Category Archives: Blog

Bandler Ching drop second single, ‘Époustouflant’, from upcoming LP Mercurial

30 November 2024

It’s next year’s releases that are grabbing our attention right now and one we’re particularly excited for is the new album from Bandler Ching. Two years on from the release of their debut Coaxial, the Brussels based outfit, led by composer and saxophonist Ambroos De Schepper, are gearing up to release a new album titled Mercurial. On the new record, they push music forward “navigat[ing] the fringes of industrial trap, while expertly bending and pushing the possibilities of their instruments”, as the press release describes. “The band edges even closer to the ever-evolving world of electronics and dance music while retaining the improvisational spirit that has always defined their sound at its core.”

Following the lead single ‘Mochi’, Bandler Ching have let loose a second taste from the record, the radiant and intoxicating ‘Époustouflant’. The single is offered with a visualizer made by Benoit Vangeel. Watch it below and watch out for the release of Mercurial on February 21st through Sdban Ultra.

Donder’s fifth full-length album, De Wonderen, out now

28 November 2024

Photo: Björn Comhaire

Last week Belgian outfit Donder released their fifth album, De Wonderen, through W.E.R.F. Records. Casper Van De Velde, Harrison Steingueldoir and Stan Callewaert, who make up the band, returned to their core trio to compose and record the new album, following their previous record Het Verdriet, which saw them collaborate with Sigbjørn Apeland. Conceived without any concepts or limitations, and “characterised by the usual unorthodox playing techniques and carefully documented imperfections”, as the press release explains, De Wonderen “is a chaotic blend of abstract and melodic work featuring both solos, duos and trios, two covers of pop songs and some occasional whistling and Norwegian lyrics.”

Preceding the album release, Donder had previously shared two singles, ‘Het Mierenlied’ and ‘Vader Ademt’, both offered with video accompaniments. 3D and motion designer Robbe Callewaert created the visuals for ‘Het Mierenlied’ and visual artist and ceramist Juliette Pons made the film for ‘Vader Ademt’. Watch both below.

Astrobal announces third album, L’uomo et la natura; shares lead single ‘L’abeille pourpre’

27 November 2024

Astrobal, the solo project of Emmanuel Mario, has announced the release of his third album, following 2019’s L’infini, l’Univers et les Mondes. Entitled L’uomo e la natura, which means Man and Nature, the album arrives on February 7th through Karaoke Kalk. The French drummer, composer and producer decided to take a different approach, and the upcoming record marks a new chapter in his creative journey. “I wanted to make music that was both pop and ambitious in its chord progressions as well as surprising in its construction,« explained Astrobal. Paying homage to library music, Astrobal turned to artists such as Alessandro Alessandroni or Bruno Nicolai, and the more cosmic strains of electronic instrumental music for inspiration “to create a soundtrack that would immediately bring to mind outer space”.

Astrobal is previewing the album with the lead single ‘L’abeille poupre’, a track radiating nothing but positive energy. The single comes with an accompanying video made by Raz Ullah and you can watch it below.

The Young Mothers return with third album Better If You Let It

19 November 2024

Photo: Malwina Witkowska

The Young Mothers, the project led by Norwegian born bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, are back with their third album, six years on from the release of Morose. Entitled Better If You Let It, the new album arrives on February 21st through Sonic Trasmissions, and unlike previous records, is a group effort, with all members sharing writing credits.

Alongside the album announcement, the six-piece unveiled today the title track, which serves as an enthralling taste. Of the track, trumpet player Jawwaad Taylor comments:

“Better if you let if is a song that came together in the typical way TYM’s work. It is a song that pulls from the things going on in the world at large and the culture the band has developed over many years of working together. The song aims to take the listener on a journey that begins in the way it ends.
Jason Jackson brought the band a whimsical ballad that the band immediately embraced. Later Jawwad sampled and deconstructed Jason’s original tune turning it into what you the listener hears in its final form.
It is both a tribute to a very special time when the Great American song book was being formed and a time when producers were digging through what had become old records that where being repurposed to create brand new songs for the world to enjoy. Hence, the song beginning where it ends. With Jason Jackson’s original tune and morphing into it’s final form.
Begins where it ends.
We THE YOUNG MOTHERS hope this aids you in your listening pleasure!!”

‘Better If You Let It’ is a song that strikes upon first listen. Here it is.

Eilis Frawley to release debut LP, Fall Forward, in March; shares title track

16 November 2024

Photo: Adriessa Oliveira de Souza

Fall Forward is the debut album from Australian drummer and percussionist Eilis Frawley, now based in Berlin, having spent time living in Seoul. A classically trained percussionist, her urge to explore creative paths and play has led her to stints in various groups including Laura Lee & The Jettes, Party Fears and I Drew Blank’ and she now plays with her own bands Kara Delik (Turkish post punk) and Restless (noisy punk). Frawley has also put out several singles and two EPs, but Fall Forward marks the first album under her own name. With influences from pop, jazz and krautrock, the upcoming album “is a unique cosmos of sound – innovative, clever and always stylistically confident”, as the press release describes, “and the result is an energetic, profound, light-hearted and extraordinary record.”

Ahead of its release on March 7th through Sinnbus, Frawley is offering a first glimpse into it with the title track now streaming with an accompanying animated video made by Emma Taggart.

Yazz Ahmed announces fourth studio album, A Paradise In The Hold, and shares title track

15 November 2024

Yazz Ahmed is one of the most remarkable jazz trumpet player and composer of her generation and new music from her is always great news. Following 2019’s Polyhymnia, the British-Bahraini celebrated musician has announced its much anticipated follow-up, A Paradise In The Hold. On it, Ahmed draws inspiration from traditional music and childhood memories of Bahrain, and her compositions are even more deeply entwined with her dual heritage than before. “A thread in my work has been searching for, establishing and, now, finally embracing and celebrating my cultural identity,” Ahmed says. “If my first album, 2011’s Finding My Way Home, represents the first steps on this path then with A Paradise In The Hold, I’ve arrived at a deeper understanding of how my British and Bahraini heritage can co-exist, in personal as well as musical terms.”

Writing for voice for the first time, she found inspiration in Bahraini wedding poems and the yearning songs of the pearl divers to write lyrics, and collaborated with a brilliant cast of singers including Brigitte Beraha, Natacha Atlas, Randolph Matthews and Alba Nacinovich.

Through this exploration into her heritage, and employing a rich tapestry of musical influences, the forthcoming A Paradise In The Hold stands as a powerful tribute to the beauty of Bahraini culture. “It’s another step in my evolution of making music,” says Ahmed. “There’s so much beauty in Bahraini music. I hope this album gives people a flavour of how vibrant its culture is.”

A Paradise In The Hold will see the light of day on February 28th through Night Time Stories and ahead of it Ahmed is enticing us with the magnificent and spellbinding title track, clocking in at 10 minutes. The single comes with an accompanying video made by Charlie Campion and Iman Ahmed. Watch it below.