Category Archives: Blog

Joan Arnau Pàmies pays tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto with new track ‘AN + RS’

12 March 2025

Last month, Joan Arnau Pàmies announced the release of his new album Guidelines/Fonaments, and shared two enthralling singles, ‘Esperança’ and ‘Pes’. Ahead of the album’s release on April 4th through Protomaterial Records, the Catalan composer and multi-instrumentalist is teasing the album again with a new single, ‘AN + RS’. The track serves as a heartfelt tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto, honouring his work with Alva Noto, ahead of the two-year anniversary of Sakamoto’s passing. Speaking about it, Pàmies shares:

“Their live electronics and piano duo has a very particular sound that I always found very attractive. This improvisation for electronics and piano is my attempt to reconstruct something similar, and a way to show my gratitude to the late Sakamoto, whose music I find beautiful and emotional in ways that are not cliché.”

‘AN + RS’ is offered with a video recorded live earlier this year. Watch it below.

Max Walker shares first glimpse of new album, Chronostasis, with lead track ‘Petrichor’

07 March 2025

Photo: Daniel Zetterstrom

Seattle-born, Los Angeles-based guitarist and composer Max Walker has announced the release of his highly anticipated second album, Chronostasis, arriving May 2nd through Orenda Records. Brimming with intricate guitar playing, and a strong sense of rhythm and composition, on Chronostasis Walker wears his jazz and rock influences on his sleeve, as well as being influenced by guitar pioneers like Allan Holdsworth, Tim Miller, and Ben Monder. An album “about the transient moments between two major chapters in one’s life”, Chronostasis reflects his move to LA.

To bring the album to life, he enlisted the help of drummer Remy Morritt, bassist Tim Carey, saxophonist and flutist Rex Gregory, and pianist Matt Williams.

Heralding the release of Chronostasis, Walker has shared the album’s first single, the absorbing, atmospheric and brilliant ‘Petrichor’. Take a listen now.

Sheldon Agwu announces debut LP, Kintsugi, and shares title track

06 March 2025

Photo: Karolina Wieolcha

We weren’t familiar with Sheldon Agwu up until recently but the London-based guitarist, producer and multi-instrumentalist caught our ears on first listen. He has announced the release of his debut LP, Kintsugi, arriving on April 11th. While this will be his first full-length album, Agwu has been active in the London music scene for a while now performing, collaborating, teaching and also as musical director for known London venues like Jazz Cafe or XOYO. Kintsugi takes its name from the Japanese art of pottery repairing without hiding the damage but highlighting it, thus embracing the beauty of imperfections. On the upcoming album, Agwu conjures that philosophy, believing that by accepting the imperfections of oneself and one’s creativity, “the celestial begins to show itself, and so, quite organically the elements of the influences are made apparent.”
Drawing inspiration from artists like Andrew Pekler, Jon Hassell, Rick Rubin, and Madlib, combined with virtuosic guitar-playing and a soulful flair, Agwu has created an absolutely beautiful, emotive and sublime album.

To usher in Kintsugi is the album’s title track, a tantalizing hint of what’s to come. Take a listen now.

Nadah El Shazly previews forthcoming album, Laina Tani, with first single ‘Ghorzetein’

04 March 2025

Eight years on from the release of Ahwar, Egyptian-born, Montreal-based composer, producer and vocalist Nadah El Shazly has announced its follow-up. Entitled Laina Tani, her upcoming album arrives on June 6th through her new label, One Little Independent Records, and Backward Music in Canada. Known for her sultry and soul-stirring vocal abilities, on the upcoming album Nadah weaves between classical Egyptian improvisation, voice manipulation and electronic beats. An album of contrasts, Laina Tani “captures not only the chaos and beauty of urban life but also the private battles and triumphs within it that define the human experience”, as the press release describes, “inviting the listener to lose themselves in its enchanting rhythms while deciphering the deeper truths woven into its fabric.”

Nadah enlisted her long-term collaborator Radwan Ghazi Moumneh to record the album and Sarah Pagé on harp and electronics, as well as 3Phaz as co-producer and Heba Kadry on mastering duties.

Album closer ‘Ghorzetein’, which means ‘Two Stitches’ and “explores the double wound of a heart that has loved and been broken twice”, is the first single to emerge. A riveting and rousing track, it comes with an accompanying video directed by Selim El Sadek. Watch it now.

Geir Sundstøl to release new solo album, Sakte Film, in May; shares new single ‘Beveg’

28 February 2025

One of Norway’s most esteemed and beloved guitarists, Geir Sundstøl, who’s also a instrument collector, has appeared in hundreds of albums as a session player and sideman before stepping into the spotlight in 2015 with his first solo album. He has announced the release of his sixth solo album, Sakte Film, arriving on May 23rd through Hubro. Speaking about it, Geir comments:

“While working on Sakte Film, I first built the framework for each track. I played my instruments —on Beveg, for example, you’ll hear National guitar, marxophone, timpani, pedal steel, bass harmonica, and optigan. Then, I tweak and edit until it sounds right. After that, I invite musicians whom I believe can add that little extra touch.”

“For this album, I got help from the band Spirit In The Dark—or rather, I got help from Anders Engen, David Wallumrød, and Audun Erlien. I’m not sure what happened to that band during the holiday party season, but they offered to play for cheap if they could switch instruments and record separately. The result was… decent. In the end, they came back and played their usual instruments —though with a week’s break between sessions. It turned out great, but next time, I hope we can play together!”

Geir has shared the absolutely gorgeous and shimmering ‘Beveg’, and his own words, “is a good representation of what you’ll find on the album.” He continues:

“Sakte Film moves even slower than my previous records. Despite my young age, my finger dexterity is in decline—which I’m totally fine with. Instead of trying to hide this fact, I ‘embrace the limitations of my joints.’ The music gains an unintended, yet ever-increasing, sense of calm.”

Listen to ‘Beveg’ below.

ECHT! unveil video for final single ‘Boilerbeek’

28 February 2025

Ahead of the imminent release of Boilerism, the new album from ECHT!, and having already unleashed two singles, ‘Wacky Wave’ and ‘Highed’, the quartet have just shared ‘Boilerbeek’ as the final single. An ode to the neighbourhoods of Schaarbeek and Molenbeek in Brussels, where they are based, ‘Boilerbeek’ strikes as “sometimes industrial and grungy, yet also complex and intriguing due to its diverse influences”. The track also refers to the pop culture status of Boiler Room, as is blatant in the video that accompanies the song, with direction and 3D animation from Rocco Manta. Watch it below and watch out for the release of Boilerism on March 7th through Sdban Ultra.

ECHT! are due to take their mind-altering live show to London’s Bricklane Jazz Festival on April 25th, marking their UK festival debut.