New music - w4
NEW RELEASES: SONIC JOURNEYS FOR DISCERNING EARS
Greetings, fellow travelers of the soundwaves. As the vinyl spins and the needle drops, I find myself once again surrounded by a quartet of remarkable new releases that demand your attention. This week's selection traverses the intimate landscapes of folk, the shadowy corridors of electronic experimentation, the vibrant energy of Flemish hip-hop, and the historical significance of early Moroccan electronic compositions. Each record offers its own distinct journey - a journey I'm delighted to share with you, as we navigate these sonic territories together.
Damien Jurado - Motorcycle Madness: Intimate Chronicles of the Heart
LABEL: Maraqopa Records GENRE: Folk, jazz, indie
Damien Jurado has long been a master of intimacy, crafting songs that feel like hushed confessions shared between old friends. With "Motorcycle Madness," his newest offering on Maraqopa Records, he continues this tradition with characteristic grace. The album unfolds like a well-worn journal, each track revealing another layer of Jurado's contemplative soul.
The sparse arrangements serve as perfect vessels for his plaintive voice, allowing his storytelling to take center stage. There's an honesty here that cuts through the noise of modern music production - just a man, his guitar, and stories that somehow feel both deeply personal and universally relevant. Tracks like "Horizon Line" and "Paper Wings" showcase Jurado's ability to capture profound emotional truths with deceptive simplicity.
As I placed the needle on this record for the first time, I was reminded why Jurado remains such a vital voice in American folk music - his refusal to follow trends and his commitment to emotional authenticity have created a body of work that stands outside of time.
Purchase: Direct from Maraqopa Records
For further listening: If Jurado's intimate narratives resonate with you, explore the work of Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon), Jason Molina (Songs: Ohia), or Julie Byrne.
Ethel Cain - Perverts: Hypnotic Descent Into Darkness
LABEL: Daughters Of Cain Records GENRE: Drone, Ambient
When an album title declares itself as "Perverts," you know you're not in for light entertainment. Ethel Cain's latest release on Daughters Of Cain Records is a mesmerizing journey into the shadows of American gothic storytelling, wrapped in electronic textures that both comfort and disturb.
Cain continues to develop her distinctive sound - a haunting blend of ethereal vocals, droning synths, and percussion that emerges like distant thunder. The production creates a sense of vast space, as if these songs are being performed in abandoned churches or empty factories after midnight. It's music for the small hours, when the mind wanders to places both beautiful and terrifying.
What strikes me most about "Perverts" is how it refuses easy categorization. While electronic in its DNA, it draws from Southern gothic literature, religious imagery, and the darker corners of Americana. Tracks like "Stranger in the Alps" and "Ptolemaea" showcase Cain's gift for creating sonic environments that feel like complete worlds unto themselves.
Purchase: Daughters Of Cain Records
For further listening: If you're drawn to Cain's atmospheric darkness, investigate Chelsea Wolfe, Lingua Ignota, or early Zola Jesus.
'T Hof Van Commerce - LP6: Flemish Hip-Hop Excellence
LABEL: Petrol GENRE: Hip Hop
Hip-hop's global language finds a distinctive dialect in 'T Hof Van Commerce's "LP6," released through Petrol. Rapping in Flemish, the group delivers verses with such conviction and rhythmic precision that the language barrier becomes irrelevant - good flow translates in any tongue.
The production on "LP6" balances old-school hip-hop fundamentals with contemporary flourishes. Boom-bap beats provide the foundation, while subtle electronic elements and well-chosen samples add texture and dimension. The group's delivery exudes confidence born from experience, with wordplay that, even to non-Flemish speakers, communicates through its cadence and energy.
What impresses me most is how 'T Hof Van Commerce manages to feel both distinctly Belgian and universally hip-hop. They're not imitating American styles but rather adapting hip-hop's essence to their own cultural context. The result is music that feels authentic to its roots while contributing something unique to the global conversation.
Purchase: Bandcamp
For further listening: Expand your international hip-hop horizons with MC Solaar (France), Sleaford Mods (UK), or Typhoon (Netherlands).
Ahmed Essyad - Moroccan Electroacoustic Music 1972-74: Pioneering Electronic Explorations
LABEL: Sub Rosa GENRE: Electronic
Some records are important not just for what they sound like, but for what they represent. Sub Rosa's release of Ahmed Essyad's "Moroccan Electroacoustic Music 1972-74" is such a record - a vital document of early electronic experimentation from a perspective rarely highlighted in electronic music histories.
These compositions, created at a time when electronic music was still finding its language, blend traditional Moroccan musical elements with the emerging possibilities of electronic synthesis. The result is sometimes jarring, occasionally difficult, but consistently fascinating. Essyad was working at the intersection of cultural traditions, creating a dialogue between ancient musical practices and cutting-edge technology.
What strikes me most about these recordings is their prescience. Decades before "world music fusion" became commonplace, Essyad was exploring how electronic techniques could converse with, rather than simply appropriate, traditional musical forms. His work feels remarkably contemporary in its cross-cultural approach.
Purchase: Sub Rosa
For further listening: This archival treasure might lead you to other pioneering electronic composers like Halim El-Dabh, Dariush Dolat-Shahi, or the Folkways "Electronic Music from Africa and the Middle East" compilation.
Final Thoughts
As diverse as these four records are, they share a common quality that draws me to them - authenticity. Whether it's Jurado's emotional directness, Cain's uncompromising vision, 'T Hof Van Commerce's cultural pride, or Essyad's pioneering spirit, each artist speaks with a voice that is genuine and distinctive.
In a musical landscape often dominated by algorithm-friendly productions, these records remind us that music can still surprise, challenge, and move us in unexpected ways. They're the kind of records that reward repeated listening, revealing new details and dimensions with each spin.
Until next time, keep your ears open and your record player ready. There's always another sonic journey waiting.
