Le Guess Who?’s Who 2018: Sibusile Xaba

25 October 2018

There’s just 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.

Sibusile Xaba

Official Website

Performing Friday 9th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Shabaka Hutchings

With a mesmerizing voice, and guitar skills to match, Sibusile Xaba is one of the artists we’re most looking forward to seeing. The South African guitarist, songwriter and composer will bring to Le Guess Who? last year’s Unlearning /Open Letter to Adoniah, his otherworldly and moving debut double album, rooted in jazz and improvisation, inspired by dreams and paired with spirituality and ancestral invocation. When we asked Sibusile for his picks at the festival, he found it “challenging” to narrow it down to 3 from so many of his favourites. So here’s 4 of his recommendations:

 

Sourakata Koite

Performing Sunday 11th November at Theater Kikker

“Ever since I heard his sound/music I loved it, his tone and approach was very unique.
His instrument sounds very different, this draws me more to his music. “

 

BCUC

Bandcamp

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Shabaka Hutchings

“These are my homeboys and homegirl, I love their music, I think they are fantastic and they’re gonna rock Le Guess Who?”

 

Hello Skinny

Bandcamp

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg

“This brother right here is one cat I’m looking forward to hopefully working with in the future, he plays the drums just like his personality, super cool brother. Im a big fan of his composition skills as well. Amazing amazing amazing.”

 

Nicole Mitchell

Official Website

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg

“My friend Lesedi Ntsane who is a great trumpet player based in the USA introduced me to her music. Something about her music is godly.”

Le Guess Who? will take place 8-11 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.

Eric Chenaux shares new track ‘3 Stars On Mountain of Doom’ for Richard Youngs

24 October 2018

Photo: JB Deucher

Eric Chenaux and Richard Youngs have crossed paths many a time. And it’s no surprise that the latest marvellous track to emerge from Chenaux, ‘3 Stars On Mountain of Doom’, serves as a tribute to Youngs. Chenaux explains:

“‘3 Stars On Mountain of Doom’ was recorded for Richard Youngs’ 50th Birthday for a limited edition of 1 compilation CD entitled 50 Years Of Youngs, curated by Madeleine Hynes. This recording is a montage-set inspired by Richard’s 3 Stars CDR and his wonderful song ‘Mountain of Doom.'”

Take a listen now.

Booker Stardrum’s second album Temporary etc. out this Friday

23 October 2018

Photo: Emma Rae Norton

The drumming wizard that is Booker Stardrum is back with a new album, three years on from the release of his phenomenal debut solo album, Dance And, which was one of our Picks of 2015. Entitled Temporary etc., the new record was engineered, produced and mixed by Deerhoof’s John Dieterich. Much in demand as a percussionist, Stardrum has recorded and performed with several other bands and projects, including Cloud Becomes Your Hand, Landlady, Lee Ranaldo, Weyes Blood, Nels Cline, Arian Shafiee, VaVatican, and many more. This multitude of experiences and influences has helped shaped his music and define the “wide range of techniques and ideas into his compositions, yielding a highly personal amalgamation of electro-acoustics, minimalism, ambient, jazz, and contemporary experimental electronic music”, as the press release explains.

Temporary etc. is out this Friday 26th through NNA Tapes and if you don’t know why you need this record in your life, check out two album tracks below, ‘Drim Dram II’ and ‘Swimming’. ‘Drim Dram II’ is a sequel to the original piece from 2015’s Dance And and it comes with a video by Miranda Javid.

Suuns share new video for ‘X-ALT’ as European tour dates commence

21 October 2018

With four excellent albums under their belt, including one of our Album Picks of 2016, Suuns have been touring relentlessly in both Europe and North America in recent years. After a tour earlier this year coinciding with the release of their fourth album Felt, the quartet are back on the road, playing several dates in European cities, including a show in Porto at Maus Hábitos on October 30th.
A new tour calls for celebration and Suuns have shared a new video for ‘X-ALT’ made by Montreal-based director Laura Gonçalves. She comments on it:

“X-ALT is like the amusement & attraction of movement, speed and intensity. The effects were created by plastic and analog processes, establishing paradoxes between the park and the dance group footage. What we see are the raw results of the captures, no post-production effects were applied. The video evolves organically and uncontrollably into specular and datamoshing devices. Electronic clouds and multicolored echoes consume and burn on the musical ride.”

Here’s the video.


Felt is out now through Secretly Canadian.

Eric Chenaux unveils new video for ‘Bird & Moon’

19 October 2018

A marvellous video for ‘Bird & Moon’ is the latest surprise unveiled by the always wonderful Eric Chenaux, lifted from his recently released album Slowly Paradise. Filmed in Toronto and Paris, the video was produced by Chenaux’s longtime collaborator Eric Cazdyn. Watch it below.

In other related news, Eric Chenaux has announced a string of live dates in Europe. Take a look at all his stops below:

Nov 9th Milan (IT), Fondazione Feltrinelli
Nov 23rd Ravenna (IT), Transmissions Festival
Dec 2nd-3rd Madeira, Madeiradig Festival
Dec 5th London (UK), The Islington
Dec 6th Birmingham (UK), The Dark Horse
Dec 7th Bristol (UK), Unitarian Chapel

Slowly Paradise is out now through Constellation.

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2018: Orchestra of Spheres

19 October 2018

There’s just three 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.

Orchestra of Spheres

Official Website

Performing Saturday 10th November at Kytopia, curated by Shabaka Hutchings

New Zealand’s Orchestra of Spheres have us under their spell for a long time now. An incredibly inventive and outlandish band, they explore and experiment with an array of influences and genres from all over the place using a selection of handmade instruments. The band’s eccentric and ecstatic live shows are something that truly must not be missed and have earned them fans everywhere. And as if we weren’t already excited enough to see them at Le Guess Who?, Orchestra of Spheres have a brand new album on the way, Mirror, releasing on November 2nd. Have a look at their recommendations for the festival, with a few words from the band’s Baba Rossa (aka Daniel Beban).

Nicole Mitchell

Official Website

Performing Saturday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Moor Mother

“Chicago’s AACM has had a profound influence on creative Wellington musicians musically and philosophically. They don’t know it but we feel like they’re our brothers and sisters : ) Nicole Mitchell’s on of the great flutists currently working in the so-called jazz world.”

 

Pan Daijing

Official Website

Performing Sunday 11th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Moor Mother

“Very keen to check out Pan Daijin who’s got a particularly fresh way of working … somehow quite traditional and super avant garde at the same time.”

 

Lonnie Holley

Official Website

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg

“Lonnie Holley’s album ‘Just Before Music’ was on constant rotate on one of our OOS tours a few years ago… so beautiful, gets under your skin.”

Le Guess Who? will take place 8-11 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.