You have probably already heard us gushing about Land of Kush, the large orchestral ensemble assembled and directed by composer and musician Sam Shalabi. Their much anticipated new album, Sand Enigma, will see the light of day in a couple of weeks and they had already shared two magnificent tracks from it, ‘Safe Space‘ and ‘Domyat 1331’. As we get close to release day on November 8th through Constellation, Land Of Kush are offering another cut from the record, ‘Trema’, featuring lyrics and vocals by Nadah El Shazly. Take a listen now.
There’s just over two weeks to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.
Performing Thursday 7th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Iris van Herpen & Salvador Breed
Efterklang have long been one of our favourite bands. The Danish trio of childhood friends Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen and Rasmus Stolberg always manage to surprise and impress us with their spellbinding genre transcending compositions. Over the years, album after album, they keep pushing ahead, venturing in new and exciting directions. With a stunning new album just out, Altid Sammen, under their collective belts, we can’t wait to see them performing it live at Le Guess Who?. And today Rasmus tell us which three bands he’s most excited to see at the festival.
Performing Saturday 9th November at Theater Kikker
“I love his solo albums. Some years ago Spotify’s algorithm suggested I listened to Aytche and I immediately fell in love and somehow it all felt very familiar. Later on I realised what a big role Joseph plays on Detroyer’s Kaputt album and it all made sense to me I have listened to that album a 1000 times. The newest album in collaboration with his mother is another masterpiece!”
Performing Sunday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg
“I have climbed the highest mountains. I have run through the fields, but I have never seen Negativland play live and I have no idea how they perform their art/music but I can only imagine it will be both fun, interesting and perspective changing. This is still one of my favorite collage / sample songs.”
“Great band from Sweden with one of my favorite guitarists Reine Fiske aboard. Slow grooves, prog amazingness and plenty of ideas. I imagine drinking a nice big beer and being at this concert and it will feel like heaven.”
Le Guess Who? will take place 7-10 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And take a look at other artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.
Six years ago, Mute and Spoon gifted the world with the magnificent Villa Wunderbar, a 2CD set from avant-garde composer and one of Can’s founding members Irmin Schmidt. The release compiles Schmidt’s solo and soundtrack work, with the first part being a collection of his solo work over the past 30 years. The second half, curated by long-term collaborator Wim Wenders, compiles Schmidt’s film and television soundtrack work and also features two Can remixes, ‘Alice’ and ‘Last Night Sleep’. Villa Wunderbar, previously only available on CD, will be released as a four-piece vinyl box set on November 22nd, with his latest work ‘Klavierstück V’ included as a bonus.
Villa Wunderbar is an absolute treat and you can hear it for yourself with this selection of six very different and very excellent tracks.
In other good news, Schmidt has announced three rare live solo dates in the UK and Europe, including an appearance at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival on November 21st, that will see him perform the worldwide premiere of two unheard compositions and the UK premiere of “Klavierstück II”. He will also perform in Nantes on December 11th and at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival on January 25th.
Porto based ensemble HHY & The Macumbas are celebrating their 10th anniversary and to mark the occasion, they have unveiled a 20-minute live EP called Melting in the Heat of Chase, edited out by founding member Jonathan Uliel Saldanha from a live show. The EP, as the accompanying blurb explains, “inaugurates the documenting process of the group’s inner mutations and their live sonic actions”.
What’s more, HHY & The Macumbas have also paired Melting In The Heat Of Chase with a video piece directed by Diogo Tudela. Press play!
Bassist Sam Wilkes has a new live record on the way, Live On The Green, and he had already teased it with the first single ‘Alma’. Live On The Green features songs and alternate versions from Wilkes, his debut album, as well as other new tracks, including a beautiful cover of Alice Coltrane’s track ‘Sivaya’. Wrap your ears around it.
Live On The Green is out on November 8th through Leaving Records.
There’s less than a month to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.
Performing Friday 8th November at Theater Kikker, curated by Jenny Hval
The wonderful and inimitable multi-instrumentalist and improviser Richard Youngs has stolen our hearts a while back. A restless and prolific sonic adventurer, his music catalogue boasts over a hundred solo and collaborative releases, from folk to drone and electronic and last year’s Belief was one of our 15 Album Picks of 2018. Youngs had already dazzled us with an unforgettable a cappella show at Le Guess Who? in 2017 and we are immensely excited to see what he has in store for us this time. Read on for a list of three acts he’s looking forward to.
Performing Saturday 9th November at Stadsschouwburg, curated by Jenny Hval
“I’ve heard so many of his records over such a long period of time, but have never caught him performing live. I am really curious about what he will do.”
“Makoto and I have been friends for a very long time. We have performed and recorded together, I have visited him in Japan. Acid Mothers are always a joyful experience.”
Performing Thursday 9th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by The Bug
“I love their early stuff, and I have to be honest I haven’t heard where they have gone since then. I understand they are quite different and I am intrigued to hear what direction they’ve taken.”
Le Guess Who? will take place 7-10 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And take a look at other artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.
