Mixtape #160


An integral part of Brooklyn's underground electronic scene, Palestinian-American composer, producer, and DJ Omar Ahmad conquered our ears with Inheritance, his sublime debut album, which was one of our Album Picks of 2023. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Ahmad delves deep into themes and feelings of empathy, disconnection, and longing, and explores profound questions of heritage and intergenerational trauma. His enveloping compositions transport us to a world where every note carries a story of tenderness and connection. This month we're treated to a mixtape put together by him reflecting his unique, genre-bending style. Enjoy!

  1. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – First Flight [Western Vinyl]
  2. Nico Georis – A Rainbow in Curved Air [Spiritual Pajamas]
  3. Dave DK – Halma [Kompakt]
  4. Romare – Down the Line (It Takes a Number) [Black Acre]
  5. Nicolas Jaar – The Three Sides of Audrey and Why She’s All Alone Now [Other People]
  6. CFCF – Keys [Paper Bag Records]
  7. Wet – Old Bone (Jim-E Stack Remix) [Columbia Records]
  8. John Frusciante & Josh Klinghoffer – Sphere [Record Collection]
  9. Visible Cloaks (with Motion Graphics) – Terrazzo [Rvng Intl.]
  10. Dauwd – Theory of Colours [Technicolour]
  11. Animal Collective – Visiting Friends [FatCat Records]
  12. Balmorhea – Truth [Western Vinyl]

Mixtape #122

We are thrilled to have Bandler Ching kick off the year with our first mixtape of 2021. The Brussels based quartet, led by composer and saxophonist Ambroos De Schepper, swept us away with their effortless and groovy blend of contemporary jazz, electronics, hip-hop and noise. Their sterling first EP, Sub Surface, came out last autumn and with a debut album set for release this year, it’s a given that Bandler Ching will be making a splash in 2021. So it's with great joy that we present the phenomenal mix they put together for us. Feast your ears on this!

  1. Pierre Schaeffer – Étude Violette [INA-GRM / Librairie Séguier]
  2. Carate Urio Orchestra – Lover [Klein]
  3. Visible Cloaks – Terrazzo (ft. Motion Graphics) [Rvng Intl.]
  4. SCHNTZL – Tujiko [W.E.R.F.]
  5. Connan Mockasin – I’m The Man, That Will Find You [Phantasy Sound / Because Music]
  6. Earl Sweatshirt ft. Knxwledge – Balance [adult swim]
  7. Kate Tempest – Firesmoke [American Recordings]
  8. Shungu – Page 20: I Feel In Exile [Hot Record Societe]
  9. D’Angelo – Chicken Grease [Virgin / EMI]
  10. Bill Withers – Kissin’ My Love [A&M Records]
  11. WHOMAN – Shiny
  12. Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes – Kiefer No Melody [Leaving Records]
  13. Sam Amidon – Light Rain Blues [Nonesuch]
  14. Thom Yorke – Runwayaway [XL Recordings]
  15. Frank Harris & Maria Marquez – Canto del Pilon [Third Wave Productions]
  16. Soft Focus – Flowers [San-kofa Rhythm Records]

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2019: Joseph Shabason

There’s less two months 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.

Joseph Shabason

Official Website

Performing Saturday 9th November at Theater Kikker

Staggeringly talented composer and multi-instrumentalist Joseph Shabason has been a favourite of ours for a long time. A busy recording artist and touring musician, he has also played and collaborated in various projects, including Destroyer and DIANA. Last year he released one of our 15 Album Picks of 2018, Anne, a beguiling, poignant and enveloping album blending jazz and ambient. Needless to say we can’t wait to see him perform at Le Guess Who? and we asked him which bands he’s most looking forward to. Find out his recommendations below, with a few words from him:

 

Cate Le Bon

Website

Performing Sunday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg

“Been such a huge fan of hers for a bunch of years now and I can’t wait to finally see her live. I’ve heard that she’s incredible. Plus her new album is so on point and I’m excited to see how she does those songs live.”

 

Visible Cloaks, Yoshio Ojima & Satsuki Shibano

Website

Performing Thursday 7th November at Janskerk

“Basically I just want to see Visible Cloaks so badly. They make sounds that are so tactile and precise and their new record with Yoshio Ojima & Satsuki Shibano is gorgeous.”

 

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.

Visible Cloaks, Yoshio Ojima and Satsuki Shibano announce European tour and share live video for ‘Atelier’

Photo: Miyu Terasawa

FRKWYS is the ongoing 12-inch series from boundary-pushing label RVNG Intl that “pairs contemporary artists and their progenitors” for unique collaborations. serenitatem is their fifteenth and latest instalment and it brings together Visible Cloaks, Yoshio Ojima and Satsuki Shibano. The four musicians met and started working and recording the album when Visible Cloaks were finishing their first Japanese tour in December 2017. serenitatem came out last April and they performed it for the first time in June, but they have also announced a string of live dates in Europe this Autumn, including a show at Le Guess Who? in Utrecht on Thursday 7th November. To get us enticed, they have released a video for ‘Atelier (Live)’, recorded in Tokyo and directed by Road Izumiyama. Here it is.

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2017: Tom Rogerson

There’s only a couple of days 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.

Tom Rogerson

Facebook Page

Performing Friday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg

Photo: Mathew Parri Thomas

Staggeringly talented British composer and pianist Tom Rogerson has impressed us many a time with his creativity and technical skill behind the keys in Three Trapped Tigers, the trio he founded a decade ago. A prolific classically trained musician and gifted improviser, and a long-time presence in the London experimental/improv scene, Rogerson has played and collaborated in various other projects. His most recent venture saw him collaborating with Brian Eno, and Finding Shore is the fruit of it, the first album under his own name. Today he shares his thoughts on which acts he’s most looking forward to seeing at Le Guess Who?.

 

I could have picked from so many. I’ll be trying to watch Julianna Barwick, GAS, Steve Beresford,Tiny Vipers, Prurient, Ex Easter Island Head, Yves Tumor.

But here are my three:

Richard Youngs

Facebook Page

Performing Friday 10th November at LE:EN, curated by Grouper

“Singular vision and artistic courage. Very influential on me artistically, especially in relation to what’s ‘allowable’, how far you can take something. But I’ve never seen him live so this is a must-see.”

 

Visible Cloaks

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at Theater Kikker

“Bit of a highlight of the year so far, so much so that I bought the CD. We’re used to hearing these sounds in ironic contexts, but here it’s tactile and organic. Also the album seems very loose and live so I’m looking forward to seeing how/if they recreate that in performance.”

 

Matana Roberts

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart

“Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee
This album is basically one piece so it’s hard to pick a specific track. Incredible depth of vision and ambition, someone striving to push the form forwards while reckoning with its history. Confrontational, cathartic.”

 

Le Guess Who? will take place 9-12 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.

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2017: Ex-Easter Island Head

There’s just over 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 asked the bands we’re most excited to see for their recommendations.

Ex-Easter Island Head

Official Website

Performing Saturday 11th November, curated by James Holden

First up is Liverpool based experimental trio Ex-Easter Island Head, who create mesmeric minimalistic and rhythmic compositions using mallets and guitars. When we asked them they told us they are looking forward to seeing Roy Montgomery, John Maus, Gas, the Sai Anantam Ashram Singers, Flohio and “more or less everything on the lineup”. But the three below topped their list:

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares

Official Website

Performing Thursday 9th November, curated by Perfume Genius

 

James Holden & The Animal Spirits

Official Website

Performing Saturday 11th November

 

Visible Cloaks

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November

 

Le Guess Who? will take place 9-12 November. For tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And stay tuned for more artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.