Altın Gün Shift Toward Contemporary Synthpop Sounds on ‘Yol’
Yol proves Altın Gün’s versatility, reassuring listeners that the group can walk down many paths and still take us on a fabulous trip.
PopMatters Picks
Blanck Mass Continues to Innovate on ‘In Ferneaux’
Blanck Mass proves that electronic music is one of the few genres evolving and innovating right before our very ears. In Ferneaux is evidence that even if one guy has conceivably “done it all”, there’s still plenty more to do.
The Amorphous and Complex Global ‘Pink Line’
Mark Gevisser's excellent study of the global weaponization of homo- and transphobia, The Pink Line, provides a superb survey of the promise – and peril – of queer identity.
Sigur Rós Embrace Classical Music and Icelandic Literature on ‘Odin’s Raven Magic’
Sigur Rós' Odin's Raven Magic is a classical treasure that highlights Icelandic literature and maintains the band's otherworldly sound.
‘Yellow River Blue’ Is Yu Su’s Boldest, Most Eclectic Statement
Yellow River Blue is the latest in a string of success stories for electronic producer Yu Su, and it's her boldest, most eclectic statement yet.
Slowthai’s ‘TYRON’ Revels in Complexity of Human Relationships
Despite the rowdy noise of TYRON's first seven tracks, it's the gentler songs on the second half that genuinely highlight Slowthai's voice.
Mogwai’s ‘As the Love Continues’ Is a 25th Anniversary Marked in Style
After seven soundtracks, a plethora of quality EPs, plus remix, live, and radio compilations, Mogwai hit another inimitable height with their tenth album, As the Love Continues.
4 Mars’ ‘Super Somali Sounds from the Gulf of Tadjoura’ Highlights Djiboutian Popular Music
These are recordings prematurely aged, but their grit belies fresh sounds that speak to Djibouti's history as a port region connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to the Horn of Africa.
Joshua Chuquimia Crampton’s ‘4’ Is Powerful Landscape Music
Listening to Joshua Chuquimia Crampton is like watching a guitarist perform with a thought bubble over their head. 4 is landscape music, but in a way that draws power from the land rather than just evoking it.
Why Work Doesn’t Work
The idea that we work because we want to, not because we need to, is a pernicious one that labor journalist Sarah Jaffe dissects in Work Won't Love You Back.