Shabazz Palaces Resist Profiling on Elusive ‘Exotic Birds of Prey’
Following Robed in Rareness from last fall, Shabazz Palaces continues a provisional series with the cryptic and digressive Exotic Birds of Prey.
experimental
Avalanche Kaito’s ‘Talitakum’ Is a Jagged, Electroacoustic Dream
Avalanche Kaito’s Talitakum is one of the most intriguing albums this year so far. It’s a work of futurist folk-rock and a mixed-media sculpture.
Erika Angell’s New LP Makes You Appreciate Her Excellence
Experimentalist Erika Angell has a deep track record of producing intriguing music, but here, under her own name, it feels like she’s created her masterwork.
Josh Johnson’s ‘Unusual Object’ Is a Fascinating Record
Celebrated saxophonist Josh Johnson infuses his music with various styles on this surprisingly accessible new LP of processed, ambient jazz.
Ambient Matters: The 15 Best Ambient Albums of March 2024
This month’s best ambient/experimental releases yielded enough sublime music to send you drifting into transcendence for many moons to come.
MIZU Creates an Experimental Masterwork with ‘Forest Scenes’
As a composer and performer, MIZU embraces uncharted territory with her cello not so much in hand but working fully as an extension of her body and voice.
‘Fire Escape’ Is Alena Spanger’s Thorny, Soaring Solo Debut
Alena Spanger’s music is full of odd twists and unconventional choices, but that’s what makes Fire Escape so enjoyable and undeniably beautiful.
A Kind of Beauty: An Interview With Ben Frost
Ben Frost, Australia’s premiere avant-garde composer, unleashes his first solo album in seven years by returning to the pitch-black metal he loves so dearly.
Maya Shenfeld Works on a Cosmic Scale with ‘Under the Sun’
Under the Sun has a gravity that helps it stand out in the vast field of contemporary electronic music as Maya Shenfeld considers the magnitude of the cosmos.
Mark Trecka Crafts Inventive Gloom on ‘The Bloom of Performance’
Paris-based experimentalist Mark Trecka incorporates a slightly more traditional song structure on his excellent new album, The Bloom of Performance.
Avi C. Engel Evokes Ancient to Modern Sounds on ‘Too Many Souls’
Too Many Souls is the latest installment in Canadian alternative folk artist Avi C. Engel’s pursuit of “one long continuous song”.
Armbruster Finds Beauty in Noise on the Adventurous ‘Can I Sit Here’
New York-based violinist and composer Armbruster explores drone, distortion, and melody on his excellent new album Can I Sit Here.