Funky Fanfares and Half-Forgotten Daydreams: The ‘Unusual Sounds’ of Library Music
Anthology Recordings releases a curious, surprisingly enjoyable collection of stock instrumentals from a bygone era.
instrumental music
Manu Delago’s Gorgeous ‘Parasol Peak’ Is the Ultimate Field Recording
Austrian hang player Manu Delago leads a group of musicians through a mountainous expedition, and the result, Parasol Peak, is a stunning collection of beautifully performed melodies.
Rhian Sheehan’s “The Absence of You” Mourns in Subtle Moonlight (premiere)
Rhian Sheehan's latest composition could just as well decorate a slice of sci-fi cinema as it could his forthcoming album as it wraps listeners in a gentle, ethereal despair.
Daniel Bachman and the Primitive Catharsis of ‘The Morning Star’
On his latest album, Virginia native Daniel Bachman returns home to create a deep, moving work of art filled with tension and beauty.
20 Questions: Kaada
From quirky pop to classically-affected modern compositions, John Erik Kaada has returned with his first solo album in nine years, so wants to do what any regarded musician would: talk about Homer Simpson and Norwegian environmental policies.
God Is an Astronaut Takes Listeners on an Introspective Journey via ‘Epitaph’ (album stream) (premiere)
Irish trio God Is an Astronaut returns with ninth and possibly best album to date with Epitaph, out Friday via Napalm Records.
Every Scene Fades: An Interview with Ambient Producer Rafael Anton Irisarri
He was one half of the duo behind PopMatters' top pick for Ambient/Instrumental album of 2017, and now Rafael Anton Irisarri is taking ambient music in a surprising direction: one that's intended to remind you of the apocalypse.
Jon Brion’s Soundtrack for ‘Lady Bird’ Possesses All the Baroque Charm You’d Expect
Composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion lends his melodic, baroque charm to the most acclaimed film of 2017.
Hior Chronik Creates Moody and Ambient Composition on ‘Out of the Dust’
Rich in ambience and atmosphere, Hior Chronik's Out of the Dust is an ideal record for those who don't mind slight variations on a dreamlike theme.
Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ in All Its Complicated, Revolutionary Glory
Approaching the symphony through politics, culture, and musical evolution, James Hamilton–Paterson considers how Beethoven came to bridge the Classical and Romantic periods.