loveable" - the first by Trentemøller (released Feb. 2020) and one by Emil Rottmayer (released Mar. 2021). Since that album and in the span of the most recent months the band has been reduced to a trio following the leave of guitarist Robert Buhl Jensen, who then leaves behind a band consisting of vocalist Jonas Smith, guitarist & bassist Buster Lassen, and with Søren Buhl-Jensen on keyboards & drums.

"Country" has so far only been issued in digital format, and the song is a laidback and quiet track with traces to Talk Talk with a certain jazzy quality and with elements from country and progressive pop, and with the pompous production of Blaue Blume in behold. It's beautiful and heartfelt, and it still shows the band's great potential. The single may be found on the band's bandcamp-profile.

Toumani Diabaté "The Mande Variations" (2008)

The Mande Variations
release date: Feb. 25, 2008
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Nick Gold
label: World Circuit - nationality: Mali

Track highlights: 1. "Si Naani" (4 / 5) - 2. "Elyne Road" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Ali Farka Toure" - 4. "Kaouding Cissoko" (4 / 5) - 5. "Ismael Drame" (4 / 5) - 6. "Djourou Kara Nany" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Cantelowes" (4 / 5)

Studio album by Toumani Diabaté released on World Circuit is a mighty fine solo album featuring Diabaté's wonderful kora play. The style is close to the collaboration works with Ali Farka Touré, which may also be seen in the reference in the homage track #3.

Marie Key "Lys finale" (2022)

Lys finale

release date: Feb. 11, 2022

format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]

producer: Bremer / McCoy

label: Sony Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Vinter" - 2. "Tænk" - 5. "Lys finale" (4 / 5) - 6. "Stille måne" - 7. "Verden" - 10. "Festen"

6th studio album by Marie Key following the album Marie Key (2020) saw Key in an attempt to take up the success from her first three solo albums with producer Andreas 'Maskinen' Sommer, and although the album produced a small single hit with "True Love", the album wasn't part of top-40.

Lys finale is easily her most quiet album to date. It's produced by contemporary Danish jazz-duo Bremer / McCoy (bassist Jonathan Bremer and pianist Morten McCoy), and all tracks are co-composed and arranged by the duo, and the end-result is far from the art pop and synthpop-fused predecessors. Stylewise, this might go as indie pop with a strong touch of jazz pop, and most tracks have near minimalist arrangements where bass and a delicate keyboard often are only instruments backing Key's vocal, which is accentuated strongly.

A first listen had me think it was daring and far from expected but I quickly found it a quite strong release. It's not filled with hit material or sing-a-long choruses, and it's primarily the most stripped down songs that work the best - and it's Key's delicate narration that really lifts the album, which then also calls for a native audience, as all songs are in Danish.

This is imho, Key's second best album to date and thus highly recommended.

[ Berlingske 5 / 6, Politiken 3 / 6 stars ]

Blanck Mass "Ted K (Original Score)" (OST) (2022)

Ted K (Original Score) (soundtrack)

release date: Mar. 18, 2022

format: digital (19 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]

producer: Blanck Mass

label: Sacred Bones Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Montana (Main Theme)" - 5. "Revenge" - 7. "Greyhound"

Soundtrack album by Blanck Mass following the release of the live album Mind Killer (May 2021, transmissioned Apr. 2020 during the COVID19-lockdown) and the studio album In Ferneaux (Feb. 2021). The album (issued via the label's bandcamp profile) shares title with the Tony Scott film about the actual Unabomber (sic) Ted Kaczynski, and it's the second full-length soundtrack album credited Blanck Mass, who first scored Nick Rowland’s acclaimed Calm With Horses (OST) from 2020.

The soundtrack here is yet another fascinating work by Benjamin John Power, who simply seems to continously expand musical barriers whenever he produces a new album - be it as solo artist, as new central member of alt. rock act Editors, or when setting the tone for a full-length feature film. The album doesn't provide us with a long list of single hits, but works as a whole. Blanck Mass displays a nice balance of various intense sensations between good and evil - there's always an underlying current of something intruiging, something luring, and various amounts of... desperation.

