Brìghde Chaimbeul Expands the Smallpipes Realm
Brìghde Chaimbeul honors the power of bagpipes not with staid repetition but with an appreciation for tradition’s dynamism and outstanding technical skills.
Adriane Pontecorvo
Adriane Pontecorvo grew up in San Francisco noise scenes and writes about music from everywhere. She is a music programmer and producer for community radio station WFHB and holds a PhD in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University.
Garbage Imagine a Better Future on Excellent Album
Garbage’s new LP is driven by a message above all, and there are some truly exquisite moments in which music and lyrics merge and soar even in the face of social collapse.
Francis Bebey’s Remarkable Legacy Shines on New Compilation
Francis Bebey made music that was traditional and future-facing, synthesized and acoustic: worldly music, in tune with both past and present, yet never nostalgic.
Pachyman Expands Dub Horizons on ‘Another Place’
What Pachyman is doing is too fresh to ignore, crossing enough lines that even the most cynical reggae skeptic will find plenty to enjoy here.
Satomimagae Builds Dynamic Atmosphere on ‘Taba’
Aesthetically cohesive, Satomimagae’s Taba consists of many sounds and feelings. It’s geometrically organic and takes her even further afield in invigorating ways.
JakoJako Tells Synthesized Vietnam Stories on ‘Tết 41’
JakoJako’s Tết 41 is a truly artful work of modular synthesizers, compelling even at its most sedate and brilliant when it opens further.
Elana Sasson’s Persian and Kurdish Influences Are Captivating
Elana Sasson is brilliant, and In Between is yet another elegant work treating tradition and high art with dignity and reverence while finding new ways to present them.
Thaba Embraces South African Pop in an Artistic Triumph
Thaba’s mix of charming DIY beats and technical musical excellence, soulful lyrics, and wistful melodies makes for ephemeral moments of nostalgia and familiarity.
Tucson’s XIXA Travel to the Aztec Underworld on ‘XOLO’
Psychedelic rockers XIXA introduce XOLO‘s key narrative, accompanied by what sounds like the soundtrack of an action-packed Western film.
‘Renegade Queens’ Celebrates Latin Jazz Scene Women
The Bay Area Latin jazz scene has deep roots and remains vital today. Women have always been in the mix, like those on Renegade Queens.
Mali’s Salif Keita Sounds Inspired on Irrestible ‘So Kono’
If Un Autre Blanc was Salif Keita’s music coming to a head, then certainly So Kono makes for a soothing and stunning denouement to his recording work
Kinshasa’s Kin’gongolo Kiniata Debuts with Bold Grooves
Kin’gongolo Kiniata translate vibrant existence into thrilling music with a modern punk edge and hope for the possibilities of better things that start from the ground up.