Sophie Coran Deftly Combines Jazz, Soul, and Dream Pop on ‘S P A C E’
Philadelphia singer-songwriter Sophie Coran’s debut album S P A C E is warm, sophisticated, and expertly crafted.
Chris Ingalls
Chris is a Massachusetts native who spent seven years as a broadcast journalist in the U.S. Navy, serving in overseas locations such as Keflavik, Iceland and the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. He was also a videotape editor for a CBS affiliate TV station, a newspaper editor at a military public affairs office in Naples, Italy, and spent 14 years as a videographer for a Boston-area cancer research institute. He was born in 1969 and has been a rabid music fan since at least 1970, thanks to his three older siblings. A PopMatters writer since 2016 and a contributing editor since 2019, Chris also contributes to the experimental music website Tome to the Weather Machine and is on Twitter @Ingalls1969. He lives in the leafy suburbs outside of Boston with his wife, son, hyperactive dog and ornery cat.
Claire Rousay Leans Into a Gentler, More Ambient Sound on ‘A Softer Focus’
Combining field recordings with quiet, droning musical touches, A Softer Focus from experimentalist Claire Rousay may be her strongest work yet.
Colin Fisher Creates Vast Ambient Soundscapes on ‘Reflections of the Invisible World’
Canadian composer Colin Fisher brings his jazz chops to an odd, calming collection of new-age psychedelia, Reflections of the Invisible World.
Bad Keys of the Mountain Fuse Southern Rock with Smart, Melodic Songwriting on ‘Together and Alone’
On Together and Alone, Bad Keys of the Mountain pack plenty of hooks and a wide range of influences into their country/rock sound.
The Urgent, Interdisciplinary Art of Muyassar Kurdi
Be it film, music, movement, or photography, Muyassar Kurdi is dedicated to creating multisensory, interactive experiences for her audiences. PopMatters recently spoke to her about recent projects, her artistic philosophies, and what’s on the horizon.
Gospel and Ambient Live Together Comfortably on Daniel Lanois’ ‘Heavy Sun’
The latest album from legendary producer Daniel Lanois, Heavy Sun, combines his longtime love of gospel organ music with his more familiar sounds.
Irreverent Power-Pop Legends Too Much Joy Roar Back to Life with ‘Mistakes Were Made’
On their first album in 25 years, Too Much Joy offer up the first bona fide roll-down-the-windows, crank-up-the-car-stereo album of 2021. Welcome back.
‘Theory of Ice’ Is Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s Eloquent Musical Plea to Save the Planet
On Theory of Ice, renowned Michi Saagig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer, and artist, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson speaks and sings of the urgency of taking care of a planet in peril.
Sunburned Hand of the Man Are Back with an Eclectic Vengeance on ‘Pick a Day to Die’
Massachusetts rock collective, Sunburned Hand of the Man are back with their first studio album in a decade. Pick a Day to Die is a vast collection covering a wealth of styles and moods.
‘Our Hands Against the Dusk’ Is Rachika Nayar’s Striking Take on Ambient/Electronic
Brooklyn-based composer Rachika Nayar’s first full-length album Our Hands Against the Dusk is infused with a kaleidoscopic beauty.
Keen Dreams Conjure Up Emotionally Charged Dream-pop on “Immediate Tonight” (premiere)
The latest single from Keen Dreams’ upcoming debut album is a plea for fleeting moments of peace and beauty, accompanied by an oddly nostalgic music video.