Ted K (Original Score) works nicely on its own terms and only makes you interested in seing Tony Scott's film.

Recommended.

Ella Fitzgerald "Sings the Essential Cole Porter Song Book" (1956)

Sings the Essential Cole Porter Song Book

release date: May 1956

format: vinyl (2022 reissue - Colored Series - yellow)

[album rate: 4 / 5]

producer: Norman Granz

label: 20th Century Masterworks - nationality: USA

Album by Ella Fitzgerald, which happens to be a shortened version of the double album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (May 1956) released on Verve Records containing 32 tracks. This 'truncated' version contains 14 tracks, and despite all fourteen songs truly are essential, I see no good reason to leave out the remaining tracks. The album has been reissued in various formats, including longer editions with alternate recordings. Good news is, Verve Records have reissued the 2 lp vinyl album in its original form, which of course is the right one to get.

1956 double album

Big Thief "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You" (2022)

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

release date: Feb. 11, 2022

format: vinyl 2lp (gatefold) / digital (20 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]

producer: James Krivchenia

label: 4AD Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Change" - 3. "Spud Infinity" (4 / 5) (live) - 4. "Certainty" - 5. "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You" - 6. "Sparrow" - 7. "Little Things" (live) - 10. "Blurred View" - 14. "Wake Me up to Drive" - 16. "12,000 Lines" - 17. "Simulation Swarm" (4 /5) (live) - 19. "The Only Place" - 20. "Blue Lightning"

5th studio album by US folk rock quartet Big Thief is the follow-up to the 2019-album Two Hands, the band's second on 4AD. So far, the band is the same solid ensemble, who have played together under the moniker since 2015 without major changes in a line-up, who all frequented Boston Berklee College of Music, although, they first materialsed as Big Thief following their final exams. Only the function as the band's drummer has changed hands over the years - on the debut Masterpiece (2016) the drummer was Jason Burger, on on that the band's future drummer James Krivchenia is credited as sound technician and 'additional producer', and apart from handling drums on this new one he is also credited as producer. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Adrianne Lenker, guitarist and vocalist Buck Meek, bassist and keyboardist Max Oleartchik, and drummer James Krivchenia. Since the 2019-album, Lenker has released the fine acoustic double album Songs and Instrumentals, also via 4AD. Lenker is furthermore credited the cover art, she's sound engineer, and together with Krivchenia, she's credited mixing of the album.

Stylewise, their music is often labeled indie rock, and indie seems like a fair desciption but it's obviously more folk rock-founded with elements from alt. country and a new folk-tradition, which seems like a common ground for Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Grand Archives etc., who all have listened to Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Nick Drake and the likes without necessarily thinking 'Dylan', as many earlier folk-artists found their inspiration in. Perhaps, Johnny Cash is more likely as another source of inspiration. Lenker writes and sings in a highly original style about obscure characters and peculiar observations. At times she share vocal clour with both Martha Wainwright and Lucinda Williams while her narratives often point to similarities with Mark Kozelek's wondrous daily routines. Musically, Big Thief may also have listened to both Kozelek, Sun Kil Moon and Grant-Lee Phillips. In that respect the band is clearly founded in an American music tradition with input from folk, country and a modern singer / songwriter context. Now and then, the band adjoins other stylistic domains without deviating from their personal expression, but here and there you may come to think Pixies, Modest Mouse or The National as other sources of inspiration.

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You consists of 20 tracks with a total running time just over 80 minutes - yet it comes as a regular cd-version and as a double vinyl, as well as in digital format via the band's bandcamp-profile.

The album offers original and varied music, and it's such a skilfully crafted and seamless release that it's almost bound to end up in my top-3 list for the year. It's a remarkable effort and the band's finest, and it's highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👍NME, Mojo 4 / 5, Pitchfork, Needledrop 9.0 / 10, Uncut 4,5 / 5 stars ]

2022 Favourite releases: 1. Hurray for the Riff Raff Life on Earth - 2. Big Thief Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You - 3. Band of Horses Things Are Great