Stephanie Lamprea Filters Poetry Through Bold Vocal Interpretation on ‘Quaking Aspen’
On her debut solo album Quaking Aspen, Colombian-American soprano Stephanie Lamprea makes a bold artistic statement that’s exciting and innovative.
avant-garde
Christopher Parker’s ‘Soul Food’ Lets Everyone Do What They Want
Soul Food is a stepping stone for Christopher Parker in finding his voice as a bandleader. It’s impressive that jazz this free can be played with so much restraint.
‘Velvet Underground’ Soundtrack Could Use More Idiosyncratic Curation
The soundtrack for Todd Haynes’ new documentary on Velvet Underground contains unimpeachable music but fails to offer a cohesive argument about the iconic band.
Trumpeter Steph Richards Finds Her Age of Aquarius on ‘Zephyr’
Steph Richards’ Zephyr is a beast that, in everyone’s interest, shouldn’t be tamed. Strange music is one thing in that it provides life with much-needed flavor.
Moor Mother Makes Accessible and Challenging Music on ‘Black Encyclopedia of the Air’
Black Encyclopedia of the Air from Philly-based poet and musician Moor Mother fuses activist hip-hop with a warm, jazzy groove and an experimental spirit.
The Near-Death Inspiration Behind Yann Tiersen’s Life-Affirming New Work
“It’s really simple,” Yann Tiersen explains. “There is no inspiration out of [the location], there is no deeper meaning than to just juxtapose music and places.”
Yann Tiersen’s ‘Kerber’ Is a Sonic Tribute to His Home of Ushant
Yann Tiersen integrates synth elements, redefining his piano arrangements and giving each piece otherworldly layers on Kerber.
Dean Blunt Crafts Another Confounding Work of Avant-Indie Weirdness on ‘Black Metal 2’
Slight but rich in tonal complexities, Dean Blunt’s Black Metal 2 is another musical puzzle box from the enigmatic London musician.
Jessica Ackerley’s ‘Morning/mourning’ Is a Dazzling Journey Through the Grieving Process
The latest solo album from experimental guitarist Jessica Ackerley is an adventurous tribute to two recently departed mentors.
Trees Speak Conjure Up a Mysterious, Hypnotic Sound on ‘PostHuman’
Arizona’s Trees Speak offer up elements of sci-fi, prog rock, krautrock, and Italian film scores on PostHuman, and that’s a good thing.
Intersystems Unleash Their Fourth Album a Mere 53 Years After Their Third
Toronto experimental multimedia collective Intersystems return with a new album that’s just as adventurous and unsettling as the music they made decades ago.