Rinse – I Thought I Knew You

This is the solo project of Joe Agius who also happens to be lead singer & guitarist The Creases, and part of the Hatchie band. Here the Brisbane-based artist gives us I Thought I Knew You from a double A sided single with a nice melange of clattering industrial sounds with spanking guitar riffs and yes a certain nod to past Indie music. The effects-laden vocals would not normally be my cuppa, although on this cut and Let It Flow on the flipside, Joe has made the right choice. I would hope music programmers on whatever “rock radio” is currently labeled would latch onto this one.

Breeze – Heart Attack Waiting To Happen

Don’t mind me if I get all dreamy-eyed and wander down memory lane. You could knock me down with a feather and I wouldn’t argue that here is a lost gem from Human League. Then, on a closer listen, am I mistaken? Is this actually a rare vocal outtake of the fabulous eccentric Pete Burns circa You Spin Me Around days skillfully laid on top of a jolly-good-thumping rhythm track by Toronto nostalgia-merchants, Breeze? Well, of course it’s neither. Yet, I’m quite certain the folks of Breeze will not object to my referencing the glory days of Human League or the sadly departed, legendary  flamboyant Mr. Burns. Whenever I hear a cut as good as this I always wonder how did the pantomime-dame voice of Fred M ever become considered good, let alone rock ’n’ roll? Heart Attack Waiting To Happen is so good. It’s perfectly realized. I’m looking forward to Breeze’s forthcoming Sour Gapes album. Kudos to the fine people over at Hand Drawn Dracula for their exceptional catalogue, which also includes the captivating Tess Parks.

Ricardo Dias Gomes – Muito Sol

Although I haven’t visited there yet, even the name Rio De Janerio is alluring. From Hive Mind Records comes the third solo album from Brazilian auteur Ricardo Dias Gomes. A respected innovator on the Rio music scene since the mid 90s. Muito Sol is from the album of the same name, The songs, led by Gomes’ gentle and dreamy voice, are often reminiscent of classic innovators such as Caetano Veloso, João Bosco or Edu Lobo, though they take unexpected lines of flight into more experimental territory. As you listen, dream up your own sun-drenched scenarios – can haunting be sexy too?

Sababa 5 & Inbal Nur Dekel – Yam

To begin, you need to know Yam is the Hebrew word for ocean. Vocalist Inbal Nur Dekel is involved in creating original music in Hebrew. In the last decade, Inbal has specialized in the Greek style of Rebetiko music, a style that blends Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern influences to depict urban life. For this outing she has partnered with the popular Tel Aviv band, Sababa 5, Inbal’s vocals, filled with passion, delicacy, and innocence, blend harmoniously with the band’s minimalist groove. I love this cut, it’s been on repeat play for a couple of days now at Life Elsewhere Tower. This is an album definitely worth exploring.

Vadim Svoboda – Never Heard (Jason Mix)

Out of Paris, producer Vadim Svoboda gives us two versions of Never Heard. I selected the Jason Mix complete with an almost eerie yet mesmerizing a cappella. I’m quite certain this cut would be perfect at an after hours club I once visited in the basement of a fabulous art deco style hotel in the 8th arrondissement. Slightly erotic, depending on how many glasses of Absinthe you may have enjoyed. A strange notation came with this one, “this tracks could get me killed so please don’t tell the police”. Meanwhile if you go to the Makes Sense Records website there is a brilliant, intriguing viewer-participation function to get involved in – and hard to escape from. Fucking amazing!

Tiny Little Bug – Strange Dogs

Alexei Mercado and Tessa Kelly are Tiny Little Bug who wrote, performed and produced all the songs here on their LP, Blue Hour. These folks are based in lovely Half Moon Bay, California and about this album they say, “It was mostly recorded during Alex’s recovery from a trip to the hospital, while entertaining the 4 track trend through a shitty sun-bleached Grease cassette on a Tascam Porta 02” Oh, my! Did you do that? Cover the little holes on a prerecorded cassette with scotch tape? Usually something I thought I’d never ever play again…I wonder how many Gary Wright, Bee Gees or Elton John albums I ruined that way! What you then had was essentially a blank tape to record you favorite songs from the radio. Or, make you own crappy little recording with a cheap wonky mic. I do like Strange Dogs from Tiny Little Bug, I suspect part of the charm is the questionable sound quality. Lo-fi at it’s best.     

