Review

In her sophomore EP The Kid, ZOLA shows that being a wallflower has its perks. Zola Johnson’s Bandcamp biography is made up of one humble request: “just don’t put me in a box”. Her latest EP The Kid resists any form of typecasting, with its fluid style, and lyrics that refuse to fall into the usual traps of pop and popularity. Known more commonly by her all-caps mononym … [Read more...] about ZOLA: The Kid – EP Review

Alicia Keys’s latest release KEYS offers an intimate and extended exploration of her sound, while maintaining her signature vocal and virtuosic pianism.  Divided into two halves, separated by the KEYS piano interlude, the release consists of new tracks (Originals) followed by mostly remixes of the previous material (Unlocked). Sadly, the new versions of tracks often … [Read more...] about Alicia Keys: KEYS – Album review

Indiana-based producer Jlin is back with Embryo, her boldest and most ambitious work to date. After her breakthrough release Dark Energy, Jlin has continued to push the boundaries of techno and Embryo is a prime example of this. Much like the industrial landscape of her home state, the sound of the EP is noisy and bleak. There are clear Detroit techno influences, but Jlin … [Read more...] about Jlin: Embryo – EP Review

Canadian electronic producer Teen Daze’s latest album, Interior, is club music made comfortable. British Columbia-based electronic producer Teen Daze has racked up an extensive discography since the release of his debut album, Four More Years, in 2010. After eleven years, and twenty-two albums and EPs to date, you might expect Teen Daze (or his music) to have become somewhat … [Read more...] about Teen Daze: Interior – Review

Spell Songs II: Let the Light In is a remarkable exercise in calming indie folk music, serving as comfort food for tough times.  The subtitle for Spell Songs’ latest studio album - Spell Songs II - is Let The Light In. Sometimes people don’t really read into album titles but this album is definitive proof that they should; they almost always tell you what kind of album … [Read more...] about Spell Songs: Spell Songs II – Let the Light In Review

Noveliss and Dixon Hill provide a unique and mystical record in Book of Changes, drawing on the power of the I Ching.  Detroit-based rapper Noveliss and beatmaker/producer Dixon Hill have really hit on something special with their new collaborative album, Book of Changes. Based on the teachings and wisdom of the I Ching (each track represented by a Hexagram from each … [Read more...] about Noveliss & Dixon Hill: Book of Changes – Review