Alva Noto – HYbr:ID III

I don’t want to belittle Alva Noto’s amazing art to “work music” but his albums are definitely my best aid in focusing recently. Other than that, this one is yet another fantastic ambient record. Part meditative drone, part nuanced and finessed rhythmic noise.

Raised Fist – Anthems

Angry punk guys playing hard rock. Like someone coming from a hc punk background but evolved and built through the years, playing something more well-crafted today but keeping that punk zest. Especially the singer, I can hear him biting into the mic.

Black Oak County – Theatre Of The Mind

This fits in the row with Mustasch and Motorjesus in the sense that it’s also hard rock and some heavy metal in a blender. I couldn’t name any specific thing why this record should be any standout but still I find myself listening to it repeatedly. These guys sound like those friendly rock and roll dudes, not overpolished, down to earth, honest, just from that next room in the rehearsal place.

(After listening to some album I ended up in this Nordic rock listening spree and still processing the new finds from there.)

Peggy Gou – I Hear You

This is such an amazing, carefree, summer breeze of an album. House for the most part, with hints of other electronic stuff.

It’s interesting that if I think of Gou I have this up-and-coming talent in mind who’s at the peak of her rising but still connects more with the underground scene than the mainstream. But in reality she’s the only current female DJ on the DJ Mag Top 100, appeared on cover of a whole bunch of fashion magazines, plays sold-out stadiums, runs her own festival, etc. She’s nowhere near being an underground name but a massive global sensation, I’ve just missed to follow the news. Although whenever she played in town in the past two years it was always sold out and I couldn’t get to see her live, so that should have been a hint.

Anyways, and still, this album doesn’t show any signs of self-imposed pressure. It’s very impressive how she seems to dictate and follow her on rhythm instead of trying to fit herself into boxes where I’m sure people would like to see her. She’s truly a star.

Lady Blackbird – Black Acid Soul (deluxe edition)

I don’t often post about jazz records because I rarely listen to new jazz music, which is not nu jazz. This one is soulful funk and jazz, and it was a surprisingly amazing listen; set my mood beautifully to positivity on an otherwise cloudy afternoon. I specifically mention the deluxe edition because of its second record with some extra nice stuff, remixes and some nu jazz sounds over there.