Laptop Funeral – Love Notes (ft. Metagirl)

Ray Valerio as Laptop Funeral has put out a number of recordings, all of which you are advised to investigate. There is something important going on here. This is Ray’s explanation, “Something Blue is a passion project of mine that I’ve been working on for around six years. It’s a story that sums up my experience with trauma and learning to overcome it while cautiously looking forward to change”. The Brooklyn-based artist goes on to say, “I was involved in a traumatic car accident that left me with PTSD and without a car. Suddenly, it felt like my dreams shattered in front of me. My PTSD had a strong impact on me. It became difficult for me to do anything. Even the simple act of trying to get out of my room would trigger memories of the accident. It took me three years to find the courage within myself to seek help and go to therapy. For those painful moments of my life, I think the only thing that kept me going was my music, and during the process of getting better, I wrote this album”. Yes, Ray Velerio is not shying away from his melancholia. Full marks for that. Love Notes, is my favorite cut, although I need to let you know, all the songs on Something Blue demand attention from your earholes. 

Allison Lorenzen and Midwife – Glycerine

I do like covers, especially when they’re well executed and don’t try to imitate the original recording. Gavin Rossdale of Bush penned Glycerine, an interesting choice by Allison Lorenzen and Madeline Johnston also known as Midwife. Allison and Madeline turn this into their own song. I’ve completely forgotten the original even though I played this countless times on the radio back in the day. I’m tempted to say this version is haunting, yet it’s far more than that. Listen to that line, “I couldn’t change though I wanted to” again and again. Sublime. Aw, and the cover artwork by Madeline Johnston is lovely.

Midwife & Vyva Melinkolya – Hounds Of Heaven

I couldn’t resist continuing with this one. Madeline Johnston again as Midwife along with Vyva Melinkolya (fabulous name) who is Angel Diaz have created an emotive collection of songs for their Orbweaving EP. I dunno if this helps, I listened to this record on headphones in a darkened room, while drinking dandelion tea. Did I close my eyes and conjure up vistas I had never seen before. You bet I did. Suffice to say, thank you Midwife & Vyva for transporting me beyond my reality. Apparently, the two musicians became close friends in 2020, regarding each other as a lifeline when things were difficult in their personal lives. This friendship was born from music but quickly became so much more than that. The two met in person in 2021, when Angel came for a recording residency at Madeline’s studio in New Mexico. It was during this session that they wrote and recorded Orbweaving. At night, Angel and Madeline went Herping (a term used by herpetologists to describe looking for snakes and amphibians). The asphalt retains heat from the day, and the snakes absorb the warmth by writhing across the pavement. They found rattlesnakes, roadkill, and orb-weaver spiders. Hence the title Orbweaving. I’m entranced.

Iress – Ricochet

Ricochet is from the EP, Solace featuring the exquisite voice of Michelle Malley. Along with bandmembers Michael Maldonado, Glenn Chu and Graham Walker, Iress have crafted a powerful sound that clearly relies on talent rather than studio trickery. Expertly produced and delightfully listenable. I have an inkling Iress would be engaging to see live. Nice video for Ricochet, too.

VEiiLA – Can’t Forgive Myself

This is the first single from VEiiLA’s  new album Sentimental Craving For Beauty on Projekt Records out of Portland, Oregon. This is the work of Vif Nüte and Bes Eirid who left Russia as the invasion of Ukraine began. They say that the theme of their new LP investigates regret of a specific quality caused by childlike naivety mistaking cynical manipulations of the grown-up world for genuine kindness and decency. There is a lot to appreciate here, yet oddly something sounds familiar, although that may simply mean that Vif and Bes have pulled off that remarkable feat of tricking my mind. I’m going to spend more time delving into this LP. Take a look at this video of VEiiLA performing Can’t Forgive Myself live. Very cool.

Moonageandthegoats – Lone Poet

From Sapporo, Japan, Hayaki Saito presents as Moonageandthegoats. All the cuts on his Visions LP are minimalist and poignant. Ambient sounds add to the charm. His lyrics to Lone Poet are worth noting: 

Sometimes you forget

You are the chosen one

An orphan of the stars

A lone poet on earth

You’re far from home

But always warm

You’re far from home

You have to wonder if almost whispering into the microphone is easy. Mysterious.

DJ Eastwood – Buckshot

Highly regarded North West London producer,  DJ Eastwood is well-practiced in creating unique mixes and this one is in my opinion a standout. The three cuts on his Regime EP smartly delve into an Afro House mode, yet maintaining a firm grasp on syncopated rhythms that make UK Garage so compelling. DJ Eastwood has a back catalogue that will not disappoint. Keep dancing.

Artwork by J. Edwin Foyle 1944 – 2023 “The next stop is welcome” 1971 4′ x 6′ (detail) mixed media & gauche on panel-board. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection