The tree of life of jazz grew strong from blues, swing, bebop to cool and branched out into various directions like funk, fusion and free jazz. Today it still stands tall. Adding something fresh to this one-hundred-year-plus history isn’t quite an easy task. However what is fresh? Something truly new and innovating or finding your place within this history by means of your own creative terms? Kamasi Washington chose the latter path and released a three-hour sprawl called The Epic which takes you deep into the heart of jazz.
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Author Archives: Wander Meulemans
[Live Review] Modest Mouse, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht
In 2013 Modest Mouse disappointingly cancelled their entire European tour to continue working on their new album which we today know by the title of Strangers to Ourselves. The album did compensate for the band’s absence yet a live appearance to come along with that would truly make up for past events. During their current North-American promotional tour Modest Mouse also made room for a three week ‘make up visit’ to Europe. Last friday it was the turn for the Dutch to re-embrace Brock et al in an overheated and Tour de France-minded Utrecht.
Sounds from the Dark Side top albums of 2015 (until now)
‘Summer, summer, summertime…‘ Yep, we’re both huge fans of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Especially at this time of the year. For that exact reason these are our best releases of 2015 until today. Continue reading
Little Wings – Explains
Kyle Field, frontman of Little Wings, is what you might call a postmodern balladeer of rural and urban landscapes. California’s wonderful natural surroundings, youth culture and the big city congestions issues were a source of inspiration for his hymns. Only somewhere during the course of time he expanded his horizon and started residing in landscapes of half truths. Luckily this was just the right place to bring together his fragile poetry and wobbly folk pop. Continue reading
Alamo Race Track – Hawks
Under the banner of Excelsior Recordings the Dutch alternative rock scene has been blooming for almost twenty years now. Only on rare occasions Excelsior’s artists achieve some kind of success outside The Netherlands, thus keeping most releases under the radar of the international press. Non-Dutch who are always looking for the best kept musical secrets of tomorrow should therefore watch this label like a hawk. One of those very nice Excelsior secrets I’m gonna review today is a band called Alamo Race Track, that recently brought out their fourth album called Hawks. Ahem, sorry about that…
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Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon
Basically, I believe the singer-songwriter scene is overcrowded at the moment. Arguably, the ‘genre’ has always been pretty full because of its vague definition. However today it’s almost like anyone who’s has the hipster look and possesses a guitar is eager to make this stereotype their own. That’s reason enough to not take the scene too seriously, yet every so often the mediocrity is broken by someone new who appeals to my need of just listening to simple and small songs. Continue reading
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
It seems everybody is talking about Courtney Barnett nowadays. From what I’ve read Courtney Barnett is super cute in her own slacky manner and, in one way or another, also equals greatness with her garage-poppy music. Well, if that’s the case, I ask myself what’s not to love? With all this enthusiasm surrounding her persona I hope you don’t mind if I share my thoughts about her debut album that was recently put out on her own Milk! label. Please, sit down and listen up.
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Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves
Frankly, I laughed out loud when it was announced Modest Mouse canceled their full 2013 European tour to work on a new album. After all, the band already was on hiatus for several years back then, so why plan a tour just to cancel it? Also the promise of a 2014 release date was broken due to the departure of founding bassist Eric Judy. Forgivable or not, there is no reason to be mad because much of what Modest Mouse touched in the past turned into pure gold. Now let’s only hope all this delay did not put a spanner in the works. Continue reading
Matthew E. White – Fresh Blood
Although the lazy sunday morning setting of Matthew E. White’s 2013 debut, Big Inner, wasn’t that bad, I openly wondered if it was up to stand the test of time. Alright, I confess I streamed Big Inner throughout that year more than a few times, but alas for him, it didn’t made my end-of-the-year-list. Hereafter I forgot about him until he announced his sophomore record Fresh Blood, which title-wisely made me curious about what our caucasian soul man has been up to the last year. Continue reading
Erase Errata – Lost Weekend
Have you wasted your weekend looking for a bunch of spry ladies with a strong view on politics? Well, look no further because the girls of Erase Errata are here to fill your monday with some cool psych punk with a message. The band’s track titles and lyrics of old, ‘A Thief Detests The Criminal, Elements Of The Ruling Class, ‘Another Genius Idea From Our Government’ and “Murder With Your Tax Dollars” speak volumes in that respect. Lost Weekend is Erase Errata’s fourth and again is expected show little subtleness towards socio-political issues, in a very catchy manner that is. Continue reading
soundsfromthedarkside 