Pantha du Prince – Conference of Trees: I’m loving the experience of immersing myself in these sounds. One minute it reminds me of old Orbital, the next I hear Tangerine Dream, and the next I hear Bonobo. Not all those things are necessarily good, but the good on this record far outweighs the bad. It’s great in the background, yet the nuanced depths of the sounds hold up to attentive listening.
Batu – Opal: This is jarring after Conference of Trees, but I like it. The opening track is like an electronic reinterpretation of the opening of Silver Mt. Zion’s 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons, one of my favorite albums of the past 20 years. Countless surprises are mixed into \the compositions amidst the beats and the dissonance, and the album grew more interesting with multiple listens.
A Silver Mt. Zion – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons: Basically, all I need to do is think about this album to be in the mood for it. It’s not going to be to everyone’s taste, but it encompasses everything necessary for a great rock album.
Ezra Collective – Where I’m Meant to Be: The first track was thrilling and made me wonder why more artists haven’t combined Fela with hip-hop. By the end, though, I wondered why I was still listening to a revisionist celebration of ‘80s smooth jazz. I played it again, though, and again after that. Where I’m Meant to Be made me itch to pick up my old bass and lay into the groove.
Ezra Collective – Lady / Fela Kuti & Africa 70 – Lady: I love that they sped up the tempo, but I don’t understand why they ignored the lyrics. I’m guessing it’s because the lyrics are misogynistic tripe, but then either cover a different song or reinterpret the words. Sure, it would have pissed off some purists, but it also would have highlighted a weakness of the original.
Zen That Beat – Winter: This was a highlight of the past few weeks. I listened to the album when it came out, but I never really heard it until now. Unlike most wintery albums, it finds a sense of joy and hope in the darkness of the season, which is something I desperately need to hear. Also, some of these tracks are just begging for a deep house reimagination. I want Gilles Peterson to get his hands on this record.
Kolsch – Fabric Presents Kolsch: Over the past couple of years, this has become an indispensable staple in my listening. I love this album.
Pat Benatar – Crimes of Passion: I heard “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” while buying coffee at Royal Farms and decided to revisit a record I haven’t listened to in probably 40 years. When it’s good, it’s fantastic, but there’s a lot of forgettable filler. The big surprise for me was “Wuthering Heights,” which I guess was too weird for me as a kid because by the time I started listening to Kate Bush, I’d forgotten about Benatar’s cover. The cover proves that power chords truly do make everything better.
Puccini – La Boheme and Madame Butterfly: When I was maybe 20 or 21, an opera fan visited the record store where I worked and turned me on to Victoria de los Angeles, who to this day is my favorite soprano. This was a good week to revisit a couple of her greatest recordings.
Danilo Plessow – Fabric Presents Danilo Plessow MCDE: This one still leaves me meh, but the Ciel / Hypnobeat tracks did stand out.