ZA! + Perrate to release collaborative album, Jolifanto; listen to second single ‘La Milonga’

05 March 2024

Wonderful news from one of our favourite outfits, Catalan high-energy duo ZA!. They have joined forces with Andalusian Flamenco singer Perrate for a collaborative album. Entitled Jolifanto, it is a meeting of minds between two powerful musical forces from distante corners of Spain, who embrace experimentalism and radicalism. Rooted in the Dadaist spirit, Jolifanto takes its name from Hugo Ball’s seminal phonetic poem Karawane, which was first recited at the Cabaret Voltaire in 1916.

Jolifanto arrives on March 22nd through Lovemonk and they have unleashed a new single called ‘La Milonga’. Epitomizing the bold fusion they have in store for us, ‘La Milonga’ begins with Perrate’s raw and stripped-back vocals and guitar before seamlessly transitioning into a vocoder-laden exploration, aptly described as “an Iberian Lemon Jelly for the enlightened”. Perrate comments:

“I don’t care what the most radical traditionalist minds may think of this or any other work I do. This is my time and I intend to live it according to my way of feeling and living flamenco – my ancestors had a lot to do with the birth of this culture, and each of them created according to their feelings and their time. And I do the same.”

Take a listen to ‘La Milonga’ below.

Oliver Coates shares ‘Intimate treachery’ from Mary & George score

05 March 2024

Photo: Djenaba Davis-Eyo

Tremendously talented experimental composer, cellist, and record producer Oliver Coates is back to enchant us with his score for new historical psychodrama Mary & George. Out today digitally through Invada Records to coincide with the series launch, it follows Coates’ acclaimed soundtracks and scores for films like Aftersun, Foe and Steve McQueen’s Occupied City.

The haunting and evocative ‘Intimate treachery’ is one of the tracks included in the score and you can listen to it below.

Fire!’s eighth album, Testament, out today; listen to opener ‘Work Song For A Scattered Past’

01 March 2024

Photo: Johan Bergmark

Today sees the release of Fire!‘s much anticipated eighth album, Testament, through Rune Grammofon. More stripped down than previous records, on the new album the Swedish supergroup of reeds player Mats Gustafsson, bass player Johan Berthling and drummer Andreas Werliin ditched flutes and electronics, it’s just them live in the studio recording on analogue tape with the help of Steve Albini. As the press release describes, “this album stands as a true testament to the group´s expressive power and glowing intimacy.”

For a taste of what Fire! have in store for us, listen to the opening track ‘Work Song For A Scattered Past’ below.

Amaro Freitas unveils title track, ‘Y’Y’ ft. Shabaka Hutchings, off upcoming new album

27 February 2024

Photo: Micael Hocherman

Y’Y, the  much anticipated new album from virtuosic Brazilian pianist and composer Amaro Freitas is nearly out. Ahead of its release this Friday through Psychic Hotline, and after enticing us with the magnificent, wild and elevating lead single, ‘Encantados’, Freitas has unveiled the title track. A duo track featuring Shabaka Hutchings on flute, ‘Y’Y’, and as the press release describes, “is inspired by Freitas’ enchantment at the beauty of the meeting of the Solimões and Negro rivers, where he felt that this record would be in reverence to the waters and forests.”

Utterly delicate and serene, ‘Y’Y’ takes us to a place of absolute peacefulness. Listen to it below.

Listen to Joy Guidry’s first single, ‘Members Don’t Get Weary’, off forthcoming album AMEN

24 February 2024

Photo: Nykelle Devivo

Gifted bassoonist and composer Joy Guidry has announced the follow up to last years’s Radical Acceptance. Entitled AMEN, their upcoming album will see the light of day on May 10th through Whited Sepulchre Records. “I wanted to give a voice and give power and provide community to the people I love and truly care for on this record by tackling songs and challenging myself,” Guidry said. “I knew I got the right people, the right community to drive it home, to take my ideas and really bring it together.” They continue:

“In AMEN there is a lot experimentation with different forms of Black American music. I wanted to lean heavily on my Texas, Louisiana and Creole roots in this project. There were many days spent with my ancestors during the writing of this album and I’m eternally grateful for the music they sang to me during our time together. I’m excited for y’all to hear this project that experiments with gospel, jazz, ambient and the blues on May 10th.”

Alongside the album news, Guidry has shared the first single ‘Members Don’t Get Weary’, a poignant tribute to jazz luminaire Max Roach, celebrating his centennial birthday. Soul-stirring and soul-soothing, ‘Members Don’t Get Weary’ is after your ears.

Jim White to release debut album, All Hits: Memories, next month; listen to new single ‘Marketplace’

23 February 2024

Prolific and virtuoso drummer Jim White is treating us to his debut solo album next month. His 30-plus year career spans bands like Dirty Three, Venom P. Stinger, Xylouris White and Springtime and White has also performed and recorded with a ton of other artists and bands like Marisa Anderson, Jessica Moss, Daniel Blumberg, PJ Harvey, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Cat Power, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Nina Nastasia, and Bill Callahan, to name but a few. His footprint in the music world is humongous but as a solo artist, White is now releasing his debut album under his own name.

Entitled All Hits: Memories, the records arrives on March 29th through Drag City. After sharing lead single ‘Names Make the Name’, White has unveiled a new single from the album called ‘Marketplace”. Speaking about the track, he comments:

“‘Marketplace’ emulates the sound and energy of the Saturday morning Victoria Market in North Melbourne. All kinds of people, boxes, trucks, yelling, chickens, fish, vegetables, bakers, donuts, and musicking, flowing through all the other markets.”

‘Marketplace’ has been paired with a video made by Anna White, and you can watch it below.