David Moore’s malleable minimalism project Bing & Ruth returns with a streamlined ensemble, a sharp focus and a wordlessly evocative LockDown transcendence. The New York composer David Moore’s penchant for a trance-inducing mixture of modern classical, drone, ambient and minimalism has been honed across a series of studiously composed and well received releases under the … [Read more...] about Bing & Ruth: Species – Album Review
Nat Birchall: Mysticism Of Sound – Review
British jazz hero Nat Birchall releases a lockdown masterwork is a Sun Ra-inspired cosmic blast of psychedelic sci-fi jazz that caresses and enchants. For a number of years the saxophonist, composer, arranger and band leader Nat Birchall has steadily and quietly garnered an impassioned cult following and a sturdy reputation as a skilful purveyor of exotic, spiritually … [Read more...] about Nat Birchall: Mysticism Of Sound – Review
Julianna Barwick: Healing Is A Miracle – Review
Ambient sculptor, songwriter and one-woman choir Julianna Barwick returns with new pals for a regenerative exploration of the human body’s capacity to heal itself. The Louisiana-born singer, songwriter and producer Julianna Barwick stretches, manipulates and layers her ethereal and angelic vocals as a sea of wordless loops and aquatic drones that nestle between the sound of … [Read more...] about Julianna Barwick: Healing Is A Miracle – Review
Rufus Wainwright: Unfollow The Rules – Review
Flamboyant Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright wrestles with creeping middle age and harks back to past baroque glories on an opulent set of orch-pop throwbacks. Having waded into operatic and Shakespeare sonnet waters on his most recent efforts, Rufus Wainwright’s return to his trademark sleek ‘popera’ sound on his first pop-oriented work since 2012’s Mark … [Read more...] about Rufus Wainwright: Unfollow The Rules – Review
Greg Foat: Symphonie Pacifique – Review
British pianist, composer and keyboardist Greg Foat assembles a richly rewarding, subtly constructed and sterling musical hybrid from a conveyor belt of cosmic, modal and pastoral influences; Symphonie Pacifique is a lush and forward-thinking release that will appeal to open ears from beyond the world of jazz. The Isle of Wight-born, London-based jazz musician Greg Foat has … [Read more...] about Greg Foat: Symphonie Pacifique – Review
James Blake: Are You Even Real? – Single Review
Sadcore singer-songwriter James Blake shares the string swells of Are You Even Real?, another one-off single following last year’s Assume Form album. The English producer James Blake has returned to satiate the desires of devotees of his swooning machine soul by unveiling a brand new song today. The Are You Even Real? single is a delicious ballad co-written by industry … [Read more...] about James Blake: Are You Even Real? – Single Review