Category Archives: Music

Seven Nations’ The Factory

It’s almost inexcusable that I could have had this particular gem in my collection for so long and not written a review of it. I confess, then, that I was saving it for a rainy day, and as I fear … Continue reading

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Smithfield Fair’s Jacobites By Name

For anyone who is of the firm opinion that the Battle of Culloden was the darkest moment in the history of western civilization, Smithfield Fair‘s Jacobites By Name is the album you’ve been waiting for. If you’re not craving a … Continue reading

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Sinikka Langeland’s Wind And Sun

Magical. That’s the first word that came to mind as I listened to Sinikka Langeland’s Wind And Sun. This is Langeland’s 11th solo album and seventh on ECM (her work has also appeared on Grappa and Heilo labels). I first … Continue reading

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Maurice Louca & Elephantine’s Moonshine

On Moonshine, Maurice Louca’s ensemble Elephantine uses classical Middle Eastern modal music as a springboard to an entrancing blend of genre-defying sounds. It’s a dense, heady swirl of multi-cultural instrumentation united by jazz and other improvisational styles and modernist classical … Continue reading

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Margo Cilker’ Valley of Heart’s Delight

I was among the reviewers and critics who fell head over heels for Margo Cilker’s 2021 debut Pohorylle. No sophomore slump here as Valley of Heart’s Delight marks a big step in fulfilling her early promise as a country folk … Continue reading

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Viv & Riley’s Imaginary People

Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno have made a delightful album that reflects the changes in their lives, moving from old-time and folk country in a more indie roots and folk-pop direction as they’ve moved from Portland, Oregon to Durham, North … Continue reading

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Commentary: RIP Jimmy Buffett

Well. I didn’t see this one coming. Mr. Margaritaville has transitioned to the Big Beach. I’m not a real Parrot Head, as the Buffett fanatics call themselves. I stopped following him in the mid-80s, when he started getting played on … Continue reading

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Mark Turner Quartet’s Live at the Village Vanguard

Mark Turner is a highly respected saxophonist with countless credits to his name as a leader and player in others’ ensembles. This is his first live release as a leader, and he chose to do it in the most storied … Continue reading

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The Handsome Family’s Hollow

It’s been a long wait for new music from Albuquerque’s The Handsome Family. Their previous release was 2016’s masterful and thematically coherent Unseen a strong collection of twang-filled Country & Southwestern gothic songs. At last comes their 11th studio album … Continue reading

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The Handsome Family’s Honey Moon

The press release accompanying The Handsome Family’s eighth album, Honey Moon, makes much of the fact that 2009 marks Brett and Rennie Sparks’s 20th anniversary. Indeed the songs on this album all qualify as love songs, but then I believe … Continue reading

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