Essential weekend listening.
This week’s rundown is by VF’s Kelly Doherty and contributors Annabelle Van Dort, Emily Hill and James Hammond.
Kiasmos
II
(Erased Tapes Records)
Kiasmos, the duo comprising composer and multi-instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds and producer Janus Rasmussen, returns for their first album in a decade following their self-titled debut. II is pure bliss–a dancefloor bothering blend of melancholia and cascading synthesizers. Immaculately produced, II takes the core of cinematic ambient and applies it to ravey structures, making for a soothing yet exciting swirl of build-ups and vulnerable set pieces. Kiasmos may be sparing in their output but when taking their time sounds this rich and engaging, it’s well worth the wait.–KD
Muslimgauze
Citadel
(Extreme)
Many hours have been lost speaking about the genius of Muslimgauze, the English musician Bryn Jones who released an astonishing amount of music in his 16-year production career, with current estimates of around 200 albums and a total of 1900 songs in circulation. Jones’ 1994 album Citadel has now been lovingly reissued by Kontakt Audio. The experimental musician whose socio-political beliefs heavily influenced his musical style, created what has been described as some of the most startling and unique music in the noise underground traversing a vast number of genres. Difficult to pin down but ultimately epic.–EH
Eiko Ishibashi
Evil Does Not Exist
(Drag City)
The genesis of this work from Eiko Ishibashi’s is atypical in film music, as here it was Ishibashi’s sounds that provided a starting point for the development of director Rysuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist. With an audiovisual collaboration formed around the relationship between cities and nature, Ishibashi’s mix of orchestral and ambient sounds presents a narrative that’s exploratory and mysterious. As a standalone work this LP loses none of its impact as it muddles the serene with an underlying disquiet.–JH
Warriors of the Dystotheque
It’s a Beautiful Thing
(DSPPR)
Ibiza mainstays Warriors of the Discoteque release their third album on Chris Coco’s DSPPR label. A cross-continental collaboration between producers Jonny Mac, Sean Graham, New York brothers Mike and Nick Rufalo, and Undertones drummer Kevin Sharke, Warriors of the Discoteque have produced a blissful concoction of airy Balearic textures, broken-beat rhythms, and downtempo sonics primed for poolside listening in warming climes.–AVD
Alva Noto
HYbr:ID III
(NOTON)
VF artist Carsten Nicolai aka Alva Noto continues his HYbr:ID series with its third entry. Inspired by Noh, a traditional Japanese musical drama from the 14th century, HYbr:ID III is an entrancing collection of soundscapes. Predominantly sombre, the ruminative works play with high and low frequencies, lending an exploratory perspective to sound design. Thoughtful experimentation in texture and sound.–KD
Wayne Shorter
Odyssey of Iska
(Tone Poet)
For the latest instalment in their essential Tone Poet series, Blue Note US reissues Wayne Shorter’s underrated Odyssey of Isaka, recorded in 1970 following his exit from Miles Davis’ second quintet. A clear precursor to the avant-garde fusion of Weather Report—as well as Shorter’s immersion in Brazilian musical styles later in this era—Odyssey of Isaka is a profoundly textured work, full of searching melodies and expressive musical interplays that announces a new chapter in Shorter’s already storied discography.–AVD
Various Artists
Eccentric Soul: The Cuca Label
(Numero Group)
True to the criteria of Numero Group’s Eccentric Soul series, Jim Kirchstein’s Cuca label presents an effective microcosm of Wisconsin-based soul music in the 1960s. A studio that released a range of work from local groups in small pressings of singles and LPs, this collection gathers the Cuca rarities and presents a set of smooth and upbeat sounds from the likes of Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds and the Twiliters. –JH
fka boursin
You Just Give In, Giving it All to the Wind
(Accidental Meetings)
Accidental Meetings has evolved beyond the small heads-only Brighton party to a Bristol and London mainstay and now their release with fka boursin marks their 19th release and 9th vinyl record. fka bousin, the Bristol-based producer also known as Henry Murray, goes deep on their latest production offering, channelling NYC and Chicago legends across two tracks on a special limited 12-inch. Taking things back to basics, Murray ignites a warm sensual haze comparable to some of the best house music from the early 2000s, balancing soft vocal samples with light percussion and smokey pads.–EH
