Music Reviews

Mamiffer “The Brilliant Tabernacle” [Sige Records]

atavist   6/15/2022   12-inch, A Library

The KFJC library currently has a handful of Mamiffer tracks on splits and collaborations. These are spare, almost austere compositions built around keyboards/piano with a light touch of additional instrumentation, exploring spaces of loss. In contrast, “The Brilliant Tabernacle” is a collection of gentle songs about new life, the experience of parenthood, seeking a spiritual mooring in a new world created from the ruins of the old. Primary collaborators Faith Coloccia and Aaron Turner had their first child during the album’s approximately six year development period, and the album’s title came to Coloccia in a dream. This work provides a further exploration into the Mamiffer sound, operating in spare composition, with folk instruments folded in. The sound is anchored around Collocia’s vocals and keyboards. There are at times loud things, pounding drums and distorted guitar, that seethe below the surface. The group wants this played loudly so that the dynamic range Randall Dunn created can be fully experienced. Beautiful and at times ethereal and haunting.

die Angel – “Live in Austin” – [Erototox Decodings]

Max Level   6/15/2022   12-inch, A Library

Two side-long drone pieces, recorded in Austin TX in 2019. This long-running duo (Ilpo Vaisanen of Pan Sonic and Dirk Dresselhaus of Schneider TM) use electronics, prepared guitar, and effects to create their mildly tense ‘instant compositions.’ Side A has a slightly rough, buzzing quality and Side B is somewhat the same except it has a subdued electronic beat layer during most of it. Nice.

Studio One DJ Party [coll] – [Soul Jazz Records]

Mister S   6/13/2022   12-inch, Reggae

This double album gatefold is a great place to enter into the world of Dancehall DJ’s. Included in the gatefold sleeve are not left over roaches, seeds or shake but fantastic liner notes about the various founders of the genre for those seeking entry into a wonderful world of reggae music. Roll a spliff of less than quality ganja utilizing the gatefold, perfect for filtering away the seeds. Recline comfortable and take a listen both on your headphones and also your speaker system when you can play at maximum volume. Studio One is a classic provider of reggae of all genres, this in particular features some of the greats of Dancehall.

CIA Debutante – “Dust” – [Siltbreeze]

Mister S   6/13/2022   12-inch, A Library

Gloomy Lofi low BPM electronica. Almost deadpan spoken word vocals remind me of Lady Godiva‘s operation by the Velvet Underground. Imagine the Sleaford mods on drugs that make you very slow. Simple synth sounds hark back to 80s electronica. Oddly interesting and somewhat disturbed sounding. Could be layered in with another track playing simultaneously by the adventurous dj. Definitely worth at least a few listens if you are into a gloomier sounding electronica experience. 33 rpm but try pitching down further or pitching higher as well as playing at 45rpm.

Sky Furrows – “S/T” – [Tape Drift Records]

Mister S   6/13/2022   A Library

Indie emo pop. Spoken word vocals. Nice simple clean single note and arpeggio guitar, bass and brush drum style accompaniment. Reminds me a bit of Red Stars Theory. Maybe a bit of a Mission of Burma feel about the band sound. Perhaps the Minutemen. Definitely a Lee Ronaldo accompaniment style. NYC downtown art rock.

Fronted by poet Karen Schoemer. Schoemer collaborates with bassist Mike Watt in Jaded Azurites, and with Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby. Eric Hardiman, Mike Griffin and Phil Donnelly are members of psych rock unit Burnt Hills.

Chillingsworth Surfingham – “Chillingsworth Surfingham” – [ATOM Records]

Cousin Mary   6/13/2022   A Library, CD

Chillingsworth Surfingham is actually John Ashfield, also know for his San Francisco indie pop band The
Bobbleheads. This 2021 instrumental collection gives a pop spin to surf music. Chillingsworth Surfingham is a bear – Ashfield performs in a bear costume – but don’t think the shtick is all there is. Very well played energetic and positive tracks.

No Artist – “101 Notes on Jazz” – [Suite 309]

mickeyslim   6/8/2022   A Library, Cassette

This CD is a brilliantly concocted and collection of 60, that’s right, SIXTY mic breaks from a (sadly) fictional jazz radio station from the mixed-up mind of Tim Thorton. While these improvised tracks range from about 20 seconds to 80 seconds, any of these would fit seamlessly between practically any two tracks you wish since their absurdity falls perfectly in line with KFJC’s. It was impossible to listen all the through only because I had to pause it due to my uncontrollable fits of laughter. Here are a few of my favorite lines from these tracks…

“Trust me on this one, there’s nothing softer than the tip of a dolphin’s nose, but I guess that depends on where he nudges you…”

“It’s opposite Day here at the station, it’s actually not, and we’re not going to be playing your favorite bossa nova hits…”

“Broadcasting live from Reggae Fest! They put me in the tank! And they, uh, just dunk me when they get the answers wrong, it’s filled with reggae, uh, trivia, and I actually got to touch a steel drum so…”

“We have a shoe that was left behind at the hot dog roast, it’s a men’s size 7 and a half tap shoe, the color is not important, but I would like to get this shoe out of the studio as quickly as possible…”

“I went to an art’s gallery this past weekend, and let me just say, I didn’t realize that poetry could be an art, uh, and I still don’t realize it because you can’t just describe a bunch of flowers out loud and expect people to take you seriously…”

“Welcome back to ‘Jazz Music To Meet Your Wife To,’ and I did meet my wife to this song, that’s why I play it at the top of every hour…”

and much, much, much, much, much more.

There is no reason not to play this.

Flock – “Flock” – [Strut]

aarbor   6/7/2022   A Library, CD

Flock is a brand new collaboration between five leading musicians from London’s open-minded jazz and experimental scenes: Bex Burch , Sarathy Korwar, Dan “Danalogue” Leavers , Al MacSween and Tamar Osborn. Each performer plays a variety of instruments here. They gathered in London during the Summer of 2020, with the intention of trying something fresh. Some of the band had never met in person before the session. Burch wrote texts as scores for the session and the emphasis was on breathing and listening to each other. The music was freely improvised. Sometimes they chose to stay on form and rhythm, repeating melodies and groove. Each track has its own sound even though the instrumentation is consistent. The playing is outstanding. Probably the best new jazz release I’ve heard this year. AArbor

DakhaBrakha – “Na Mezhi” – [Self-release]

aarbor   6/7/2022   CD, International

DakhaBrakha is a Ukrainian folk quartet which combines the musical styles of several ethnic groups.
Created at DAKh Center for Contemporary Art, DakhaBrakha is led by Vladyslav Troitskyi . It was born as a live theater music crew. Members of DakhaBrakha participate in the Centre’s other projects, notably in the all-female cabaret project Dakh Daughters. You’ll hear driving drum rhythms, cello and accordians played for rhythm and to create atmosphere. Their voices are lovely and haunting both in singing and building the mood of the music. Almost reminiscent of Les Mysteres des Voix Bulgares but more haunting in a very Slavic way. AArbor

Clint Eastwood – “African Youth” – [Radiation Roots]

Mister S   6/4/2022   12-inch, Reggae

Do you like the dub? Do you like the reggae sound? Then you’ll dig this fantastic fantastic 12” vinyl by Clint Eastwood. On this album vocalist Clint Eastwood is backed by the Aggrovators (Sly and Robbie with Earl Smith on Guitar). Engineered by King Tubby. Produced and arranged by Bunny Lee. Listen on your speakers and also on your headphones so that you can discern the subtle nuance of sound. Take a taste. Enjoy an adult beverage. Roll and smoke. Eat and ingest or imbibe via the aural senses alone and you will be back for more.