Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall Bend the Avant-Garde to Their Will
Experimentalists Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall have united to create an album that, even by their compartmentalized standards, is pretty out there.
John Garratt
John Garratt is a music fan who has been publishing with PopMatters since 2010. He holds a BA from Hanover College and lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and two daughters.
U2 Have Never Sounded More Defeated Than on ‘Songs of Surrender’
U2’s sense of surprise was exchanged for maddeningly consistent predictability in their later career, and ‘Songs of Surrender’ sounds how you think it would.
The Church’s ‘The Hypnogogue’ Is Stunning
Whether calming you with lush songs like “Aerodrome” and “The Coming Days” or tickling the edges of your mind with “Thorn”, the Church’s The Hypnogogue is stunning.
John Bence Turns to His ‘Archangels’ for Detoxification
John Bence’s Archangels has got to be one of the quietest new albums. He’s conjured a storm’s eye, making it a fascinating aesthetic contradiction.
Philip Selway Stretches the Canvas Wide for ‘Strange Dance’
Philip Selway makes up for what he lacks in melodic strengths with little hooks, and he’s the Radiohead member to sound the least like them when solo.
New Order’s ‘Low-Life (Definitive Edition)’ Isn’t Quite Definitive
New Order’s Low-Life is a masterstroke of synthpop glory, but keep your expectations of the word “definitive” nice and low for this set.
On Guided By Voices’ ‘La La Land’ Robert Pollard’s Voices Are Colliding
Guided By Voices’ latest lineup has helped add another tool to Robert Pollard’s songwriting toolbox on La La Land. It’s a look that they wear well.
Orbital Entertain Our Collective ‘Optical Delusion’
Orbital’s Optical Delusion is what we have all grown accustomed to with them, but there are plenty of bold moments that skew the imagination with each revisit.
Gareth Koch and Martin Kennedy Soundtrack the Great Beyond on ‘Music in the Afterlife’
On Music in the Afterlife, Martin Kennedy and Gareth Koch put themselves in the running for an impossible task to make a soundtrack for eternal bliss.
Mette Henriette’s Minimalist Chamber Jazz Was Destined for ECM
Like the snow-coated cover art of Drifting, the paradoxical sound of Mette Henriette’s trio presents a bit of serenity by way of extreme conditions.
Blur Drummer Dave Rowntree Emerges Into the Spotlight
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree’s Radio Songs is the anti-All Things Must Pass, a soft reminder that, hey, the drummer can write and sing too.
The Comet Is Coming Are Developing New Musical Genres
The Comet Is Coming’s sound is hard to define (psychedelic rave jazz?), landing them on confusing festival lineups. They couldn’t be happier about it.
