Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra : Lightning Dreamers

Rob Mazurek makes music that tows the line between chaotic musical abstractions and groove-oriented excursions. Composer, cornetist, and visual artist that came up in the Chicago underground music scene, Mazurek made his name in bands like Chicago Underground, Isotope 217, Black Cube Marriage, as well as his project Exploding Star Orchestra. He locked into the […]

Unknown Mortal Orchestra : V

Ruban Nielson arrived on the indie music scene back in 2010 with his Unknown Mortal Orchestra project in an air of mystery. This lo-fi project made songs that sounded as if they’d been locked in a storage locker for 40 years; musty, muffled tracks that were equally built for grooving and for dropping out. Garage […]

Ivan The Tolerable Quartet’s ‘Toft House Session’ Out 3/31; Zone Out To “Mothra II”

Oli Heffernan, aka Ivan The Tolerable, makes the kind of drone-heavy psychedelic jams that would be just at home playing in your ears on one hell of an acid trip as they would soundtracking a post-apocalyptic road trip. The songs hang in the air like fog over daybreak waters, or wavering smoke rising off burning […]

Wayne Shorter 1933-2023

It’s been nearly two weeks now since the great and legendary jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter passed away at 89-years old. I hadn’t yet sat down to write something about the man I consider to be one of the greatest jazz saxophonists and composers to ever blow a note. Why? Well, Mr. Shorter passed away on […]

“Many Dimensions To Explore” : The Heady And Cosmic Sounds Of London Odense Ensemble

Photos by Casper Schärfe and Jakob Skøtt Of course if you’re a semi-regular here then you know of my love and adoration for El Paraiso Records. This label prides itself on putting out music you’re meant to plug into and vibe with on a molecular level. Jonas Munk and Jakob Skott, co-label runners and Causa […]

London Odense Ensemble : Jaiyede Sessions Vol. 2

London Odense Ensemble is the music collective consisting of Jonas Munk, Jakob Skott, Tamar Osborn, Martin Rude, and Al McSween. If you’re familiar with their 2022 album Jaiyede Sessions Vol. 1, then you probably already know that. But let me fill you in or remind you of where all these cats come from. Munk, Skott, […]

Makaya McCraven : In These Times

Makaya McCraven is one of the most important musicians/composers working today. For sure in the world of modern jazz, but for modern music itself. The Chicago-based drummer/studio wizard has blended the worlds of jazz, soul, and hip hop and on his records makes music that feels very much grounded in the classic 60s/70s world of […]

Hunter Complex : Airports and Ports

For my money Lars Meijer, aka Hunter Complex, is making some of the most exciting and innovative electronic music currently. As a composer he approaches his work not only a student of the electronic music world, but from the world of jazz, modern classical, pop music, and from a cinematic approach. His releases over the […]

“Get In Touch With The Rest Of The World”: Hunter Complex Returns With ‘Airports and Ports’; A Conversation With Lars Meijer

Photos by Joni Spaan For me, the return of Hunter Complex, aka Lars Meijer, is a great thing. I can remember so vividly hearing Open Sea in late 2018, a couple months prior to it’s official release date and being blown away. That record was like breathing rarefied air; a sound world that felt like […]

Brown Calvin : Dimensions // Perspectives

Portland, Oregon’s Andre Burgos, aka Brown Calvin, has dropped an ethereal and all-encompassing new album called dimensions // perspectives. It’s a spiritual, jazz-heavy album that walks the line between the heady world of late 60s and early 70s jazz/fusion of Miles and Herbie to the more esoteric sounds of Flying Lotus and Massive Attack. Experimental […]