Glazyhaze – A Glimpse Of Light

Glazyhaze formed in northern Italy in 2021 by Irene Moretuzzo and Lorenzo Dall’Armellina. A Glimpse Of Light is from their Just Fade Away LP, they say there are dream pop/shoegaze band based in Venice. Competent work here and terrific sleeve artwork, too. 

Para Lia – Sunchild

Para Lia is René Methner (all instruments and vocals) and Cindy Methner (backing vocals), who were raised in the eastern part of a divided Germany. Their band name was born of their love for Greece, with para lia (παραλία) meaning “coast” or “beach” in Greek – a name full of mystery but optimism, which both has history and evokes a balance of the masculine and feminine. Now they are based in Cottbus (near Berlin) with the band expanding from two members to six with an eye towards upcoming live performances. Sunchild is from their third album, In Clash With The Zeitgeist.

Loraine James – 2003

Ms. James caught our attention a couple of years back with her first release. Since then we have eagerly enjoyed each subsequent release. Gentle Confrontation is Loraine’s third album for Hyperdub, the artist says, “This is the record a teenage Loraine would like to have made, with musical tendencies that reflect that time, too”. As you listen to 2003 you know Loraine reached deep inside to share her emotions. Exceptional.

Surya – Come Alive

We get get lots of unsolicited sound files in our inbox and as I have mentioned many times before, I listen to everything that comes in, it may take a little while to review your material but I can assure you I do listen. Here is one that came with this message, “My name is Surya, I’m an Alternative Hip-Hop artist from London. Come Alive explores the importance of taking control of the present.” I would appreciate your feedback on this one. Should we have included Surya in this volume?

Madmadam – Love Whore

She is an artist, musician, author, and singer, hailing from Italy and Poland, she lived in several countries before choosing to settle in Paris, France. She began her career as a classical musician, then moved into jazz, pop, rock and finally electronic music. She is Natalia Giro AKA Madmadam. Her LP is Fenice which means Phoenix in English. You can hear that classically trained voice throughout this album. 

Ясный-Svetly – Talk

Yasny-Svetly, a duo from Moscow have a number of previous albums, Project 0 is their latest. This excellent cut came via Meticulous Midgets a brilliant magazine with a CD supplement created by Nata Boundariver since 2020. This is a creative enterprise of incredible ideas, to better understand what Meticulous Midgets is all about go this link. You are in for big bundle of surprises. The paper version of Meticulous Midgets is is published in Russian and English annually. There is so much to indulge in her, exquisite music selections and so much more. Nata is an also an artist, you must spend time at her site, it’s so worthwhile. I love compilations, but Meticulous Midgets is so much more. A wonderful treat for lovers of unique and different music, plus a gorgeous magazine too. 

Buffalo Daughter – Robot Sings (As If He Were Frank Sinatra With A Half-boiled Egg And The Salt Shaker On A Breakfast Table)

Yes, I admit, I would include this cut for the title alone, but as it happens, this is also a fine piece of music. Out of Tokyo, Buffalo Daughter formed in 1993, suGar Yoshinaga is on guitar, Yumiko Ohno takes care of the bass and vintage Mini Moog, and moOog Yamamoto is on the wheels of steel. Brilliantly peculiar and tremendously fascinating listening.

The 3 Clubmen – Aviatrix

Andy Partridge of XTC fame is back with his new project including Los Angeles native, Jen Olive who has a series of albums to her name, and Stu Rowe a key player on Swindon’s music scene. The 3 Clubmen, is the culmination of a decade of antics from these longtime collaborators, who started writing and recording this material years ago. While each artist has worked with the others in some form since 2008, The 3 Clubmen marks the first time that Stu, Andy and Jen have combined forces as a trio. “Like an ‘action painter’ throws color at a canvas, we tend to throw musical and sound things, knowing that we’ll cut through this seemingly insane mess later, to hopefully find some beautiful garden, hiding there,” says Andy Partridge. Aviatrix is an inviting tease of more delights to come from The 3 Clubmen.

Dot Allison – Unchanged

Unchanged is the first single from Dot Allison’s new album, Consciouology proving that the marvelous Scottish singer-songwriter is in top form. What a brilliant production, showcasing Dot’s remarkable voice. Dot Allison first came to my attention fronting One Dove in 1993, the album, Morning Dove White still gets regular play at LE Tower. In addition to her splendid 1999 solo album, Afterglow, Dot has gone on to continually release excellent solo recordings and collaborate with a wide variety of marquee names in the music biz. Dot Allison says, “She revolts against what she has done before, to evolve and not just occupy the same space”. Guitarist Andy Bell of Ride is featured on Unchanged. And, you need to look out for the evocative video for the song directed by Robbie Crawford. Lovely sleeve artwork, too. Perhaps I should find out if Dot would like to have a Zoom conversation with me? Well done Dot Allison.

Kevin Pearce – So True

From the album, Scraps Of Paper Falling Into A Black Hole, So True is just one of a beautiful collection of songs. Colchester-based Kevin Pearce has a knack for getting the hooks in all the right places, while executing his songs with precise production skills. Along with creating the artwork for this LP, Kevin also makes music under the name, Sun Cutter.

Deary – Beauty In All Blue Satin

London-based multi-instrumentalists Ben and Dottie won me over with Fairground, now this smart duo are back with another powerful single. Everything is perfectly assembled on Beauty In All Blue Satin. From Dottie’s plaintive vocals to the simple, yet  commanding guitar signature. This is a record that has to be played loud, very loud. Oh, and I’m reluctant to do a spot of train-spotting, but there is a slither of A.R. Kane’s iconic Lolita buried in the dazzling mix. So good!

The Bobo – Wish I Knew

For Me, The Sun is an album full of interesting ideas, definitely worth investigating. Based in Oxford, UK, The Bobo is the solo project of Maria Rozalska from Poland who also composes music for the first-ever Polish LGBT web series called Control. I think The Bobo also goes by the name Babu Frik, have to get that confirmed. Meanwhile, here are some interesting facts, The Bobo was a 1970s film with Peter Sellers and Brit Eckland; an African language; and a sexual act I cannot describe here. Good stuff from The Bobo.

Lina K.O. – Two-Player Mode

If you happen to be in Brooklyn and hear that Lina K.O. is performing someplace, I urge you to make sure you do not miss this rising talent. And, listen carefully to Lina’s LP, Earth Apple especially to the single, Two-Player Mode. For example: Your calloused feet scraping me under the sheets, I can’t sleep so I’ll keep bleeding, When the sun punches in I’ll get some peace, but I’ll still miss it”. Damn that is good. Produced, performed, recorded, mixed by Lina with drums & percussion on Two-Player Mode by Charlie Colbert and bass by Ian Romeo. Lina K.O. has a poignant, lovely, minimalist video to accompany this cut, plus the sleeve photo by Kirsten Eleanor Showe is perfect. If vulnerable were a genre, Lina has it down to perfection. I’m impressed, and you should be too.

Listen to the Podcast here

Artwork by Andrew Suskind “One Lemon” 2009 35″ x 35″ digital print on archival paper. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection