Blue Honey – Sick & Tired

We begin with Sick & Tired a cut from a well-crafted album by Perth-based, Blue Honey. Five members here if you don’t count the two teddy bears I spied in their PR photo. Sick & Tired is an LP I certainly recommend, plus top marks for the impressive drumming.

Mary Jane Dunphe – Stage Of Love

Stage Of Love is from the album of the same name by poet, songwriter, vocalist, performer and video artist, Mary Jane Dunphe. Based in New York, Mary Jane has collaborated in diverse projects and says her work is an idiosyncratic assemblage of crooning and danceable avant-pop songs, full of longing, a love letter to no one in particular. I just discovered Mary Jane’s video for Stage Of Love, oh my, please don’t break the spell.

Marumaru – Phantom Falling

Avery Hutley presents as Marumaru with Phantom Falling from a double-sided single. Originally from Sydney, Avery is now living in Tokyo, translating manga and recording music at home. Phantom Falling is deceptively alluring, it sounds familiar yet completely new. This is hardly surprising as Marumaru says, “My music is for those ghostly moments when reality falls so far short of fiction, full to bursting with the fear that you feel nothing at all”. Excellent artwork by Emily Husmann.

R. Missing – My Time As A Ghostly Someone Else

New York based vocalist Sharon Shy, who along with musician Toppy present as R. Missing. As you listen to Sharon Shy’s almost deadpan vocals you’ll know there is a story going here with My Time As A Ghostly Someone Else. The smart electro music-bed carries the song along perfectly. For some reason, the song and production conjurs up a futuristic-city vista for me. What do you see?

Current Affairs – No Fuss

OK, I’ll be clear about this one – it’s fantastic! Joan Sweeney, Andrew Milk, Gemma Fleet and Sebastian Ymai, queer activists involved with visual art, festivals, club nights and live art have created an exceptional album with Off The Tongue. These lovely folks out of Glasgow have an energy, a vibrancy I’m always on the look-out for. It was difficult to select just one cut to play, even though No Fuss is truly amazing. Now here is a band I would love to see live and had a sneak peek in the studio when this record was being made. Top marks and Current Affairs are on the brilliant Tough Love imprint, so there.

Tetra Hydro K – Alone Inside (part 1)

Now here is a cut you can dance your socks off to. Tasty production from a French duo who shared this info, “Tetra Hydro K is the name of a laboratory based in a secret location, run by Doctors Kanay and Krilong. Their research concentrates on experimenting with organic elements (live musical instruments) in a computer-generated environment. When testing these musical concoctions, specialists have been left scratching their heads with unanswered questions: Is it electronic? Acoustic? Dub? Dubstep? Drum and Bass? Why can’t I stop dancing?” Now, if you believe any of that, I have a bridge to sell you, although, some of that does sound sort of reasonable. Love it!

Witch Prophet – I’m Scared

Ah, knock me down with a feather. This is so good. I’m Scared is a beautiful song from an exceptional album. Ayo Leilani is Witch Prophet, a Toronto based, singer-songwriter who uses a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz and soul-inspired beats produced by her wife and business partner, Sun Sun. Gateway Experience is a stunning album, focused on the connection with the human brain, dreams, seizures, god and otherworldly abilities. The title of the album is an ode to the released CIA report where they studied the use of sound tapes to manipulate brainwaves with a goal of creating altered states. Examples include out of body experiences, remote viewing, psychic abilities and the ability to heal ones body. Plus, you must take note of the fabulous videos and photography. 

Emma Anderson – Bend The Round

Serious train-spotter will recognize the name, Emma Anderson, who was co-founder of Lush. Now, Emma has her debut solo outing with the album, Pearlies. The Hastings-based artist has clearly put a lot of thought and effort into this collection of songs as is evident with Bend The Round. (Yes, digest that title for a moment). Emma avoids that tendency to sound slightly vulnerable as some female singers often do. This is a confident artist who knows how to make vital music.

Sculpture – Wasting

Based in South London, Sculpture are Ted Mair, Matt Merriman, Lucy Ludlow, James Hurst and Aaron Skates. Wasting is from their debut EP, Lichtenberg Figure where there is a lot going on, listen carefully to how it all comes together, each instrument is used with restraint, yet effectively. Don’t overlook how good Sculpture are. And, impress your friends by explaining that Lichtenberg Figure is a branching electric discharge that sometimes appears on the surface or in the interior of insulating materials. Lichtenberg figures are often associated with the progressive deterioration of high voltage components and equipment. Lichtenberg figures are now known to occur on or within solids, liquids, and gases during electrical breakdown. And, Lichtenberg figures are natural phenomena which exhibit fractal properties. Gottit!

Claire Rousay – Sigh In My Ear

LA experimental artist, Claire Rousay has a large back catalogue of work you are advised to check out. With Sigh In My Ear her music zeroes in on personal emotions and the minutiae of everyday life she says. The vocals are by Helena Deland. I love the photos of Claire in or on her bed. Go to this link to hear more from Rousay and other experimental artists.

Canty – Follower

Sometimes, quoting a portion of lyrics can help to understand new music, for instance:

It’s comforting

Knowing you’re behind me following

I don’t even turn around I know that you’re there

It’s kind of creepy but i don’t really care 

I know exactly where you are 

Taken hostage in my heart 

You are glowing in the dark

This is from Follower by London-based singer and producer, who goes by the singular name, Canty. On this beautiful cut James Canty plays guitar, bass, drums, synths, with Camilla Staveley-Taylo on female vocals. I love this record, I love the gorgeous sleeve art and you should know it’s on the excellent Full Time Hobby label. Lovely!

The artwork is by Alton Banks 1946 – 2023 “Orange cat, black snake” 2001 35” x 35” digital print on archival paper. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection