Some Favourite New Albums...

Friday is fun — it’s music. So, links, playlists.Today, a few mini album “reviews”. What are album reviews? Well, years ago it was how people found out about music, now everyone just knows already!

Good morning — or afternoon or evening — or whenever, and however this finds you. I used to wake up early and write music reviews. For years. Especially on Fridays. New release day. I’d be up early and at it — sometimes even putting a few thoughts down on a brand new album that had only been out for a few hours. Everyone still writing about music did that two weeks ago with the latest album by Jay-Z’s wife.

It’s much nice to let albums live and breathe a bit. Don’t you think? And also, we’ve been over this a bunch of times already, no one needs reviews anyway, since no one has to pay for music, you can not only try before you buy, you can never ever buy if you like. Media is also shutting down around us, and so the opportunities for any sort of ‘return’ are so unlikely as to not even seem delusional anymore, it’s merely another language. One that doesn’t fit in the profit column at all. It never did. Or hasn’t for some 30 years at least. And that’s sad. But crowing for the ‘good old days’ is also a bit sad.

Anyway, today, I’m up fairly early and I thought I’d share some thoughts on a few favourite new/new-ish albums that I’ve been trying to give a regular spin. Let me know if there’s anything here you like. Not reviews as such, just mentions. Shares. You can hear the music yourself, if you haven’t already. And form your own thoughts. But a wee point in a particular direction never hurt anyone, right?

But no need to be sad. Not with so many worlds of music to discover.

Here’s some things I’ve found recently. And I’m sure glad I did.

Fabiana Palladino, Fabiana Palladino:

Fabiana Palladino is the sort of name that gets dreamed up for the very best fan fiction. But the name Palladino is well known by music fans. Because, one Pino Palladino is a legendary session bassist. He was on D’angelo’s Voodoo, he’s been part of the latter-day version of The Who, but most impressively for most of us, that’s his liquid-line that drives the Paul Young classic, Wherever I Lay My Hat That’s My Home. Anyway, yes, Fabiano is his daughter. And yes, it’s likely that dad’s Rolodex came in handy. But there’s no nepotism here. This long-in-the-works debut full-lengther arrives as a candidate for one of the best pop albums of the year. Already. It’s a total throwback to 80s pop, and lovingly, brilliantly so. Think Live To Tell-era Madonna for the dramatic balladry, but more often think Jam and Lewis, think very early Janet Jackson. There’s little hints of hip-hop as a connecting rod, but this is pure pop. And it’s pure genius too.

Photo by Buster Grey-Jung

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Kali Malone, All Life Long:

I’ve been listening to Kali Malone for 4-5 years now, and in that time she’s made a handful of exquisite recordings. The best of her work is utterly breathtaking. I remember sitting in an airport, early, almost in tears, listening to one of her works on repeat. And I’m almost as overwhelmed by the opening track here on her latest album. She’s a composer in the minimalist genre, I guess. A multi-instrumentalist, producer and arranger. I feel she’s the “Eno” of this era, making a kind of ambient record the world needs right now. But to dismiss her music as purely ‘background’ is to entirely miss the point. This music could accompany you on your daily walk, during your work, at any point in your routine, but it also has the power to lift you up and away and to hover over things. It’s profoundly beautiful music.

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Sheila E., Bailar:

It’s no secret — nor would it need to be — that I love Sheila E. As both collaborator and solo artist. And I don’t feel she’s quite been given the full respect, or at least she’s not quite the household name she deserves to be. Her latest recording is her first full samba record, and features a duet with fellow 80s pop star, Gloria Estefan. The two have been friends for some 40 years and have finally collaborated. But the album is more than just the headline that that pairing will grab. It’s a deep dive into Sheila E’s percussive prowess. If we know anything about her we know she’s a great drummer and percussionist, but here we feel, across a whole album, and a handful of wonderful collaborations (Ruben Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jean Rodriguez) the depth of her abilities. And, yeah, you’ll get to hear her sing as well. Which she still does brilliantly also. But it’s for the drumming work that this album truly sings!

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Khatia Buniatishvili, Labyrinth: Ephemera:

I first discovered Khatia Buniatishvili about a decade ago, or so. When I was getting hooked on ‘ambient’ music for sleep, and though there’s a lot of rousing work by the Georgian classical pianist, I found it incredibly peaceful for both late at night and first thing in the morning — given I’m often last to bed and first up in my house. Anyway, this new mini-album is basically the leftovers and extra recordings from her 2020 record, Labyrinth. Which is as good of an introduction as you can get. She’s a fantastic player, with a wide-ranging repertoire. And finding out about her has helped me to get hooked on a lot of other great modern players of the classical (romantic and baroque) music across piano, cello and violin in particular. I’ll add the full original album below, worth it for the rendition of Morricone’s great Deborah’s Theme (from Once Upon A Time in America) alone.

But really, if you like classical piano you can’t go wrong with anything Buniatishvili has released.

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Meernaa, So Far So Good:

This one dates from late last year, which is ancient in the world of click and move on, but I’m still listening to this and finding my way in — and loving what I hear. It’s saved in a file of playlists I’ve made for myself from when I was considering still writing regular album reviews…Meernaa is the recording and stage name for Carly Bond, and this is her second album of dramatic, soulful pop. I really must go back and check out the first. I’m still hooked on this. A little bit Sade at times, and that’s about the highest compliment you can give. Right? I dig her guitar playing on here too. Very cool ideas.

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Cat Power, Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert:

Also from the late-last-year files, I’m still listening a lot to Cat Power’s track-by-track recreation of the famous “goes electric”-era Dylan live album (his 1966 Royal Albert Hall). I come and go with Cat Power, but have checked out pretty much every album, and been a huge fan of many of them. I’ve seen her live a couple of times, and that’s been underwhelming — but here she sounds incredible. And I’d jump at the chance to see this particular show if a tour ever came this way. But I’m happy enough just with this as a document to eat.

Photo by Mario Sorrenti

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Hurray For The Riff Raff, The Past Is Still Alive:

Hurray For The Riff Raff is the bandname used by Alynda Segarra, and The Past Is Still Alive is, by my count, her ninth record. I’ve listened to most of the Riff Raff albums, and this reminds me straight away that I need to check out all of them. She’s an amazing singer, musician and — in particular — songwriter. The way she digs into Americana should appeal to fans of Drive-By Truckers, Willy Vlautin and Lucinda Williams. In fact, imagine them all together, with peak-era Bright Eyes and you start to get the idea of this magic. It’s early days for me with this record still, but, look, it might actually be Segarra’s best work. And I really hope that is saying something.

Photo by Tommy Kha

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Reyna Tropical, Malegría:

Also still getting to grips with this, as it’s nearly brand new — but wanted to mention Reyna Tropical’s record Malegria, which features Afro-Cuban and Columbian percussion as the bedrock, with Tropical’s fleet-fingered guitar playing guiding across. It’s a deep record, her way of dealing with a personal tragedy. So there’s a lot more to unpack on subsequent listens, but this won’t ‘bum you out’ like a lot of ‘grief records’ do. It cuts deep. There’s so much heart here. But there’s a little sparkle to the groove, something to entice you in as you take on board these stories. Masterful playing throughout. And I’m a percussion person — so that just hooked me immediately.

Photo by Devyn Galindo

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Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well:

If my doctor had bad news for me, I’d hope he might get Kacey Musgraves to sing it down teh line in my direction. Then I’d barely even notice the bad stuff, or at least I’d feel good about being told something so bad. I love how she blends country and pop music together so effortlessly, so masterfully. I love this new record just as much as the last — and that was one of my favourites for what felt like a forever amount of time.

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Jim White, All Hits: Memories:

Jim White’s debut solo album of solo drum compositions…wait! COME BACK…is just 22 minutes. I’ve been enjoying it as my own private score for walking around town. White is the drummer in the Dirty Three, and he’s supplied his unique, thoughtful playing to a bunch of great singer/songwriters, including, Cat Power and Bill Callahan (aka Smog). I’m a sucker for solo drum records, and acknowledge they are most definitely not for everyone. But Jim White is one of my favourite players, so I have to give this the nod and try to send some adventurous listeners over to his corner.

Photo by Jason South

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Okay, that’s going to do it for today. Some little leads towards new — hopefully interesting and exciting — sounds. See anything here you know you’ll like? Listening to anything lately that you’d like to recommend? But wait, there’s more. There is of course our regularly playlist below…

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It’s Friday, so here’s some new and old music all bunched together in a playlist in a shape I thought might sound nice. This is vol. 164 of “A Little Something For The Weekend…Sounds Good!” I hope there’s something here of interest to your ears. Happy weekend. Thanks as ever for reading. And listening.